Charlotte Hornets: 3 Keys that will help Charlotte make the playoffs
3 Keys that will help Charlotte make the playoffs: The Charlotte Hornets need to stay healthy
The most important thing the Hornets can do to make the playoffs is stay healthy.
The Hornets got hit hard with the injury bug near the end of last season. Gordan Hayward, LaMelo Ball and Malik Monk were just some of the notable players that missed significant time for Charlotte.
The Hornets climbed all the way to No. 4 in the standings last year before plummeting to No. 10. That drop-off happened due to injuries.
Hayward and Ball combined to miss 49 games last season. Charlotte cannot afford for those guys to miss significant time again this year. They need to be on the court.
To keep Hayward on the floor, head coach James Borrego and his staff will implement a minutes management plan to ensure Hayward is not overworking his body.
On the minutes management:
— Sam Perley (@sam_perley) September 27, 2021
"I trust the training staff... I understand it and it'll be a constant communication with JB and the staff in order to best maximize me. I want to be playing my best basketball at the end of the year."
Hayward is important to the success of this Hornets team. In their last 24 games without him, Charlotte went 8-16 and looked lost at times.
This year’s Hornets team is built to survive injury much better than last year’s team was, but the Eastern Conference has only gotten tougher as teams have improved. If Charlotte wants to find success this year, then top to bottom, the roster must be healthy, especially when it matters the most.