NBA Panic Meter: 10 Teams To Monitor

Nov 9, 2014; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant (24) goes past Charlotte Hornets forward Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (14) to the basket in the second half of the game at Staples Center. Lakers won 107-92. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports /

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Nov 5, 2014; Charlotte, NC, USA; Charlotte Hornets guard Lance Stephenson (1) after getting a foul called on him during the second half of the game against the Miami Heat at Time Warner Cable Arena. Hornets win 96-89. Mandatory Credit: Sam Sharpe-USA TODAY Sports /

Charlotte Hornets (3-4)

Can you say inconsistent? First, the Hornets barely bested the Milwaukee Bucks in overtime at home. Then they lost three straight games by a combined 14 points. They regrouped with back-to-back wins over good teams, defeating the Miami Heat and Atlanta Hawks at home. But last night, the Hornets fell to 3-4 on the season with an embarrassing defeat at the hands of the Los Angeles Lakers.

Panic Meter: 4 (Sleeping With One Eye Open)

Steve Clifford’s team is still stingy as ever on the defensive end, but his team also can’t score. It doesn’t help that Kemba Walker and Lance Stephenson are both shooting less than 40 percent from the field on the season, but if the Hornets don’t start harnessing Born Ready’s playmaking abilities, their inefficient offense may prevent them from ever truly challenging anyone in the East.

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