At 7-23, the Charlotte Hornets are likely headed to the lottery, which, as pundits have reiterated, isn't a bad thing for a rebuilding team. Their roster still has several flaws, and the draft can be a good way of addressing them. It would probably be better for the franchise to add a reinforcement than end up as first-round fodder in the playoffs.
However, if the Hornets find themselves tired of missing out on the playoffs for the ninth straight season, they will have to find a way to turn things around after a brief respite over the Christmas holidays.
Perhaps the most plausible pathway to reach that stage is through the play-in tournament. If the last campaign, when the Atlanta Hawks secured 10th place in the Eastern Conference with a 36-46 record at the end of the regular season, is used as a benchmark, Charlotte must go 29-24 the rest of the way.
Can this Hornets squad sustain a record of above .500 in the next three months? It is certainly possible as long as its core pieces are healthy and clicking together. Also, although it is easier said than done, it is not without precedent, as evidenced by some of the team's best post-Christmas runs since the team was reestablished as the Charlotte Bobcats in 2004 and .
2021-22 season
A reason there is plenty of optimism in Queen City about its hoops squad's future is that only two years ago, it was able to finish with a winning record. By the time Christmas Day came, the Hornets were 17-17 and tied for seventh in the Eastern Conference.
Behind LaMelo Ball's first All-Star campaign and Miles Bridges' efficient scoring and all-around game, the team went 26-22 (.542 winning percentage) after Christmas. However, its 43-39 standing was only good enough for 10th place in the East, as its conference rivals performed better in the final stretch of the regular season.
2015-16 season
The last time the Hornets made the playoffs, Kemba Walker was still playing for the team and not coaching it. The postseason appearance stemmed from a strong post-Christmas run that saw it win 32 of its 53 contests, equivalent to a .604 winning percentage.
That was quite a season for Charlotte, as it finished in the top 10 in both offensive and defensive ratings. Unfortunately, its run ended in the first round of the playoffs, losing in seven games to the third-seeded Miami Heat.
2013-14 season
Before the organization reverted to its Hornets moniker in the 2014 offseason, it finished its short-lived Bobcats era on a good note by making its second playoff appearance during that incarnation.
A 43-39 record was made possible by a 29-24 (.547) run after Christmas, thanks to a then-rookie coach, Steve Clifford, proving he is one of the best defensive minds in the NBA. On offense, the crew was led by Al Jefferson, who made his lone All-NBA selection that year.
2009-10 season
In the 2009-10 campaign, the Bobcats looked on the way to a sixth consecutive losing season, winning just 11 of their 27 contests before Christmas. They were able to start turning things around by January, ending the month two games above .500. Charlotte ultimately won 33 of its 55 matches (.600) after the holidays to secure the No. 7 seed in the East.
The team's resurgence was buoyed by a pretty stout defense that held opponents to a league-best 93.8 points per game.