This season, the Charlotte Hornets introduced some pretty awesome all-black Buzz City alternate uniforms. But do they just look cool, or do they actually help the Hornets win games?
Ever since the Golden State Warriors introduced their fashionably questionable sleeved alternate jerseys in 2012-13, more and more NBA teams are trying their hand at sleeved jerseys to spice up their players’ wardrobes. Or to sell more merchandise. Either way, the Charlotte Hornets joined the trend at the beginning of the 2015-16 season, unveiling an all-new black, teal, and white Buzz City uniform to be worn six times throughout the regular season. (And three times in the playoffs).
I think it’s valid to ask whether or not the new kit affects the Hornets’ play. Through statistics, observations, and my own thoughts, I’ll answer this question to the best of my ability. Dissension and discussion are welcome, so leave a comment if you so desire.
While watching the Hornets throughout this season, I noted the dates the Hornets chose to wear the new alternate uniforms:
December 2 vs. Golden State – L (116-99)
December 28 vs. Los Angeles Lakers – W (98-108)
January 23 vs. New York – W (84-97)
February 5 vs. Miami – L (98-95)
March 12 vs. Houston – W (109-125)
April 1 vs. Philadelphia – W (91-100)
April 23 vs. Miami – W (96-80)
April 27 @ Miami – W (90-88)
May 1 @ Miami – L (73-106)
Generally, the Hornets wore the Buzz City uniforms to recognize a special event going on that day, or they would wear them against a powerhouse team such as the Warriors or Rockets. The Golden State game was Dell Curry night, honoring the former Charlotte Hornet who is now a color commentator for the Hornets’ TV broadcast.
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The Lakers game was Kobe Bryant‘s last in Charlotte and the February Miami game was in honor of Alonzo Mourning. The penultimate time Charlotte sported the new kit, they shockingly stole Game 5 of the first round of the playoffs in Miami’s building.
All this to say: when the Buzz City uniforms come out, the stakes are a little higher. Charlotte has something more to play for, and I can sense a different energy when the all-black Hornets take the court. Whether it be to pay homage to a former player, or to keep their playoff hopes alive in another team’s arena, the sleeves seem to be reserved for special occasions, motivating the players to play a little better than they think they can.
An interesting observation: nine of the top 10 teams in the NBA this season by record (Golden State, San Antonio, Cleveland, Toronto, Oklahoma City, Los Angeles Clippers, Miami, Boston, Charlotte) have featured sleeved uniforms at some point in the past two years.
When the Buzz City uniforms come out, the stakes are a little higher.
This fact strongly associates sleeved uniforms with great teams, and through the power of suggestion, the Hornets may become a better team when they wear the same kind of jerseys as the elite teams in the NBA.
But enough about “feelings” and “energy” and “association.” Let’s get down to the numbers.
One of the most telling stats is that Charlotte went 6-3 on Buzz City nights. With the only three losses coming against Golden State and Miami, I’d say the team consistently held its own while wearing all-black.
Also, I averaged out the team’s stats on Buzz City nights and compared them to their regular season averages, and here’s what I found. The team performed close to or better than average in opponent points per game, rebounds, assists, turnovers, blocks, and personal fouls. The most significant improvements came in fouls (17.4 on Buzz City nights, 18.1 on the season), turnovers (9.0 on Buzz City nights, 12.5 on the season), and opponent points per game (96.7 on Buzz City nights, 100.6 on the season).
Charlotte was especially stingy with the ball on Buzz City nights, recording lower than average turnovers in all nine games the black uniforms were worn. In game three of the playoffs against the Heat, Charlotte only turned the ball over three times. Three times in 48 minutes! These stats, while not too glamorous, tell me that during these games, the Hornets are grinding out the wins and taking care of the basketball.
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I do realize that this is a small sample size, and am well aware that correlation does not imply causation. I am also only making this argument for the Hornets, not any other NBA team. But I think there is enough evidence to at least keep the question open for more investigation. It will be interesting watching future Buzz City nights to see if the team elevates their play.
And hey, what’s wrong with a little sports superstition every now and then?