Charlotte Hornets Hope to Keep Slim Playoff Chances Alive Against the Heat
The Charlotte Hornets will need to regroup for the second game of a back-to-back as they look to rebound against their divisional rivals in the Heat.
The NBA schedule is a grind, to say the least. 82 games over a six-month span can take a toll on a team, physically and mentally. It’s no surprise how difficult it can be to maintain consistent success. Such is the case for the Charlotte Hornets (36-42). The team started out great, winning seven of their first ten games, but after that, things started going downhill. Injuries, bad defense, and even miscommunication were all to blame.
Yet, late into the season, there was still hope. There still could be too, but the team will need a lot of help from the Miami Heat (37-40) and Indiana Pacers. They also most definitely need to win out and it won’t be easy. Their four remaining games are all against teams either already in the playoffs, or fighting for a spot in the playoffs.
The next opponent from said gauntlet is the aforementioned Miami Heat. They come to Charlotte on Wednesday night for the second game in as many days for the Hornets. Charlotte is 2-1 against the Heat this season, so there’s a silver lining. Charlotte did lose their last game against the Heat, 108-101 in Miami. Kemba Walker was the leading scorer for the Hornets with 33 points. Dion Waiters led the Heat with 24, but Goran Dragic also added 22 and 10 assists.
More from Swarm and Sting
- Hornets: Where does Brandon Miller’s ceiling rank among other rookies?
- Charlotte Hornets grade out mostly average in position-by-position ranking
- Hornets News: P.J. Washington makes bold statement on Brandon Miller
- Grade the mock trade: Hornets snag Tyler Herro, flip Gordon Hayward
- Will the Charlotte Hornets be in the 2024 NBA Draft Lottery?
Both teams are coming off losses. Ther Hornets lost on Tuesday night in Washington Wizards, 111-118. The Heat lost at home to the Denver Nuggets, 116-113.
Miami Heat at Charlotte Hornets
7 p.m. EST, Wednesday, April 5th, 2017
Spectrum Center
Broadcast on FOX Sports Southeast
Injury Report:
CHA:
Johnny O’Bryant (Out) – Ankle Sprain
MIA:
Dion Waiters (Out) – Ankle
Justise Winslow (Out) -Shoulder
Josh McRoberts (Out) – Foot
Luke Babbitt (Questionable) – Hip
Things to watch for:
Obviously, the Heat have their share of injuries, most notably Waiters and Winslow. They combine for nearly 27 points a game for the Heat, though Winslow has only played in 18 games this season. Still, their injuries certainly affect their depth, so foul trouble and extended minutes could be a factor for the Heat, especially this late in the season. The Heat also aren’t a very high scoring team, ranking just 21st in the league in points per game. Their lack of depth doesn’t help matters, so Charlotte should shut them down defensively.
Keys to the game:
Charlotte to should look to attack the paint, either with penetration off ball screens or utilizing post play. Hassan Whiteside is in the top 20 in the league in terms of committing personal fouls. Keeping him on the bench would help unclog the lane and stop him from snagging rebounds.
Defending Goran Dragic needs to be a priority as well. He’s the Heat’s leading scorer, averaging just over 20 points a game and is hitting just over 40% from deep. He was a big reason why the Hornets lost their last game against the Heat.
Next: Hornets Are Down But Not Out
The season isn’t over but, even with a massive amount of luck, the Hornets are still in “must-win” mode. One more loss would almost certainly sink them for the season. The team will have to play their best and hope other teams lose in order to make the playoffs. Here’s hoping they pull it out.