Charlotte Hornets: 5 Keys To Turning The Series Around

Facing a 2-0 deficit, here’s what the Charlotte Hornets have to do to turn their first-round playoff series around.

Heading into Game 2 of their first round series against the Miami Heat, the Charlotte Hornets had some Game 1 demons to exorcise. They were outplayed in nearly every phase of that 32-point smackdown, with the Heat making damn near every shot in sight, limiting Charlotte’s three-point attack and killing the Hornets on the boards.

In Game 2, Charlotte’s renewed sense of energy and defensive intensity was apparent from the opening tip, but the Heat were once again in a whole different stratosphere. The Hornets kept it close and even cut the lead to seven with just over three minutes to go, but for the most part, there was nothing they could do to stem the tide of Miami’s unstoppable offense.

With the series heading back to Charlotte for a do-or-die Game 3, the Hornets are facing a 2-0 deficit against a team that’s looked virtually unbeatable on both ends of the floor.

But even though the odds seem insurmountable, this first round series isn’t over just yet. Here’s a look at what the Charlotte Hornets have to do in Game 3 — and for the rest of the series — to turn things around and stave off elimination.

Next: No. 5