Wizards @ Hornets (11/25/15)

101-87 Win! I watched this game on a large television, and in the company of people who I enjoy watching sports with. Here are some thoughts:

• Clifford Extension: Coach Steve Clifford has agreed to terms on a three year extension with the Charlotte Hornets. As he made the local radio show rounds today, he repeatedly said that he was excited about this, and the people in the front office that will be supporting him. It seems to me like he has really learned and improved his ability to coach a team on offense, and his defensive chops will never be in question (hope this current Hornets iteration gets a little better at that). He mentioned that he thinks continuity is a big factor in teams improving year to year, and he definitely will be here to try to prove that point. He is a great coach, and I am glad Coach Clifford will be in the Queen City for the next 3+ seasons.
• Zeller & Kaminksy: The super subs from the Sacramento game were subbed in early for the Hornets in this game. They were a part of the first real “bench” unit that Clifford put on the floor. Their combined impact wasn’t as great as last game, but Cody did put up an impressive individual game, slithering into the open spaces on offense.
• Turnovers: An issue in the first quarter, where they had 5. A continued issue through the rest of the game, as they finished with a higher than average 19. It didn’t cost them the game tonight, but there is definitely a direct correlation between turning the ball over and having a harder time winning games. In the future, you would like to see these bobbled passes turn into catches. Kaminsky, Lamb, Batum, all had buckets slip away because of poor ball control.
• 3rd quarter woes: For a second game in a row, the Hornets were in a close game at halftime, then came out of the locker room and played a terrible third quarter. They were outscored by 11 in the third, and that made the 4th quarter comeback all the more difficult. I spent some time earlier in the post lauding Coach Clifford, but you would like to see him find a way to light a fire under this team to start the 3rd stanza.
• 4th quarter Woahs!!!!: 25-2 run to finish the game. That just about says it all. As hot as the Hornets were, the Wizards were just as cold. They couldn’t buy a bucket, and the Hornets defensive effort made sure that there were no easy shots to be had. A really, really impressive finish to the game.

Moving forward, I think that the Hornets have found their dual identities on offense. They are an inside out team when Al is in the game, and they are a pick and roll team when Zeller or Kaminsky are in the game. They have some playmakers on the floor at all times, which has never happened before. I think the biggest area to improve on is the defensive end, where this team may have a little bit of a glass ceiling because of personnel.