Charlotte Hornets: 3 reasons why the team continues to struggle
Rebounding
Rebounding seems to be a problem that the Hornets continue to struggle with every season. However, credit is still due, as the Hornets are the 16th best rebounding team in the league; they were 26 last season.
The Hornets have found a lot of success on the offensive glass, averaging 11 rebounds on offense per game. The true problem comes on defense, where the Hornets only average 31.8; second-worst in the league.
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Allowing many offensive rebounds is demoralizing for a defense, and it helps the other team drain the clock. With the lack of defensive rebounds, it sort of ties into my last point on not scoring enough baskets.
The defense needs to give the Hornets a chance to get on offense. The Hornets have improved significantly on defending in the paint (Hornets are the 12th best paint defending team), but their lack of rebounds has allowed too many second-chance points.
At the moment, PJ Washington and LaMelo Ball are the top-2 defensive rebounders on the team. This does not look good when the starting center is averaging less than them.
I’m not sure how Coach Borrego can change this, but this could lead to Kupchak exploring trade options around the league for a center that can grab defensive boards.