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Charlotte Hornets: 5 bold predictions for 2017-18 NBA season

By Jen Julie Smith

CHARLOTTE, NC - NOVEMBER 03: Hugo the mascot of the Charlotte Hornets during their game at Time Warner Cable Arena on November 3, 2015 in Charlotte, North Carolina. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
CHARLOTTE, NC - NOVEMBER 03: Hugo the mascot of the Charlotte Hornets during their game at Time Warner Cable Arena on November 3, 2015 in Charlotte, North Carolina. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /
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Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images
Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images /

The Charlotte Hornets added a few nice pieces, including Dwight Howard. This article includes five bold predictions for their 2017-18 NBA season.

Last year, the Charlotte Hornets missed the playoffs, finishing with a 36-46 record. It wasn’t even close, because Charlotte found itself in the 11th spot in the standings and five games out of the eighth seed.

It wasn’t a season to remember, but with their offseason moves, there’s hope that history doesn’t repeat itself.

Why were the Hornets so bad? Their 3-point shooting, for one. They finished in the bottom half of the league, making 35.1 percent of their long range shots.

Secondly, the Hornets were not a good road team with a 14-27 record away from home last season. Part of the reason they struggled during away games is because they’re not a physical team either. So, hopefully other teams will see that there’s a new man in town, Dwight Howard, and realize that they can no longer push around the Hornets like they did before.

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Before Howard arrived, there was a softness about the Hornets. They don’t have a reputation for playing dirty, which is a good thing. But they also don’t have a reputation for playing bang-bang basketball when needed.

To top it all off, Kemba Walker was just not an effective leader last season. Walker’s job, as the point guard, is to get his teammates involved. Yet, last season he only averaged 5.5 assists per game.

Thus, unless Walker changed into Russell Westbrook over the summer, he’s going to have to start sharing the ball to help improve Charlotte’s offensive efficiency. Otherwise, the Hornets could miss the playoffs in a weak Eastern Conference, because Michael Jordan isn’t walking through that door.

Heading into the 2017-18 NBA season, here’s a look at five bold predictions for the Charlotte Hornets.

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