10 Losses in a Row for the Hornets; What the…

I’m going to start off by apologizing to anyone I argued with on Twitter tonight. I’m angry, but the truth of the matter is that sometimes the truth hurts. I love this team and it takes a lot of love to defend them like family. I grew up a Hornets fan, celebrated the return of an NBA team to North Carolina when the Bobcats came to us, and I’m still defending the team like I’d defend my sons. I also discipline my sons. I think this team needs a spanking, a stern talking to, a time out…something

So what made the difference tonight? I feel like an idiot for saying that all we needed was this 3-day break. I didn’t think it would be a total fix because I know we desperately…DESPERATELY need MKG back. I also know we did not pick up a 3-point shooter this off-season.   Anyone that points at PJ Hairston, I’ll cut your finger off. He’s not quite there yet. I did think that we would address what exactly happens in the 4^th quarter that we can’t close out a game.

So, to address @DolphinsFan103, Here is specifically why I wanted to see Kemba benched in the 4^th. I also wanted Al benched.   Here is my explanation why.   Kemba is an incredible player.   In the third, he threw the team on his back and the Hornets BUZZED their way back into the game. This was with Al on the bench. The only problem was that as the 3^rd came to a close, so did Kemba’s hot streak. His air-balled 3-pointer was the first sign. He was exhausted from carrying the team. If we plan to ride him like that, perhaps it should be done in the 4^th. Every single game we have lost, whatever flow the offense seems to get into, we call time out, make sure Al and Kemba are in there, and we have those 2 force the offense. Kemba was 3-10 down the stretch, with multiple possessions late with no passes (thanks @MullensMafia).   This is specifically why I am upset and was screaming for Al and Kemba to be benched. It’s nothing against those guys. It’s more that we forced the offense instead of just letting it flow.

Part of the reason I so believed that this team would get repaired was that in watching any of the game film, anyone could see the exact same thing in the 4^th quarter of every game. We force it inside to Al or Kemba forces a bad shot, and then you add in we only get one possession (no offensive rebound). The result is getting outscored in the 4^th (tonight we were outscored 30-24). Tonight was more about not having a 3-point threat, and not defending the 3. The Bulls hit 12 out of 28 to our 2 out of 15.   We can’t win games like that. We also can’t shoot 40% from the floor and allow the opponent to shoot 46.2%. We were out-rebounded again, 49-42, and out-assisted 27-17.

Big Al is struggling right now as well. In 33 minutes he had 13 points, 7 rebounds, and 2 assists. Cody Zeller had 12 points, 8 rebounds, and 2 assists in 23 minutes. Cody should also be on the ESPN SportCenter top 10 tonight for his dunk over Pau Gasol, but we will see.   What can we do at C? I wanted Biz in since Al is in such a slump. He doesn’t bring a ton offensively right now, but if he could have been in the game for rim protection and rebounding, Cody has a decent mid-range shot. I do believe in the final seconds, he hit the last bucket for us. That’s also part of my fuss. There are more than 2 guys on the court, and when Kemba sees he is struggling, or Al is struggling, you have to go to Henderson, Lance, or Cody.   Lance had 20 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists, and a steal, but didn’t really get any shots down the stretch.   Henderson had 10 points, 4 rebounds and an assist. These guys can make shots too. We’ve become a 1-trick pony, and even the coaching staff appears to be scared to shy away from it. It’s a team sport guys, and you need to get EVERYONE involved.

Please don’t think I’m giving up on this team, or I’m screaming to get rid of someone in trade, or anything like that. I love these guys. I really do. I was in the stands cheering my tail off, dressed crazy, pouring sweat, for that 7-win & 56-loss team, so I’m not about to turn heel on them now. I just really expected them to fix the one thing that seemed so obvious to me.   Take the open shot and get EVERYONE involved in the offense down the stretch. That still isn’t happening. I pray we can do that against the 4-15 Knicks. I pray that everyone I talked to tonight on Twitter reads this and agrees with me, understands my frustration, and we will all be cheering on the Hornets this Friday as a unified force, a SWARM if you will.   Who’s with me?

Let’s Go Hornets!

#BreakThisStreak