Uhm, does someone want to enlighten me as to why the Charlotte Hornets are, all of a sudden, a good NBA team? 

As of writing, and based on the past five games played, the Charlotte Hornets are a top-five offensive and defensive team, with the best overall net rating over the past 10 games (according to StatMuse). They’ve won seven of their last 10 games and are on pace to eke their way into the top six in the East. Again, what? 

These are the Hornets? The Charlotte Hornets, formerly Bobcats? The team previously owned by Michael Jeffery Jordan that hasn’t sniffed the Conference Semifinals since the first Bush administration? 

Apparently so. With an always flashy LaMelo Ball leading the charge, creating space and befuddling defences with his dynamic playstyle, the Hornets’ offence seems to be on a roll right now, with younger players like Brandon Miller and rookie Kon Knueppel both averaging around 20 points per game. As written by Matt Alguiza in their recent article on Sports Illustrated, “Of five-man groupings that have played at least 250 possessions together, the Hornets’ starting five has a net rating differential of +24.6, better than any high-usage lineup Oklahoma City, Boston, Denver, Detroit, or San Antonio can muster.”

That’s quite the stat. And the fact that they’re holding their own on the other side of the court as well, with a guy like Diabaté anchoring their defence, is all the more impressive and proof that this team may very well be able to make some noise in the East if healthy. I doubt that noise will be enough to make it out of (or even to) the first round of the playoffs, but this young core is definitely one to watch in the coming seasons.

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