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5 reasons the Charlotte Hornets will be a top 5 team in the East

By John Barnet

Oct 17, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; Charlotte Hornets head coach Steve Clifford gives instructions to his team in a game against the Chicago Bulls during the second half at the United Center. The Hornets won 108-104 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 17, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; Charlotte Hornets head coach Steve Clifford gives instructions to his team in a game against the Chicago Bulls during the second half at the United Center. The Hornets won 108-104 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-USA TODAY Sports /
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Oct 17, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; Charlotte Hornets head coach Steve Clifford gives instructions to his team in a game against the Chicago Bulls during the second half at the United Center. The Hornets won 108-104 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 17, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; Charlotte Hornets head coach Steve Clifford gives instructions to his team in a game against the Chicago Bulls during the second half at the United Center. The Hornets won 108-104 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-USA TODAY Sports /

The Charlotte Hornets impressed last season. Here’s five reasons they’ll be a top five team in the East in 2016-17.

Last year was big for the Charlotte Hornets. After years of cellar-dwelling as the Bobcats, they seemed to fit the pieces together and had a fantastic year. That said, there are challenges for small market teams like the Hornets. LeBron isn’t going away any time soon and the Hornets won’t be competing for a title. They can, however, find solace in achieving some smaller goals, such as being a top five team in the Eastern Conference and winning a playoff series or two. Here’s five reasons this will be the year the Hornets reach these goals.

5. Elite Defense

In three seasons under Steve Clifford, the Hornets have finished in the top 10 in defensive efficiency. Since day one, Clifford has preached protecting the paint, defensive rebounding and limiting transition points. Last season, the Hornets ranked third in points in the paint allowed per game, first in defensive rebounding percentage and 12th in opponent fast break points. This was actually a down year for the Hornets in terms of opponent fast break points. In the two seasons prior, Charlotte ranked third and first, respectively. Nonetheless, Steve Clifford has built a clear identity for the Charlotte Hornets and that gives them a chance to play well on the defensive end night in and night out.

Not only have the Hornets been a top defensive team over the past three seasons, they’ve managed to do it without a ton of talent on the defensive end. Aside from Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, the Hornets have never had any great defensive players. In particular, Charlotte has lacked a true rim protector. For most of Clifford’s tenure, Al Jefferson has been the starting center, and Jefferson is a notoriously bad defender and rim protector.

Last season, Cody Zeller was inserted into the starting lineup when Al Jefferson injured his knee. Although Zeller was an upgrade defensively, he’s still not a true rim protector (though he’s a very capable pick-and-roll defender). The Hornets were also without Kidd-Gilchrist for the majority of the season. In the past Charlotte has struggled defensively without Kidd-Gilchrist. Last year ended this trend, as they were still able to finish the season as a top 10 defensive unit. Even without a bevy of defensive talent, Clifford has found ways to get his team playing at a high level on the defensive end.

With the return of Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, the team’s best defender, along with the addition of Roy Hibbert, the Hornets will once again be an elite defensive team.

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