Our 30 – 39 Hornets are so frustrating to watch at times. Offensive schemes become frustrating, missed shots become frustrating, poor defense becomes frustrating, and overall, this team is just frustrating. I love my Hornets, but I just don’t get it. I don’t choose to celebrate from night to night as to whether or not we are the current 8th seed. If I did, I’d take the losses that shove us back out of the playoffs very hard. I’ve also come to the realization that I’m not so sure how great it is to make the playoffs this season. I honestly don’t know that I want to see our Hornets get swept by the Cavs or the Hawks. Honestly, that’s what we’re looking forward to. I believe that we could possibly get a win against the Hawks, who are slumping slightly, but there’s no way we win against the Cavs. I believe that a healthy Hornets team and an evenly officiated game the Hornets could give the Cavs a good series, but neither of those is going to happen I don’t believe. Am I sounding like a “Debbie Downer”? I’m just trying to be honest.
I’ve seen all of the Twitter rants about how this team is too talented to be playing like they are. They say that we just have to make the playoffs. They praise Al and Kemba and shun Coach Clifford. They talk about so many things, and maybe they are all right. Maybe they’re all wrong. Who knows? All I can see is this: I don’t think it really matters if we make the playoffs this season.
It would be nice for us to be there again, but I’m getting tired of going and getting swept. The Hornets just don’t get respect in the NBA. Going to the playoffs to be swept takes harsher criticism than the teams that just don’t make it. It’s true. Let me address last night’s game numbers, then I’ll get back to my pro- and con- playoffs push.
So how did the guys do? 34.6% shooting should suggest a good bit. The biggest question from the first half was a simple one: how are we shooting 78% from the 3-point line and winning by so little? The answer is a simple one. Call it good defense by the Bulls, or poor shooting by the Hornets not-from-3, but whatever you want to call it, we were outmatched. Great play by Pau Gasol and Nikola Mirotic scorched us with 27 and 28 points respectively. Mix in Jimmy Butler’s 19, and that was all she wrote for the Hornets.
The second half was our downfall, producing only 1 assist in 24 minutes. When we have a lot of assists, good things happen. There were 10 of those in the first 24. Kemba had a good night of scoring with 29 points, but he only yielded 2 assists, 2 rebounds, and a block. No one else came close to him on the Hornets roster in terms of points. Mo Williams had 15 points, 5 assists, and a steal. Henderson had 11 points, 9 rebounds, and 1 assist. It was just an ugly, ugly night.
To add insult to injury, Al Jefferson had soreness in his knee. For those of you hanging on to the hope that Al starts putting up numbers like he had last season, that door is rapidly closing. I don’t “hate” on any of our players, but I’m here to tell you, last season might have been more of a fluke than the norm. I’m still scratching my head on that one.
Noah Vonleh got a minute of playing time in which he netted 2 points and 2 rebounds. That beat out the 11 minutes of playing time that Jason Maxiell was awarded last night where he scored 0 points, and grabbed 3 rebounds. I keep shaking my head about this team, even as I write this.
It would also appear that we’re giving up the notion of giving Taylor enough playing time to knock rust off and get his in game rhythm and speed back. For me, I believe it may suggest that he could be gone at season end. Why do I have a feeling that if this happens, he’ll be facing us with another team, and making us pay for not keeping him here?
So, let me get back to the pro vs con on making the playoffs. Basically, this is more of a closing statement for the playoffs push. It makes for a neat catch phrase and selling point to sell more season tickets, but honestly, I really hate to see my team lose. I really, REALLY hate to see my team lose due to bad officiating. Facing the Cavs, that’s the most likely scenario to happen. If we luck up and we are the 8th seed, now that we are the Hornets again, are we still looking for our first playoffs win? Technically, that would be a no because the Hornets have been in, and won playoffs games before. If we are still thinking Bobcats, yes, it would be the first “Bobcats” win. I believe we could win some games in the playoffs. As I stated before, it has to be with everyone healthy and with EVERYONE playing TEAM basketball. Having 1-2 players having a good night won’t cut it in the playoffs. We have to be firing on all cylinders, and I don’t think we have seen that consistently this season.
So, do I want the Hornets to return to the playoffs? I do if we are on a level playing field and we’re healthy. If we’re going in with a 2-man show to grab some wins, let’s just not make it and start looking at the 2015 draft class. Maybe there’s a volume scorer in there. Also, let’s start looking at the trade market and free agency. It’s time to get past a team of role players and get some real powerhouse players here to go with Kemba, MKG, and Cody. They are the future.
Let’s Go Hornets!
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