3 disastrous outcomes for the Charlotte Hornets in 2023-24

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CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA – JANUARY 04: Xavier Tillman #2 of the Memphis Grizzlies dunks against Mark Williams #5 of the Charlotte Hornets during the second half of the game at Spectrum Center on January 04, 2023 in Charlotte, North Carolina. 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 Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images) /

3. Mark Williams end of season run does not carry over

When the Charlotte Hornets traded Mason Plumlee last season and turned the starting center position over to Mark Williams they were able to get some pretty good results over the final stretch of games. Williams averaged 11.6 points, 9.8 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks in 17 games, and looks like he has seized that role moving forward. But what if that end-of-season stretch was simply the result of the season winding down and playing in starting lineup consisting of afterthoughts?

It could be a rude awakening for Williams and the Hornets if those performances turned out to be nothing more than a mirage. Things can get flukey for a team where their competitive period of the season ended much earlier than others. While this can allow organizations to discover otherwise buried talent, it can also lead to incorrect and overvalued evaluations of players. There is a delicate balance required when analyzing performances from this period of a season and there are plenty of instances of it not being done properly.

This is not to say that Williams is incapable of being a good player. It just recognizing the fact that they are going all-in with him as their starter center to begin the season without a veteran to fall back on if he falters. That is a very dangerous game to be playing for an organization looking to reestablish itself and it can lead to massive issues near the basket if their approach backfires.

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