On balance, the 2023-24 season for the Hornets has certainly not been a great one. Sure, the past three games have been a joy to watch, and it truly does feel like some tides are turning in Charlotte since the trade deadline.
In fact, this little 3-0 run has been the best the Hornets have played all year, especially on the defensive end. It’s funny, things have been so bad for so long and now the team finally has a bit of positive momentum, and of course, we take a week-long break to kill the vibes.
Hopefully, this allows the team to practice a bit and build even more cohesion. It would be great to see them build on this hot start to the new era and keep it going for the stretch run of the season. Creating good habits that can be carried into future seasons would be a really nice outcome after a disastrous start to the season.
And overall, it has been a disaster of a season, reflected by the 13-41 record, the 30th-ranked defense, the 27th-ranked offense, and the 30th net rating in the NBA. Full disclosure, there are only 30 teams in the NBA.
Even through these relatively dark times, there have been some bright spots and silver linings. We’ve gotten a few positive surprises along the way, and there have been signs of hope for the future. Let’s take a look at the 3 most promising developments and surprises for the Hornets so far this season.