A game that ended with a final score of 88-86 makes it sound like the game was quite the barn-burner. Well, I guess in theory it was a barn-burner in the sense that many Hornets fans are ready to burn their barns over the inconsistency and losses. I am on Twitter for most every broadcast of the games, and I read what fans say. I try my best to not go defending like a crazy person, making excuses for every facet of what is going wrong, but sometimes I do. You guys see it in the game recaps that I write. I don’t like to argue on Twitter, so I usually just let some statements go and I move on.
Let me share some of last night’s heap of complaints, should someone from the Hornets organization be reading and wondering what the fans are thinking:
Many fans are saying that Clifford is not the coach we need. They are saying that our offensive game has no flow and is a finesse style that doesn’t work. I’m seeing some talking about whom to get in the draft because we won’t be making the playoffs. Al holds the ball too long, and then someone has to rush a shot. Kemba holds the ball too long and then forces a shot. The 2 combined players aforementioned hold the ball too long and then there’s just a botched offensive play that results in nothing.
Are these comments true? Some of them aren’t far off of the mark. Others are wildly incorrect and a bit of a panicked cry. We had a rough start last season. His season, I expected a bunch from this team. On paper, it looked like we should be killer in the weaker eastern conference. What it did not take into account was the possible regression of Gerald Henderson, multiple injuries to Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Gary Neal with a concussion, and PJ Hairston spraining his ankle. Am I saying that these are the reasons we’re losing? Am I saying it is injury and lack of chemistry? No. These aren’t the only reasons. I am saying that our starting small forward is out, our 6th man is out and he’s the one that comes in and gets buckets, and our rookie that comes in to get buckets are all hurt right now. Our promising SF/SG Jeff Taylor, who has added a bunch of muscle and could easily take all of Hendo’s minutes, is suspended for 12 more games. We’re struggling at the wing position. Injury is part of it, but so is the inability to hit shots. We’re still floating in the low 40s for field goal percentage, we’re being out-rebounded, and the result is poor shooting with no second shot opportunities. In the games that we have won, we’ve been the team with more assists and rebounds. The playoffs exposed the Hornets for what they were; a team with one scoring option that struggled if the one option wasn’t scoring. Don’t get me wrong, Al had 28 points and 8 rebounds last night. I don’t blame him. He did miss some point blank shots, again, that he shouldn’t have missed. I look more towards Gerald Henderson. I can’t figure out how a starter could play 23 minutes and not score a single point. Look deeper into his stat line; 2 rebounds and an assist. He also had 1 foul. I mean, honestly, a player does that in a game, I don’t know if I’d have him play again, like ever. I could put those number up and I’m 38, 5’11” and in no shape to play professional basketball. I would have used Pargo or Roberts, even though shooting guard is not their position and they are undersized to play there (part of why I wanted a bigger backup point guard). Weather the storm I guess.
I’m still not pointing fingers at Clifford though. He’s working with what he has, and at this point, while there are lots of bodies, there are not lots of options. Al’s support for the night was Kemba with 12 and Stephenson with 10. We can’t win games like this.
Kemba has had stretches like this in the past, and they usually hit much later in the season and he has to play through it. Once he does, he plays incredibly. Unfortunately, however, we all get to hear how he’s not worth his contract, and how he’s a bum, and he got paid and is on cruise control now. I’ve followed this team long enough to know that he’s slumping and he’ll play his way out of it. As for the rest of the crew, they need to learn quickly to be a little more selfish, figure out how to make shots and grab rebounds, and most importantly, figure out how to close out games. Our defense has been terrible in comparison to last season, and the game-winning tip-in was made because Hendo didn’t box out or keep up with is man in the final seconds.
It’s always darkest before dawn. Get out your flashlights Hornets fans and stop worrying. They will pull it together. As my “self-trademarked” catch phrase from “Rufus on Fire” used to be: Wait for it.
I’m waiting and I believe that this team will meet reasonable expectations. Some fans shouldn’t have set their expectations so high. Look at the Bobcats history and go from there. In the meantime…
Let’s Go Hornets!!!
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