How the Charlotte Hornets can learn from the Miami Heat

The Charlotte Hornets are getting used to watching the NBA playoffs from their collective couches. At this point, the team is kind of searching for its identity. With the NBA Draft, free agency, and finding a head coach all on the docket for this summer, the Hornets could look drastically different in 2022-23.

While the Hornets are going through an identity crisis, their division rival Miami Heat continue to carve their way through the playoffs year after year. In their recent six-game victory over the Philadelphia 76ers, the Heat advanced to their second Eastern Conference Finals in the past three seasons.

What does this mean for the Hornets? First, it means their division is pretty good (or at least top-heavy). With Jimmy Butler, Trae Young, LaMelo Ball, Bradley Beal, Bam Adebayo, and Kyle Lowry all calling this division home, there are All-Star-caliber players at every turn.

In order to remain competitive in the Southeast, Charlotte has to snag an All-Star-level player in 2022. Whether they get lucky in the Draft and move up, or they sign (or trade) for one this offseason, the Hornets have to improve dramatically just to keep up with their own division, a division in which they won 43 games and finished third in.

Second, the Hornets have to get better on the defensive side of the court. Despite possessing a top-five offense in points per game (115.3) and a top-10 offensive rating (114.1) in 2021-22, Charlotte ranked 25th in opposing points per game (114.9) and 23rd in defensive rating (113.7).

Miami just held Philly to 97.5 points per game in a six-game series. Defense wins championships. Philly was supposed to have the next Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant pair-up in Joel Embiid and James Harden. Miami shut them down by playing elite defense and passable-to-good offense.

While it is always nice to see your team on the highlight reel because of flashy dunks or high-scoring games, a truly impressive team defends their way into the playoffs, and that is something the Hornets have not done for quite some time.

In order for 2022-23 to be a success, a number of things need to happen in Charlotte. First and foremost though, the Hornets have to take a page from their top-seeded Southeast division rival and play some defense.