Fansided

Charlotte Hornets should show big improvement

By Andrew Melnick

May 30, 2014; Miami, FL, USA; Indiana Pacers guard Lance Stephenson (1) wipes his face during a game against the Miami Heat in game six of the Eastern Conference Finals of the 2014 NBA Playoffs at American Airlines Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
May 30, 2014; Miami, FL, USA; Indiana Pacers guard Lance Stephenson (1) wipes his face during a game against the Miami Heat in game six of the Eastern Conference Finals of the 2014 NBA Playoffs at American Airlines Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports /
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After showing great improvement last season, the Charlotte Hornets are once again expected to take another step forward. Their big coup was signing guard Lance Stephenson away from the Indiana Pacers but they also added forward Marvin Williams and guards Jannero Pargo and Brian Roberts.

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Joel Brigham of Basketball Insiders believes the Hornets will be one of the most improved teams in basketball – again.

"Outside of Cleveland and Chicago, no Eastern Conference team improved themselves quite as much as the Charlotte Hornets did this past offseason. Obviously luring Lance Stephenson away from Indiana was a huge coup for them, and it definitely shores up their backcourt rotation. Rookies P.J. Hairston and Noah Vonleh both were pretty incredible values where they were selected in the draft, and both could contribute on this roster right away. Steve Clifford has quickly become one of the better coaches in the conference, and Al Jefferson shouldn’t be any less effective than he was a year ago. Without question, this is a team on the rise, and while they’re only ranked third in the Southeast Division in these projections, they could just as easily win it their first year as the Hornets."

Stephenson, of course, is the biggest reason for their optimism.

Stephenson averaged 13.8 points, 7.2 rebounds and 4.6 assists per game this season while shooting 49.1% from the field, 35.2% from beyond the arc and 71.1% from the charity stripe in the regular season. In the postseason, he put up 13.6 points, 6.9 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game. He shot 45.5% from the field, 35.8% from downtown and 71.4% from the free throw line. In his four-year career, he has averaged 9.1 points, 4.4 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game while shooting 46.7% from the field, 32.5% from three and 71.1% from the free throw line.

Be sure to check FanSided’s official NBA page to keep up to date on the latest news and rumors from around the league as we close in on the start of the season.

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