Steve Clifford, now a southeast foe, still haunting the Charlotte Hornets

Charlotte Hornets Kemba Walker (Photo by Kent Smith/NBAE via Getty Images)
Charlotte Hornets Kemba Walker (Photo by Kent Smith/NBAE via Getty Images)

The Charlotte Hornets playoff hopes have become even slimmer now and their opponents in the Southeast division aren’t helping anything either.

The Charlotte Hornets are tied with the Miami Heat for the current eighth seed in the playoff picture. At 29-34, the Hornets chances at the playoffs are becoming slim as more critiques come in.

Tracy McGrady from NBA The Jump believe the Hornets will be left out of the Playoff Picture come April.

Wednesday’s game for the Hornets against the Heat should be looked at as a must win game. Every game from here on out should be. Not only for the sake of preventing a Dwayne Wade take over in Spectrum Center, but to make it in the playoffs over their southeast rivals.

The Hornets are playing for a chance to get a 3-0 lead over the Miami Heat in the season series.

The number eight seed may be up for grabs between the Magic and Hornets when they play in the last game of the season in Charlotte, April 10th. The Magic are coached by Steve Clifford, a guy who knows the Hornets very well after coaching in Charlotte for five seasons.

Whether or not you believe he should have been fired, a change in coaching was needed. Now, Charlotte must beat Clifford and his Orlando Magic squad who have climbed the standings in recent weeks.

Winning is a top priority to Kemba Walker, so expect MVP-like performances like we have seen from him before to do whatever it takes to win. Walker has been so important to the franchise and fan base for so long by keeping Charlotte relevant and in the playoff hunt at a consistent level.

Just imagine what this team would look like with no Kemba Walker. His contract will come to an end at the end of the season and Walker is expected to sign long term with the franchise. Analysist and sport personalities are eating up the possibility of Mr. Walker playing for a better team where he can compete in the playoffs and get passed the first round.

As desperate as some fans want Kemba to stay a Hornet and say yes to Michael Jordan, some fans want to send him to a better home. While the franchise point leader works his butt off night in and night out, what do the organization give him at the trade deadline? — NOTHING.

The Charlotte Hornets instead signed Shelvin Mack to a rotation of guards where Dwayne Bacon and Devonte’ Graham deserve playing time to blossom. If you’re Kemba Walker, after all these years you can only question some of the things the Hornets have done to stay mediocre and change.

Look for the Hornets to pick up the intensity every single game with a sense of urgency to win and steal a playoff seed. Well, or so we can hope.