Swarm and Sting
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Why can’t the Charlotte Hornets finish games in the clutch?

By Chase Pletcher

CHARLOTTE, NC - OCTOBER 25: Head coach Steve Clifford of the Charlotte Hornets reacts to a call during their game against the Denver Nuggets at Spectrum Center on October 25, 2017 in Charlotte, North Carolina. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
CHARLOTTE, NC - OCTOBER 25: Head coach Steve Clifford of the Charlotte Hornets reacts to a call during their game against the Denver Nuggets at Spectrum Center on October 25, 2017 in Charlotte, North Carolina. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /
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The Charlotte Hornets face a multitude of problems when it comes to closing out close games in the fourth quarter. What is holding them back?

The story of the Charlotte Hornets this season, and even last season has been no secret. Play teams tough for three quarters, and fail to finish in the fourth. They haven’t won a one-possession game since March 21st, 2016 when they defeated the Spurs 91-88. We’re actually coming up on the two year anniversary of the last time they’ve won a one-possession game.

Monday’s game against Indiana didn’t end in a loss by three points or less, but those aren’t the only close games the Hornets lose.  

This past game they were down just three going into the 4th quarter and lost. Saturday night they were up seven going into the 4th and lost after scoring just 13 points in the 4th. It’s starting to feel like unless the team has a double-digit lead down the stretch, they just won’t pull it out. Even then, the lead isn’t always safe, the Hornets scoring in the 4th in one word can be described as horrid.

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The ranked 28th in the league in PPG in the 4th, only ahead of the Grizzlies and Bucks. The overarching question above all else is, why does this keep happening?

There’s really no simple answer. Part of it can be chalked up to that the roster just simply isn’t good overall. Part of the blame can be put on the coaching. Kemba has been bad in clutch time this year, but if he’s exhausted from playing so many minutes then that’s where coaches take some blame.

From my viewpoint, it seems like the Hornets style of scoring for three, three and a half quarters just doesn’t translate to how teams generally score when it’s a close game.

Whenever games are close down the stretch, many teams use pick and roll to get matchups they think they can take advantage of from iso-ball. The Hornets have been a terrible iso-ball team, Kemba included, who hasn’t hit a game-tying or go-ahead field go in the final minute of the 4th or overtime this season. It’s not just his fault, I already said part of that can be put on coaching. It also can be pointed to the fact that really only one other guy on the team (Lamb) can always create off the dribble. He’s not even always on the floor at the end of games, so it’s always on Kemba.

There also aren’t as many “ticky-tack” or “iffy” calls made towards the end of games. There are still fouls called. Refs, however, tend to try to let the games play out and not decide it from the line. Well, the Hornets are first in free throw attempts and second in free throws made. To say they rely on those free points is an understatement.

The stats are there to prove the Hornets play much differently when the 4th quarter comes. Dwight Howard’s usage % overall is 23.6, in the 4th it’s just 17.3. Kemba’s is 27.7% overall, but skyrockets to 35 in the 4th.  

I’m not advocating for Dwight to start taking the last shots in games or to take the ball out of your best player’s hands in crunch time, I just am trying to say the Hornets need to play much differently at the end of games.  

No person would want anyone else taking the last shot over Kemba, but clearly, something isn’t working. Maybe try trusting MKG more in the 4th, the only quarter where he averages less than two PPG. Possibly try to get Marvin open more in the 4th, a quarter where his usage % drops to 10.1% from its normal 13.8.

These things aren’t guaranteed to work. Perhaps Marvin’s legs just aren’t under him enough at the end of games at his age, who knows. What I do know is that something clearly has to change if they want to win these games.

“The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results”, and it sure seems like the coaching staff and the Hornets have a case of insanity. I am by no means an NBA coach so I can’t be sure my ideas would work. However, I can only talk about what my eyes see. And what my eyes see is a team that doesn’t trust each other or has any confidence in each other.  

Ball movement seems to come to a screeching halt. Whenever some guys finally get the ball, they don’t take advantage of their opportunity. It could be because they just aren’t a clutch performer, but it also could be because they don’t get utilized enough late in games.  

I’ve only addressed the offense, and I’m only going to address the offense, but it’s not alone. If you’ve been thinking the defense is to blame, you aren’t wrong.

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Some teams can rely on iso-ball and get stops in winning time, the Hornets can’t. If they ever want to win a close game they HAVE to change something. That’s stating the obvious, but it’s clearly not obvious enough for the team. If the changes don’t work then oh well, things can’t get much worse than they are now.

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