NBA 2015-16 season: Grading every team’s performance
By Tom West
Charlotte Hornets (A-)
Kemba Walker has upped his scoring by four points per game from last season to 21.1 for 2015-16 with career-highs in field goal percentage (42.8) and three-point percentage (37.4), becoming an efficient scorer with far more effectiveness from range to go along with his driving ability. He’s led this Hornets team in the absence of the team’s best defender, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, and the former star center, Al Jefferson, for much of the season, and everyone else has followed suit.
After pulling off the biggest comeback in the Tim Duncan era to defeat the Spurs 91-88 on March 21, overcoming a 23-point deficit as Linsanity took off, it’s clear that an awful lot is possible for the Hornets.
Beyond Walker’s star power leading the way, head coach Steve Clifford has his team operating to the best of their potential all over the floor. They move the ball and put forward a balanced offensive attack with players such as Courtney Lee (acquired in a deadline week trade), Jeremy Lamb and even Frank Kaminsky at times coming off the bench, while the 2015 free agency addition of Nicolas Batum has added a vital playmaker and defender to the starting lineup.
As for their defense, it’s once again a team effort with resilience at the perimeter thanks to good structure from Clifford and timely, energetic switches and rotations from the players.
Plus, now that Jefferson has returned from injury, they have a talented low-post scorer to add some more diversity off the bench.
The Hornets have dealt with major injuries to major players and have still found a way to swarm towards the upper levels of the Eastern Conference. If that wasn’t enough, they ranked in the top 10 for both offensive and defensive efficiency, too.
They’ve truly proven what personal drive to improve, great coaching and high energy can do, and they’re a dark horse to watch in the first round of the playoffs because of it.
Next: Miami Heat