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NBA: 2015-16 Eastern Conference Projections

By Shane Young

May 12, 2015; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) celebrates after a 106-101 win over the Chicago Bulls in game five of the second round of the NBA Playoffs at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports
May 12, 2015; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) celebrates after a 106-101 win over the Chicago Bulls in game five of the second round of the NBA Playoffs at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dec 3, 2014; Charlotte, NC, USA; Charlotte Hornets guard Kemba Walker (15) looks to the referee for a foul call as he hits the floor hard during the first half of the game against the Chicago Bulls at Time Warner Cable Arena. Mandatory Credit: Sam Sharpe-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 3, 2014; Charlotte, NC, USA; Charlotte Hornets guard Kemba Walker (15) looks to the referee for a foul call as he hits the floor hard during the first half of the game against the Chicago Bulls at Time Warner Cable Arena. Mandatory Credit: Sam Sharpe-USA TODAY Sports /

12.  Charlotte Hornets:  28-53

Weakest month:  March — 16 games, .434 (28th)

Hardest month:  December — 14 games, .548 (5th)

Overall strength of schedule:  21st

Pretty obvious to say 75% or more of the NBA mass got it wrong about the 2014-15 Hornets?  The amount of playoff projections for Charlotte last Fall greatly out-numbered the lottery projections.  Lance Stephenson wasn’t supposed to be one complete waste and absurdity.  Kemba Walker wasn’t supposed to miss 20 games due to injury.  A torn meniscus kept Walker out of action from January 24th to March 9th, however, and Michael Jordan’s margin for error for the playoffs greatly decreased.

This season, the belief on Charlotte is that they’ve improved more than any other East team that missed the playoffs.  There could be some credence to this, based on what they’ve added and subtracted from the roster.  No longer will Stephenson be shooting 18-of-105 from long-range, or playing recklessly in 26 minutes for Steve Clifford.  No longer will Gerald Henderson be aggravating Charlotte fans with his average and humdrum play with the ball in his hands.

Nicolas Batum seems to be an upgrade on the perimeter for the Hornets, despite shooting 3.7% lower than Henderson and being a few notches below in scoring (Henderson scored 15.1 points per 36 minutes in Charlotte, compared to Batum’s 10 points per 36 in Portland).  Many would ponder why Batum is considered “better,” and that answer lies in his complete offensive repertoire.

Batum is one of the more gifted passers when you consider his size (6’8″, 200 pounds) and that’s the primary reason Terry Stotts loved his presence with the Blazers. He’s unselfish, doesn’t look for his own shot as much as Henderson, and works within any team’s system.

Mar 15, 2015; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Portland Trail Blazers forward Nicolas Batum (88) goes to the basket against Toronto Raptors guard Terrence Ross (31) at Air Canada Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 15, 2015; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Portland Trail Blazers forward Nicolas Batum (88) goes to the basket against Toronto Raptors guard Terrence Ross (31) at Air Canada Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports /

For a team that needs more ball movement and creativity in its offense, such as the Hornets, Batum could certainly help.  Last season, Batum generated 10.9 points per game off his assists.  Henderson?  Well under Batum’s level, with only 5.6 points generated per game.

Coming onto the scene for the Hornets’ bench is the combination of point guard Jeremy Lin, rookie sniper Aaron Harrison, the No. 9 draft pick Frank Kaminsky, Tyler Hansbrough, and Spencer Hawes.

So, you probably wonder … why are they set to win less games when they’ve upgraded their lineup and bench?

Have you ever been dumped by your significant other, and heard the phrase “It’s not you, it’s me?”

Charlotte is the one getting ditched, and it doesn’t have much to do with their offseason actions.  It’s because the East should collectively improve and “steal” a few wins away from them, regardless of how much they seem improved.  The only thing that would’ve dramatically shifted their chances at making the playoffs was a superstar coming to Buzz City.

Mar 17, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Charlotte Hornets center Al Jefferson (25) talks with an official during the third quarter against the Los Angeles Clippers at Staples Center. The Los Angeles Clippers won 99-92. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 17, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Charlotte Hornets center Al Jefferson (25) talks with an official during the third quarter against the Los Angeles Clippers at Staples Center. The Los Angeles Clippers won 99-92. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports /

Too many teams are in the mix for seeds 7 and 8, as the Pacers, Heat, Bucks, Celtics, and Pistons are all heading in the proper direction.  The Hornets’ chances at exploding into the 40-win range this year is about as probable as Kemba Walker shooting 40% for an entire season.  Oh, don’t look — that’s only a 25% chance based on Walker’s first four seasons.  Just once!

Charlotte hopefuls shouldn’t fret too much, because of what the future holds.  Inking Michael Kidd-Gilchrist to a four-year contract extension will prove to give MJ some fantastic value on his best defender.  $13 million per season will end up being more than reasonable for someone that aggravates the best superstars on a nightly basis.

Unless they make more foolish mistakes and fail to repair this contemptible offense, the Hornets will knock down the playoff doors in 2016-17.  Just not so fast.

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