Charlotte Hornets have to win on the road if they want to be successful

Even in recent years when the Charlotte Hornets have made the playoffs, road success just hasn’t been there for them, but it’s vital if they want to improve.

It’s no secret that in sports, winning at home is much easier than winning on the road. For a team like the Charlotte Hornets, winning on the road consistently seems like more than just a challenge. It seems almost impossible.

Two seasons ago when the team tied for third in the East, their record at home was a blistering 30-11. That record equated to third best in the conference. Their road record, however, was still under .500 at 18-23, which tied for just eighth best in the conference. Even this past season when the team failed to make the playoffs, their home record remained above par while their road record was abysmal.

Like I previously stated, I know it’s difficult to win on the road in the NBA. Each of the previous two seasons only seven teams finished with a road record above .500. The Hornets don’t necessarily need to be part of the group that finishes above .500. They just need to show consistency on the road and try to aim for about 20 wins.

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The biggest question for the Hornets to figure out is why exactly they are having trouble winning on the road. Countless teams throughout history have struggled with winning away from home.  For some teams, it’s because they have guys that rely on a rhythm. For some, it may even be a psychological thing.

The Hornets most likely suffer from a mix of these issues, but one stands out the most. Their defense. Playing defense is much harder on the road, and it’s the Hornets defense that has given them success in the past four years.

Success on defense at any level relies greatly on momentum. When you’re at home you hear the constant “D-Fence” chants, you feel the electricity in the crowd whenever the other team is forced into a shot clock violation. On the road, not so much.

When MKG dives for a loose ball steal away from Spectrum, the team doesn’t feel the momentum shift in their favor as much as they would at home. That’s not going to change. That doesn’t mean the Hornets should either, though.

Despite last year’s down year, Steve Clifford’s teams are still known for their defense. The team doesn’t have overwhelming offensive talent, so an elite defense is where they will reach their maximum success. Unluckily for the Hornets, it’s much easier to intimidate and overwhelm a team on defense when 20,000 fans don’t have their back.

A team with superior offensive talent may find it easier to still use their skill to get buckets even when they’re on the road. Defense, however, is less skill-based and based more on hustle and determination (not that offense isn’t, just more skill involved with offense). It’s much easier for the Hornets to push themselves to the limit whenever they feel an entire arena behind them.

These guys are still professional athletes so it’s not as if they can’t function away from home. The difference, however, is undeniable and needs to be addressed by the team. When on the road, the bench has to come together more than ever to hype up and support the guys on the court at the time.

The reason the Hornets have to be able to figure out how to win on the road is that it could equate to playoff success.

Unless there are major injuries to key players, the Hornets have a very good chance of getting back into the playoffs. 2016 was of course when they last made the playoffs. In that series against Miami, the team went 1-3 on the road. That includes starting the series in a 0-2 hole and losing Game Seven.

The Hornets still managed to push the series to seven games despite starting the series down 0-2. Had they been able to take just one of those first two in Miami, the series may not have even lasted more than five games.

The postseason is where winning on the road becomes the most important. So, it’s imperative for the Hornets to start that winning trend in the regular season. There’s a good chance the Hornets will be the lower seed in a first round playoff series. If not the first round, almost certainly the second round.

This means that if the Hornets don’t want to get themselves in the same position as 2016, they must take one away from home. If they once again can’t do that, history does not play in their favor. In the NBA, playoff teams have an 18-272 record whenever they drop both of the first two games.

This isn’t to take away from the importance of getting the job done at home. Getting the job done on the road, especially in the playoffs, is even more important. We all know the popular phrase Pat Riley used to use:

“No playoff series truly begins until the road team wins a game.”

This phrase couldn’t be any truer.

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If the Hornets want to be able to bring Charlotte regular and postseason success that the city hasn’t seen in a long time, winning consistently on the road is one of the biggest things that will help them get there.