Swarm and Sting
Fansided

Report Card: Grading the Charlotte Hornets midway through the season

By Jason Huber

BOSTON, MA - JANUARY 19: Miles Bridges #0, Terry Rozier #3 and LaMelo Ball #2 of the Charlotte Hornets look on during a game against the Boston Celtics at TD Garden on January 19, 2022 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA - JANUARY 19: Miles Bridges #0, Terry Rozier #3 and LaMelo Ball #2 of the Charlotte Hornets look on during a game against the Boston Celtics at TD Garden on January 19, 2022 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images) /
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We are already over halfway through the 2021-22 NBA season and just a few weeks away from the all-star break, and the Charlotte Hornets are firmly in the postseason mix. It’s been quite the solid season for the Hornets who have stayed firmly in the Eastern Conference playoff mix all year.

There have been some great stretches for Charlotte and some bad losses but unless there is a complete collapse like we saw last year, the Hornets look to be on their way for a playoff berth for the first time since 2016.

Offensively, Charlotte has been incredible. They’ve been a top-three offense all season and are becoming must-see TV.

However, the defense has been the biggest letdown of the team and despite improvements recently, not having a reliable big man remains a question that will likely make or break the Hornets this season.

Charlotte has five players averaging more than 15 points per game and while they very likely won’t be competing for the title this year, this team is headed in the right direction.

We will soon find out whether the Hornets have players make the all-star team but before that, I graded each player who has played meaningful minutes this season, including head coach James Borrego.

The head coach

James Borrego, Charlotte Hornets head coach (Mike Watters-USA TODAY Sports
James Borrego, Charlotte Hornets head coach (Mike Watters-USA TODAY Sports /

James Borrego, Grade: B

After leading the team to a play-in game last season, there was some pressure entering this year for James Borrego to guide the team back to the postseason.

The Hornets got off to a 5-2 start but the team then lost five-straight games, sparking even more questions about whether Borrego was the right guy to continue leading this team.

Ultimately, Borrego has gotten the team back on track and besides a pretty bad loss to the league-worst Orlando Magic, Charlotte has been hot since mid-December.

Borrego hasn’t been perfect but his team is playing well and he gets a very solid grade for that.

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