NBA Power Rankings: Playoff Edition

team. 170. <p>Everybody is sleeping on the Hornets, and I get it. This is <em>not</em> a “sexy” team in any way, shape or form, and that makes them virtually anonymous to the casual NBA fan. Charlotte is not a team with any real star power, especially depending on how you feel about Kemba Walker, but Steve Clifford has his club in really nice position to pull a quasi-upset in round one and that frankly would not surprise anyone who has been paying attention.</p> <p>Clifford’s central impact on this team can be felt on the defensive end. This version of the Hornets does not boast a single “elite” defensive player with Michael Kidd-Gilchrist on the shelf, but Charlotte managed to boast a top-ten defense in the NBA on a per-possession basis (101.8 points allowed per 100 poss.) and that is all Clifford.</p> <p>Offensively, Charlotte isn’t anything particularly special, but Walker can be dynamic when he has it going, Nic Batum is a stellar facilitator when called upon and even Marvin Williams is in the midst of the best season of his decade-long career. The Hornets aren’t “fun” in the traditional sense, but this is an NBA diehard’s dream team if you can get past the names on the back of the jerseys and they won 48 games for a reason.</p>. (48-34). Previous: . Charlotte Hornets. 10