We are most underrated team in the nba

[yosemiteben]

One of my pet peeves lately is people talking about how we will underperform relative to last season because we lost Courtney Lee. Lee only played 28 regular season games for us last season, and he will be replaced by a younger and more talented MKG. Maybe MKG has injury issues, but it's probably a safe bet that he plays more than 28 games.

[LofJ]

Agreed YB.

MKG > Lee
Hibbert > Jefferson (considering team needs)
Sessions + Bellineli > Lin

I think the subtraction of Al will really open things up for Kaminsky. I'm expecting to see a big production spike from him. If we can sign or trade for another quality wing I think this roster will be appreciably better than the one we had last year.

[Vanderbilt_Grad]

I'm bullish on MKG and I like the addition of Hibbert over Al.

But I also think that - while maybe the numbers don't indicate a huge difference - that the loss of Lin is going to hurt more than folks think. Lee is similar in that he just plays well and does stuff that helps teams win.

[Mystical Apples]

One of my pet peeves lately is people talking about how we will underperform relative to last season because we lost Courtney Lee. Lee only played 28 regular season games for us last season, and he will be replaced by a younger and more talented MKG. Maybe MKG has injury issues, but it's probably a safe bet that he plays more than 28 games.

It is bizarre. Courtney will be missed more than Lin and Al but, you know, there's no law against another mid-season trade for the equivalent of PJ (!) and/or 2nd's should it become necessary. Otherwise most of the low-balled projections are from people who didn't watch the Hornets, thus over-valuing all 3, or motivated fans of Player X projecting their over-valuation of X. As in, a different version of the tired argument of X>Y via dismissal.

[TinmanZBoy]

One of my pet peeves lately is people talking about how we will underperform relative to last season because we lost Courtney Lee. Lee only played 28 regular season games for us last season, and he will be replaced by a younger and more talented MKG. Maybe MKG has injury issues, but it's probably a safe bet that he plays more than 28 games.

check the stats of the 28 games with Lee, I'd make a guess without checking it, Hornets probably was a top 5 team (maybe even higher) in the whole league during that span in terms of wins, overall ratings... the starting lineup was super good and efficient too...
you can say MKG is a better, more impactful player than Lee... however, I am intrigued to see if the Hornets can be a top 5 team during any stretch of 28 games next season with MKG and the same other four players in the starting lineup...

PS: ok, just checked it, during that span, Hornets was 21-8. Net rating was No. 3, only behind Warriors and Spurs.

[Vanderbilt_Grad]

One of my pet peeves lately is people talking about how we will underperform relative to last season because we lost Courtney Lee. Lee only played 28 regular season games for us last season, and he will be replaced by a younger and more talented MKG. Maybe MKG has injury issues, but it's probably a safe bet that he plays more than 28 games.

check the stats of the 28 games with Lee, I'd make a guess without checking it, Hornets probably was a top 5 team (maybe even higher) in the whole league during that span in terms of wins, overall ratings... the starting lineup was super good and efficient too...
you can say MKG is a better, more impactful player than Lee... however, I am intrigued to see if the Hornets can be a top 5 team during any stretch of 28 games next season with MKG and the same other four players in the starting lineup...

PS: ok, just checked it, during that span, Hornets was 21-8. Net rating was No. 3, only behind Warriors and Spurs.

Schedule was easier then too, though.

[TinmanZBoy]

One of my pet peeves lately is people talking about how we will underperform relative to last season because we lost Courtney Lee. Lee only played 28 regular season games for us last season, and he will be replaced by a younger and more talented MKG. Maybe MKG has injury issues, but it's probably a safe bet that he plays more than 28 games.

check the stats of the 28 games with Lee, I'd make a guess without checking it, Hornets probably was a top 5 team (maybe even higher) in the whole league during that span in terms of wins, overall ratings... the starting lineup was super good and efficient too...
you can say MKG is a better, more impactful player than Lee... however, I am intrigued to see if the Hornets can be a top 5 team during any stretch of 28 games next season with MKG and the same other four players in the starting lineup...

PS: ok, just checked it, during that span, Hornets was 21-8. Net rating was No. 3, only behind Warriors and Spurs.

Schedule was easier then too, though.

my memory was the team hit a groove, played well on both ends, beat Miami, Celtics, Pacers multiple times, those are close teams...
well... you just have to see any stretch of 29 games next season if the Hornets can win in a comparable rate...

[Braggins]

My pet peeve is fans of teams that were worse than us last season and had worse offseasons smugly proclaiming that we are going to take a step back while their teams are going to win more games than us because they added ghosts like Rose/Noah or ill fitting pieces like Rondo/Wade.

[Mystical Apples]

My pet peeve is fans of teams that were worse than us last season and had worse offseasons smugly proclaiming that we are going to take a step back while their teams are going to win more games than us because they added ghosts like Rose/Noah or ill fitting pieces like Rondo/Wade.

Wait, you're telling me that re-arranging Titantic deck chairs off 2 rosters that went 74-90 doesn't create a super team?

[jtsmith]

I thought Al leaving is actually a plus. I expect the Hornets to win 3-4 less games but still be in the 3-5 seed.

almost feel Charlotte will continue to be underrated for awhile because of playoffs history and also because it's a small market.

[sidestep]

Al didn't maximize the starting unit but he had value when coming off the bench since he could consistently get a decent shot off in post and hit cutters in the paint. With Al gone, the current roster lacks an inside presence, and hibbert and frank won't be able to fill that role consistently. Without that, the floor is unbalanced, and that can hurt perimeter shooting. I remember some games, like griz and hawks, in which the wing defenders didn't collapse and played the passing lanes instead, and it really bothered the team bc outside shots were harder than usual to come by. Without an inside presence, the paint could only be attacked with wing penetration. more load for kemba, who was already taking 16 FGA per game last season.

it was good that clifford transitioned away from al-ffense over the course of the season, but losing al makes the offense less balanced than before.

