Writers’ Round-table: Charlotte Hornets November Recap
5. What can the Charlotte Hornets do to be better in December?
Giovanni Spillman: It’s no lie, but we all know that the Hornets need to finish out close games down the stretch. Allowing players like Frank Kaminsky to get more playing time has bolded well for the team lately. In the last five games, Kaminsky is averaging nine points and 4.2 rebounds per game; this is great for a player who has barely played thus far. I would like to see Coach Borrego continue his lineup experiments, and see if he can make an addition to the starting unit.
Zachary Padmore: The number one thing that I think the Hornets NEED to be better with is closing out games. They’ve let multiple games slip away from them due to poor play during the clutch moments. Every game matters, and if they keep letting these games get away from them late, they’re going to look back at the end of the season in disgust.
Elijah Edwards: In my opinion, their inability to win close games is their biggest flaw right now. Losing to lesser teams is an issue as well, but you win four more of those 11 games decided by five points or less, you’re at 7-4 in those scenarios. That would leave them currently at 13-6, putting them around 4th in the Eastern Conference. They’re also currently 3-7 on the road, so that’ll need to improve as well.
De White: Twenty-one games in and I can see some prey pesky and annoying common occurrences. We have to be able to close out games better than we have. Eight lost games decided by five points or less? We have to be able to pull away and secure those wins more. We need to protect the three-point line better, and we definitely need more points in the paint. I get that we want to try to shoot and make a more significant amount of threes, but we have to be able to hang in the interior and score as well. We have to have more a more balanced and blended game that encompasses the inside as well as the outside. We cannot always rely on long range.
Stephen Waniewski: In the upcoming month, if the team can learn to close out games then the Hornets will climb the standings in the east. They’ve got tough matchups versus western conference teams, but, multiple games against lesser eastern foes like the Cavs, Nets, and Knicks. Most importantly, production from the higher paid players is needed.
Nick Cipriani: Crunch time. Crunch time. Crunch time. We need to close out games that are tight. We need to be stronger in the final two minutes and stay strong defensively near the end of games. We need to beat teams that are seller dwellers of the league and need to pull off tight games against the contenders. We need to win games that we are supposed to and continue to grind against the better opponents.