Charlotte Hornets preview brought to you by "Oh my god what the fuck is that disembodied arm in the header holy shit"

Hey Dubs Nation! So I’m pretty sure you guys are aware, but your Warriors play my Hornets tonight in Charlotte as you guys try and go for 20-0. I just wanted to let you guys know a little bit about your 20th opponent, as it still seems like most of the league just thinks of us as “that team Michael Jordan owns.”

Season Summary

As of today, the Hornets sit at 10-7 with wins over the Mavericks, Bulls, Wizards, and Kings. We really don’t have a bad loss this season, as our biggest loss on the year was by 20 to the Spurs (which was a little closer than that, to be fair) and our worst loss came against the Knicks in MSG. So… not too bad! We expect to challenge for one of the lower seeds in the now sneaky-deep Eastern Conference. The best-case scenario probably is around the 6th seed, which would be pretty freaking awesome.

Style of Play

So last season, the Hornets were best known for being a team that couldn’t shoot and played hustle defense and tried to win every game 85-82. Well after watching you guys win the championship last season, GM Rich Cho and coach Steve Clifford decided to change up the roster and focus on a more offensive strategy. With the additions of Nic Batum, Jeremy Lin, and Frank Kaminsky in the offseason, the Buzz have morphed into a running-and-gunning machine that takes a shit-ton more threes (12th in 3FGA, 11th in 3FG%) than last season. Trust me when I say that we’re enjoying being 6th in the NBA in PPG after finishing 28th last year. The defense has been... shaky, but this has been an incredibly exciting season so far for the Buzz.

Star Players

Kemba Walker (34.4 MPG, 18.4 PPG, 5.0 APG, 46.3% FG)- Kemba has taken his game to a different level this season. Because the Hornets brought in new scoring options in the offseason, he’s been able to better conserve his energy over the course of games and unleash all hell during 4th quarters (see his performance in the overtime victory over Sacramento has a reference). He’s still a high-volume guy (14.2 FGA per game), but he’s been so much more efficient this season (39.7% 3FG, 6% better than his career high). Look for the Buzz to put the ball in his hands early and often.

Nic Batum (35.2 MPG, 16.8 PPG, 6.2 RPG, 4.5 APG)- The trade for Batum was seen as an incredibly risky one by most of the league, but it seems like the Frenchman is right at home in Charlotte. Batum is probably our player who is the most dangerous when he catches fire; if he makes a couple threes (40.2% 3FG), he’ll start taking (and making) them from almost anywhere. So far, he’s seen wild success from handoff plays and coming off screens, either pulling up for mostly open 3s or slashing to the hoop for easier attempts. When he’s on the floor, Batum is either our number one or number two defender, and he’s alright at that. He plays interchangeably between SG and SF, creating some interesting lineups for the Hornets.

Injuries

Al Jefferson, PhD, injured his calf in the win over Milwaukee on Sunday and he’ll be gone for a few weeks. In the context of the GSW game, it won’t hurt us too badly. We all know how ineffective plodding big men who can’t defend the rim are against the Warriors. Also, Jeremy Lin is questionable with a low-grade ankle sprain. As our occasional starting SG and captain of the bench squad, Lin would be a huge loss for this game. His ballsy drives to the rim have been really fun to watch this season.

Rotations

Without Lin, our starting lineup will probably be something along the lines of Kemba-PJ Hairston-Batum-Marvin Williams-Cody Zeller. That’s not an inspiring lineup by any stretch, but the Hornets have really thrived with their depth this season. Zeller and Williams are our best defensive big man pairing, so expect to see a lot of them. Frank the Tank is our best offensive big man right now because of his shooting and quick passing, but he will struggle defensively against GSW’s spread attack. We might even see some Spencer Hawes. I’m going to apologize to you guys in advance; no one should have to spend time in his or her life watching Spencer Hawes on a Wednesday night in early December. Otherwise, watch out for A TON of Jeremy Lamb, as his long frame and scoring touch will be crucial if the Hornets want to pull the upset. In the 4th quarter, Kemba-Lamb-Batum-Williams-Zeller will likely be Charlotte’s go-to lineup.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Okay, so exactly how much do you guys like teal?

As much as Clippers players like bitching at refs.

What’s the deal with that court?

It’s only the most distinctive court in the entire NBA. Our fan base loves it for the most part; for a franchise that gets almost no national media attention outside of our famous owner, it really sets us apart from all the others.

Should I possibly look into watching on a Hornets broadcast?

YES! The Buzz have the only three-person booth in the entire NBA with Eric Collins, Dell Curry, and Stephanie Ready (who is also the only full-time female color analyst in the league). Acclaimed former Grantland-er Zach Lowe has gone on record calling it one of the best broadcast experiences in the NBA, as these Charlotte announcers are some of the least-biased and most informative in the league. Also, you get to hear Dell talk awkwardly about his son for two-and-a-half hours. What’s not to love? If you want to hear more about Ready and her story, check out her podcast with Lowe from this summer here.

Hey, Steph is from Charlotte, right? Are you guys big fans?

North Carolinian Hornets fans FUCKING LOVE Steph Curry. And I don’t mean love like “I root for him when he’s on TV and I follow some of his social media accounts because he’s super dope.” I mean love like “I follow ALL of his social media and I might have gotten a custom Hornets jersey with his name on it in anticipation of his homecoming in a few years.” Our fans are weird, man.

Any cool nicknames?

I’ve wanted the Hornets to be known as “The Buzz” for a couple seasons now, similar to how you guys have been “The Dubs.” I keep trying to make it happen, but not much success so far.

Where can I go to find out more about the Hornets?

Our official team subreddit is r/charlottehornets and our SB Nation blog is At The Hive AND if you want a podcast to listen to that addresses the team’s recent run of form, check out the latest Hive Talk Live.

Good luck tonight guys and BUZZ BUZZ MOTHERFUCKERS!