[fatlever]

^Luckily for that 2nd unit Sessions is one of the best guards in the league at attacking the rim and getting into the paint.

[yosemiteben]

MKG is also excellent at slicing to the rim.

[Braggins]

^Luckily for that 2nd unit Sessions is one of the best guards in the league at attacking the rim and getting into the paint.

I hope Sessions plays like he did in his last stint here and spends most of his time getting in the lane and cheezing for foul calls. I always thought it was funny how effective he could be doing that.

[sidestep]

One of my pet peeves lately is people talking about how we will underperform relative to last season because we lost Courtney Lee. Lee only played 28 regular season games for us last season, and he will be replaced by a younger and more talented MKG. Maybe MKG has injury issues, but it's probably a safe bet that he plays more than 28 games.

Your point is well taken as far as as MKG basically taking over Lee's minutes.

Looking back on the Lee trade, the team gave Hairston (who cares) and two 2nd round picks (Charlotte’s 2018 pick and Brooklyn’s 2019 pick) for a short rental, especially since MKG would come back to take those minutes. Perhaps it was an all-in move to make a push in the playoffs, or perhaps the FO really thought they could keep Lee. He's one of cliff's guys so that prolly played a part in getting him.

[Braggins]

I killed a hornet queen today that was lurking around my house. I don't know if thats a bad or good omen for the upcoming season.

[GlenRiceARoni]

Just look around. On the ec predictions thread we are only a playoff team on about 30% of the predictions. Whenever I post in other teams boards they all think their teams are better than the hornets (knicks, bulls, kings boards lol)

No one thinks kemba is any good. No one thinks marvin is any good.

There's this weird belief floating around that Lin and Jefferson were the reason we were competitive at all.

It's kinda nuts that we tied for the 3rd best record in the EC and had the best record in the nba post ASB and yet no one thinks we can even make the playoffs.

And we did all that without arguably our best player. Honestly, I've never seen a team this strong get so widely discredited. The funny part is teams like Chi and NYK who will be lucky to go .500 actually believe they are better than the hornets....

I get called a Homer on every other board when everyone on this board things I'm hypercritical of the hornets lol

And here we are in sole possession of 3rd place in the EC.

Truly baffling how unrealistic fan expectations are in the NBA.

People didn't even try to evaluate the Hornets rationally this offseason

Sent from my SM-N920V using RealGM mobile app

[Tracymcgoaty]

Just look around. On the ec predictions thread we are only a playoff team on about 30% of the predictions. Whenever I post in other teams boards they all think their teams are better than the hornets (knicks, bulls, kings boards lol)

No one thinks kemba is any good. No one thinks marvin is any good.

There's this weird belief floating around that Lin and Jefferson were the reason we were competitive at all.

It's kinda nuts that we tied for the 3rd best record in the EC and had the best record in the nba post ASB and yet no one thinks we can even make the playoffs.

And we did all that without arguably our best player. Honestly, I've never seen a team this strong get so widely discredited. The funny part is teams like Chi and NYK who will be lucky to go .500 actually believe they are better than the hornets....

I get called a Homer on every other board when everyone on this board things I'm hypercritical of the hornets lol

Rally I can agree with you for the Knicks are in the same boat as the Hornets. Your team is in that prove everybody wrong stage because they feel that it was a fluke that you made it to the playoffs and haven't made it out of the 1st rd sense 2002. Like the Knicks your depending on a player that has been known for being injury prone and we all know they are one injury away from sending us to the lotto. Your team last year had several players that helped you to the playoffs (Lin & Lee), with losing them you lost a little depth and like the Knicks you have question marks with who can step up and take their place. Can Sessions provide what Lin gave you?

One thing I must say, after watching what your team did in the P.O's I really like what Zeller brought night in night out and that's heart. He may not be the most skilled player, but he hustles his azz off and most teams in the NBA would love to have him. But, will he start over a player that thinks he's a star (Hibbertt) but sometimes plays like he should be in the D. League. I do feel that like Jefferson he would disrupt the flow of your team because unlike everyone else on your squad he doesn't run the floor.

Now I do see you guys making it back to the playoffs, but like I said your an MKG injury away from being Lotto bound, if he can stay healthy I can see your team in a higher position going into the playoffs. The East has a lot of teams that have improved to include my Knicks sooo it will be a sword fight to the finish. Good Luck!

I cant agree with that they are an MKG injury away from being lotto bound. MKG is good but he is not Kemba. MKG is a great defender who can lock any guy down but he has no offensive game RHJ reminds me of him but MKG is a much much better version but they both have broken jumpshots. Kemba on the other hand is a superstar in the making. And you are discreditng Cliffords coaching when you are saying stuff like this really Cliffords is arguably one of the best coaches in this league and that takes you far. If you have a good system implented on a team and the players around you believe in it and follows it the team will win. i believe the team would get to the playoffs even if MKG gets injured.


The knicks on the other hand is a completly different story. Phil wants the triangle horny wants something else Melo Isoing a lot Porzingis having a rough couple of games Rose can he remain healthy? The knicks have a lot more problem than the Hornets have i mean you guys are barely winning against mediocre teams so far from what i have seen and i have watched almost every game. Rose is trying to prove himself with the contract year rumours about whos team this is Melos or Porzingis messes up a group you dont hear that stuff with the hornets. So there are a lot more negatives with the Knicks then there are with the hornets. In my opinon


Edit: And Zeller is miles miles better than that cement footed cyclop called Hibbert cant play and is a mental midget. Whilst Cody does so much more for that team his stats might not be all that but if you watch the games you see the positives he brings.