Buzz City Beat: Charlotte Hornets’ Run Could Save Clifford’s Job, MKG to Power Forward
Buzz City Beat is Swarm and Sting’s one stop for the latest articles from around the internet surrounding the Charlotte Hornets.
The Charlotte Hornets look to extend their three-game win streak as they take on the always tough LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers. In this edition of Buzz City Beat, we look at how a run could save Steve Clifford’s job, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist‘s future success could lie in moving to the power forward position and when Larry Johnson used to rule the city.
Run Could Save Clifford (AmicoHoops.net)
"Steve Clifford is a good coach, a coach who has the respect of his organization and team. That includes famous Charlotte Hornets owner Michael Jordan. But Clifford is likely coaching for his job, the way good coaches sometimes must do in pro basketball."
Steve Clifford’s situation with the Hornets is an interesting one. He may not be on the hot seat but Michael Jordan and the front office are definitely keeping a close eye on him. Charlotte’s head coach has done a great job of turning the culture of the team into a winning one over the past few years but with their regression this season, he’s closer to being fired than having a secure job.
It is very unlikely that he gets fired if the Hornets don’t make the playoffs but it puts him closer to the hot seat. There is no doubting that Charlotte has underperformed this season and Clifford is to blame for at least some of that. If the team continues to struggle next year then there will be real talks and rumors about Steve losing his job. At the very least, a good run and possibly making the playoffs could just add more job security for Coach Clifford.
MKG’s Future Success Lies in Moving to the Four (16WinsARing.com)
"Kidd-Gilchrist entered the association as a perimeter player who can’t shoot when the pace-and-space era was being ushered in. It’s the equivalent of being the best scribe in the world in 2017. That’s super dope your handwriting looks immaculate, but I’d like to introduce you to my friend “Times New Roman 12” who writes stuff way more efficiently than you."
There seem to be more questions surrounding MKG than there are answers. His shooting isn’t getting any better and it’s getting more difficult to play him at small forward on a nightly basis in today’s perimeter-centric NBA. Max Seng makes a compelling case and offers a solution in the form of moving the high-motor player to the power forward spot.
With Kidd-Gilchrist’s strength and rebounding ability, it isn’t out of the question. Although he isn’t a natural power forward and has rarely played there, save a few small ball lineups, it could maximize his future with the Hornets and in the league. It remains to be seen if Clifford and the team are willing to move him there but his poor shooting ability may force the move sooner rather than later.
When LJ Ruled the City (NBA.com)
"Few players have come through the Charlotte Hornets organization and left a bigger impact from both a basketball and cultural standpoint than the legendary Larry Johnson. Taken with the first overall pick in the 1991 NBA Draft more than 25 years ago, Johnson’s tenacious scoring and rebounding abilities were invaluable to the Hornets in their early years, but his influence off the court was just as important in transforming Charlotte into a big-time basketball city."
Next: Turnaround Could Save Marvin's Future in Charlotte
Although Johnson only played five seasons in Charlotte, he is still regarded as one of, if not, the best Hornets’ to ever wear the purple and teal. That speaks volumes to the impact that he made while with the team. Two all-star appearances and leading the organization to their first ever playoff series win cemented his legacy in the Queen City. There was definitely a time where he ruled the city. Sam Perley did a great job of recounting Larry’s time in Charlotte.