After a solid start to the season, the Charlotte Hornets have suffered an eight game losing streak that leaves them with a record of 4-13. With the playoff race looking very competitive this year in the East, the newly re-named franchise are losing precious ground already.
This year was, and possibly still is, looking very promising for Kemba Walker’s team. Their early record of 4-5 portrayed that they were serious contenders for a playoff spot, and after a logical defeat to the Heat in the first round of last year’s postseason, the Hornets had something solid to build and work on. Their recent slump may just be one of those rare occasions where the blame can be placed on one man; Lance Stephenson.
His arrival this summer from Indiana was an acquisition that gave hope to the whole franchise. With Stephenson and Walker in the back court, the Hornets had found an explosive, talented duo. But recently it seems that Lance Stephenson has struggled to make the transition from Indiana to Charlotte.
Steve Clifford, the Hornets’ coach, believes the high expectations have been hard to handle for Stephenson, who bears the burden of an early star player role in what remains a young and inexperienced team:
“To be fair, one of the things that’s made it more difficult for him is that he came here and people proclaimed him as the next superstar,” Clifford said Wednesday. “He’s not a star. He’s a guy that has talent to become a star. To be a star in this league, you have to do it over years.”
Arguably, however, Lance Stephenson has definitely had the wrong approach to the expectations. In order to settle into a team, both with teammates and fans, it is imperative to be efficient early on; that means shooting efficiency, distributing the ball well (especially when you are a guard), and leading by example. Stephenson’s averages convey how he has not been playing clever, efficient basketball: 9.8 ppg on 37% FG, 20% 3 point FG and 2.5 turnovers. The areas where Stephenson has been leading the team is in turnovers and lowest 3 point percentage…
But it’s also to do with attitude. Lance Stephenson has always had a quirky side to him, someone who likes to chat and provoke. When you are being successful, that is understandable, and the mental war is part of the game. But this year his flopping and arrogance seem a little out of place for a player who is averaging single digits in points and playing for the team with the second longest losing streak in the league.
The future, however, still looks bright for this side, who can count on Stephenson improving throughout the season and a very solid Al Jefferson, who averages over 20 points a game on just under 50% FG. In addition to this, it must be stated that during their recent eight game losing streak the Hornets have played some very good teams, including the Warriors, the Blazers, the Clippers and the Mavericks.
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