One season after making the playoffs and returning to their roots, going from the Bobcats to the Hornets, Charlotte struggled mightily in the 2014-15 NBA campaign, ending up in the bottom portion of the Eastern Conference. It was especially disappointing, considering the promise they exhibited in the year prior.
Gone is last year’s big free-agent acquisition Lance Stephenson, and in his stead is the steady veteran trio of Nicolas Batum, Spencer Hawes and Jeremy Lin. Throw in rookie big man Frank Kaminsky and rising third-year man Jeremy Lamb and it’s completely conceivable that half of Charlotte’s regular rotation this season could be franchise newbies.
Chemistry figures to be a key element to any chance the Hornets might have for success, namely how quickly coach Steve Clifford is able to mesh all that new talent around mainstays Al Jefferson (17 points, eight rebounds, two assists), Kemba Walker (18 points, five assists, four rebounds) and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (11 points, three rebounds, three assists). Clearly, though, this looks to be Charlotte’s most talented team on paper in many years, and their overall roster is the main reason Hornets faithful is amped for the upcoming season.
Out-of-town fans of the club will certainly want to see how it all unfolds in person at the Time Warner Cable Arena, and fortunately, there is Hipmunk.com to serve as the one-stop source for all basketball destination needs. They have plenty of cheap flights to Charlotte available from most major airline carriers throughout the year, while also featuring Charlotte hotel deals so fans can turn it into a true Hornets getaway. Plus, rooms start just $38.
With the schedule recently being released, NBAsavant.com estimates that the team will travel a staggering 38,970 miles over this season, so it only seems fitting that they open on the road with back-to-back games against the Miami Heat and Atlanta Hawks. The Hornets also face the Hawks in their home opener soon after in a Sunday matinee affair on November 1. This early stretch could be one of the most crucial points in the season for Charlotte.
The month of January particularly shapes up as a grueling one for the Hornets, as they’ll have a pair of four-game road trips, highlighted by their first trek when they face the defending champion Golden State Warriors, Phoenix Suns, L.A. Clippers and Denver Nuggets. This west coast trip, occurring at this particular juncture of the season, could be a defining moment in the season for Charlotte, especially when they visit electric Oracle Arena.
Another important stretch will take place from November 18-December 2, when the Hornets host their longest homestand of the season, comprised of seven games. This stretch once again includes the Warriors, as reigning MVP Stephen Curry and Co. will come to town for their only trip to Charlotte this season. Additionally, the Hornets will also see the team Golden State beat in this past year’s NBA Finals, the Cleveland Cavaliers, along this homestand. LeBron James is widely considered to be the best basketball player in the world, and with Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love on the roster as well, there’s certainly no shortage of starpower, so Hornets fans might want to select this contest for their trip to the arena. It will also be an early-season measuring stick for the team.
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