Charlotte Hornets: Analyzing SI’s Midseason Grade

The Charlotte Hornets finished the first half of the 2020-21 NBA season last Wednesday with a win on the road against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Through 35 games, the Hornets have a record of 17-18 and currently sit seventh in the Eastern Conference standings. The Hornets will begin the second half of the season on March 11 at home against the Detriot Pistons.

Sports Illustrated recently released its midseason grade for all 30 NBA teams; the Hornets received a B.

"Charlotte Hornets: BCharlotte has been one of the top surprises of the NBA season as it has fought its way into the playoff conversation. Gordon Hayward is having his best season since being named an All-Star in 2016–17 while LaMelo Ball has added excitement at point guard in his rookie year. The Hornets will be a team to watch in the second half as they attempt to clinch their first playoff berth since 2015–16."

When the Hornets signed Gordon Hayward to a four-year, $120 million contract, CBS Sports called the signing one of the worst free-agent contracts in recent memory due to Hayward missing 111 regular season and 31 playoff games in three years as a member of the Boston Celtics and his per-game averages declining.

However, Hayward has been a big reason for the Hornets’ early-season success. Hayward had remained relatively healthy, starting and appearing in 31 of the Hornets’ 35 games so far this season, and he’s playing the most minutes he has played per game (34.8) since his second to last season with the Utah Jazz during the 2015-16 season. Hayward leads the Hornets in scoring at 21.5 points per game, also averaging 5.4 rebounds and 3.9 assists while shooting 48.7% from the field and 40.5% from three (highest percentage since the 2012-13 season).

Rookie sensation LaMelo Ball has provided a level of excitement that hasn’t been seen and felt in Charlotte possibly since the early days of the Alonzo Mourning-Larry Johnson era. Ball has certainly adjusted to the NBA-level quicker than most expected. Ball has stepped up his performance since he was inserted into the starting lineup on February 1. In the last 15 games as a starter, Ball has averaged 20.7 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 6.7 assists per game. The leading Rookie of the Year contender should enter the second half of the season as the Hornets’ permanent starter at point guard.

While Ball is the Charlotte guard that most of the Hornets’ talk is focused on, it’s another guard that has been the team’s most valuable player during the first half of the season, Terry Rozier.

Rozier has been the Hornets’ do-everything player this season. When Charlotte needs a shot, an assist, a rebound, or a stop at a crucial point of the game, Rozier has been the guy to step up and make the play. Rozier has appeared and started in 33 of the Hornets’ 35 games so far this season and is second on the team in scoring averaging 20.5 points per game. He’s also averaging 3.8 rebounds, 3.2 assists, and 1.4 steals while shooting 49% from the field and 43.9% from three.

The Hornets have also benefited early this season due to Miles Bridges and Malik Monk’s play off the bench.

The Hornets have exceeded both fan and media expectations so far this season. Most predicted that Charlotte would finish near or at the bottom of the league this season but they are currently the playoff mix. Unless something drastic changes the Hornets’ fortunes during the second half of the season, at the very least, the Hornets should have the opportunity to earn an opportunity at the seventh or eighth seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs through the play-in tournament.