GDHQNBA15_4pg-Charlotte Hornets

Charlotte Hornets Gameday HQ

EASTERN CONFERENCE SOUTHEAST DIVISION Charlotte What’s in a name? The 2014-15 Charlotte Hornets hope a finish higher than third in the division. That’s something that hasn’t happened since 2001-02, the last time the franchise was nicknamed the Hornets. In their last year as the Bobcats, they had their first winning season in four years (43-39) and doubled their win total for the second straight season. In the playoffs, they made things quite uncomfortable for eventual-Eastern Conference champion Miami, despite losing in four. Now, in their first year back as the Hornets they’ve set their sights on making back-toback playoff appearances for only the third time in franchise history and the first since three straight from 2000-02. With core-stars Al Jefferson and Kemba Walker in place and the addition of talented Lance Stephenson and veterans Marvin Williams and Jason Maxiell, the Queen City could be the Queen Bee in the Southeast. Defense Hornets’ owner Michael Jordan is no stranger to defense (1988 Defensive Player of the Year and nine-time First-Team All-Defensive Teamer), should be proud of the Hornets’ commitment to defense in their first-year under Coach Steve Clifford. The Hornets, who ranked in the bottom five in just about every defensive category in 2012- 13, flipped the script, finishing in the top 10 in those same categories last season. They allowed 97.1 points per game, the fourth fewest points in the NBA and down 5.6 ppg from the year before. Charlotte also cleaned the glass, as opponents grabbed the fewest offensive rebounds, 9.6 rpg, (they pulled in 11.8, the sixth-most in 2012-13), they committed the fewest fouls and were in the top 10 in the League in defensive rebounds, blocks, opponents’ field Kemba Walker


Charlotte Hornets Gameday HQ
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