Lance Stephenson: In Danger of Being a Bust?
By Evan Massey
Is Charlotte Hornets’ guard Lance Stephenson in danger of being a free agency bust?
The Charlotte Hornets signed shooting guard Lance Stephenson to a three-year, $27 million contract, and they simply haven’t seen the type of performances that they were expecting from him in their first two games. He was expected to be a legitimate third scorer alongside of Kemba Walker and Al Jefferson, and was also expected to help take over some of the playmaking duties to help free up Walker to be more of a scorer.
Take a look at Stephenson’s statistics last season with the Indiana Pacers:
Provided by Basketball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 11/2/2014.
Stephenson has averaged 4.5 points, 10.5 rebounds, and 6.0 assists through his first two games, and simply hasn’t looked like the player that everyone expected him to be. Charlotte has struggled a bit through the first two games, and there is some concern surrounding Stephenson moving forward.
Is Stephenson in danger of being a bust in Charlotte with the role that they appear to have him playing?
During his tenure with the Indiana Pacers, Stephenson improved as a scorer each and every season but was never a consistent shooter. He could knock down the three-point shot, but missed a good portion of his attempts and wasn’t consistent enough to be a spot up shooter. Stephenson is at his best when he’s going strong to the rim and using his body to power through defenders.
Defensively, he has been a work in progress since joining the Pacers, but has the athletic ability to become a much better defender. He has a tendency to turn his head and watch the ball, which allows his opponent to cut to the basket or get open for a three. His defense will continue to improve this season, and in the future as he continues to play and gain more experience.
There is no denying the “star” potential that Stephenson possesses, and he is still just 24 years old. He may not be playing well so far this year through two games, but there is no reason for Hornets fans to begin worrying about him.
Changing teams for the first time is always a difficult situation for a player to experience, and Stephenson is trying to figure out exactly what the Hornets are looking for from him. Michael Jordan is very high on Stephenson’s game, and he will figure things out over the next couple of weeks and get back to playing a high level of basketball.
Another thing that Stephenson has going for him is the attitude that he brings to the court. He is a bit arrogant, but the confidence that he has in his game shows through and will be a major help to him this year. Charlotte needed an emotional leader and someone that can stand up to the better players in the league like LeBron James, and Stephenson showed that he could do just that last season in the playoffs.
Many don’t like the “antics” that Stephenson had on the court last season, but there are others that believe that the attitude that Stephenson showed is something that needs to be on all teams.
Simply having the mindset that James is the best player in the NFL and that he shouldn’t be tested is exactly one of the reasons that James dominates teams. Stephenson may not have been able to dominate him and get under his skin all the time, but there were also times where it was very obvious that James was bothered and allowed Stephenson to get under his skin.
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Every player goes through periods in a season where they don’t play well, and that is exactly what is happening with Stephenson right now. Charlotte has a long season ahead of them, and they need to get used to having new players on the roster playing different roles. This type of start happens to most new players that switch teams and roles, and it works itself out with more experience and time on the court.
All of that being said, there is no reason for panic in Charlotte at this point in time. Stephenson is an incredibly talented player with a bright future ahead of him, and he will adjust to his role with the Hornets and begin living up to the expectations that have been set for him. Don’t expect these struggles to continue bothering him for too terribly much longer.