Buzz City Beat: Charlotte Hornets @ Toronto Raptors prediction, Players who have fallen off
Buzz City Beat is Swarm and Sting’s one stop for the latest news and stories from around the web about the Charlotte Hornets.
In this edition of Buzz City Beat, we preview the Charlotte Hornets‘ matchup against the Toronto Raptors while also looking at players who have fallen off in the past half decade and Dwight Howard giving back.
Hornets @ Raptors prediction (RealSport101.com)
"This is a vital game for the Hornets, who really can’t afford the negativity that would come with an empty three-game road swing. Unfortunately for them, that is what will happen because they are running into a Raptors buzz-saw and Toronto should roll to a 121-102 victory."
This is a tough matchup for Charlotte who has lost all three previous meeting versus Toronto this season by an average of 17 points. The Hornets haven’t had much success slowing down the DeMar DeRozan and company this year as the Raptors have averaged 126 against them. Steve Clifford’s side will look to avoid being swept by the Raptors and get a statement victory over the best team in the East.
What makes it even tougher for Charlotte is that Toronto has the best home record in the NBA at 25-5. This is the final game of the Hornets’ three-game road trip and there is a good chance that they will return home winless with losses to the Boston Celtics, the Philadelphia 76ers and the Raptors. Based on how poorly they’ve played vs their neighbors north of the border, I’d expect another blowout loss for Kemba Walker and company.
10 players who fell off in the last 5 years (FadeawayWorld.com)
"Constant injuries and being traded from one place to another have made it quite difficult for MCW to get settled and find his stroke, and even his defense has taken a major downfall despite his huge wingspan, and it seems like the 76ers made the right move after everybody thought they were crazy for parting ways with their RoY."
It’s clear that Carter-Williams is nowhere close to what many expected him to be after his breakout rookie season. Michael is currently having one of the worst shooting seasons in NBA history and has mostly been a liability off of Charlotte’s bench this season. At only 26-years old, he’s completely fallen off. There is a good chance that this could be his last year in the league.
MCW’s stats have significantly dropped each season since his first year and he is now averaging career-low numbers across the board for Charlotte. Hornets’ legend Al Jefferson was also named to this list as he’s not been the same playing since leaving the Queen City team and joining the Indiana Pacers. To be fair to Big Al, he is in the later stages of his career so a dip in form isn’t unexpected.
Dwight Howard gives back (NBA.com)
"Charlotte Hornets big man Dwight Howard donates a state-of-the-art weight room to the students of Tri-Cities High School in Atlanta."
Next: Dwight Howard wants to finish his career in Charlotte
The weight room that Howard donated looks incredible has to be one of the best high school facilities in the state. What a great opportunity for those students and what a way for Dwight to make a difference in young athletes lives. Howard said that he didn’t have a weight room when he was in high school so it makes sense as to why he would want to do this for these kids.