Hornets Playoff Watch

[W_HAMILTON]

This plus I'm dubious that there's a vet worth trading our pick for that can cure this mess.

I'd be even more dubious that there's a rookie that can come in and "cure this mess." Even if they had that potential, Clifford won't play them.

I just see absolutely no benefit in missing the playoffs and drafting 9th or 10th as opposed to making the playoffs and drafting 14th or 15th.

While we might not be expected to do much in the playoffs based on what we've done so far this season, I still think that we should be a much better team than we are, and I'd like to still think there's hope that at some point we will "get it" and act more like that team that most people expected us to be this season.

[W_HAMILTON]

MIL lost last night, which is good, but they're now still pretty far ahead of us -- four games ahead in the loss column -- because we've been out-losing them lately.

Todays' important games:

BKN vs LAL (sucks, but BKN should be due for a letdown game sometime after some of the wins they've been getting lately)

BOS vs LAC (woohoo)

MIA vs DET (DET has seemed to win a few more games lately -- hell, checking their record, they've actually won four in a row -- so maybe they can pull of a win?)

IND vs DAL (woohoo)

[catch20two]

This plus I'm dubious that there's a vet worth trading our pick for that can cure this mess.

I'd be even more dubious that there's a rookie that can come in and "cure this mess." Even if they had that potential, Clifford won't play them.

I just see absolutely no benefit in missing the playoffs and drafting 9th or 10th as opposed to making the playoffs and drafting 14th or 15th.

While we might not be expected to do much in the playoffs based on what we've done so far this season, I still think that we should be a much better team than we are, and I'd like to still think there's hope that at some point we will "get it" and act more like that team that most people expected us to be this season.

You're luring me back into the playoff hopes. I'm afraid of what player Cho is fixated on and might reach for at pick #7-10 so it won't make much of a difference if we pick at #14-15.

[thruthefire]

I think the PG is the NBA's RB. Every team has a competitive PG basically, trying to improve upon Kemba just seems fruitless. We need to draft a star SG/PF/C that puts Kemba firmly in role-player status and just deal with it.

Your analogy is correct, and it's the same one I used in explaining why I had no interest in using a first round pick on Napier.

It's also why giving $12 million a year to a league-average starting PG was a huge error in judgement.

[BobsBuddy]

Right Now with the games we have remaining and who is in front of us,I figure our chances are about 20% of making the playoffs. If we lose the next 3 games,Clifford should give more playing time to BROB, PJ, JT, Vonleh,BIZ and Daniels. Cody and MKG basically should be shut down because of injuries. Al should be rested a couple of games and then played 20 -25 mpg to keep trade value up. Same should be done with Lance...Mo....MWILL .... and Kemba..

MJ and CHO should tell Clifford who to play if it's obvious we are out of the playoffs. Then as draft time approaches , strategies should be set up on packaging veteran players with our 1st and 2nd round picks to move up. Both Al and Marvin have value to West Coast teams wanting to improve next season..The millions spent on Marvin,Al and Lance here has failed and the fans don't want them around next season. We have a young core and need to add to it and fill with Vet role players..If planned properly we can do that and make the playoffs next year. Our starters are set at the PG, SG/SF.We should sign Mo as a backup to Kemba and look for a Vet to Backup MKG . I expect Hendo PO to opt out and become free agent......Maybe MKG could move to SG and we trade for a starter at 3?
Al should be traded with our 1st round pick to a west conference team to move up to get Kaminsky (WISC).SAC might be interested in him and our 1st for Landry and their 1st? Marvin and Lance and our 2nd round pick might be attractive to NOP for Anderson and Pondexter.

Next years roster
KW/MO Brob
MKG,PJ,Daniels,
Landry, Pondexter,JT
Anderson,Zellar Vonleh
Kaminsky/BIZ

[Hornet Mania]

This is basically how I feel hanging onto that playoff berth. I'm the chick, Leo is our playoff hopes, Clifford is the water.

[tondi123]

I would consider the Titanic as our playoff hopes and Cliff as the iceberg. Leo would have to be the fading likelihood of the Lance signing ever working out for us. Not sure what that leaves for the water, perhaps the tears of all the fans.

[Bassman]

I do not want playoffs for several reasons:

We are a team that struggles against average competition, and would get schooled against the good teams we would likely play in round 1. Experience.worth if? It didn't help us going into this season. In fact I would argue it gave us all too much confidence that we were close to breaking out (signing Lance is something I wanted in part because I thought he was a missing link to next level performance).

A higher pick is still statistically a better option. Plus being in the lottery provides that slim chance of getting a star. We are DUE for some serious luck.

This team is discombobulated. With the injuries, additions and various lineup changes, plus Lance not yet fitting into a super productive role, we need an off-season to reset and restart.

Lastly, I am not a Clifford fan. I know he is probably back next season, but a collapse into lotteryville carries a slight potential for a change. It also could mean Cho has to answer for his productivity a bit more. If nothing else, it means our front office needs to seriously review things verses chalking this season off to injuries.

[JDR720]

Indy, Miami and Nets all won today.

[catch20two]

Indy, Miami and Nets all won today.

More importantly tho it's a good thing that Boston loss since they had the 8 seed. Now they got 41 losses just like us.

[BobsBuddy]

With 10 games left Brooklyn,Indy, Boston and the Hornets are basically fighting for the 8th spot. We must beat Boston tonight to move ahead of them and hope for a Brooklyn loss their next game or we will be 2-3 back with 9 games to play. The W over Atlanta was a gift and helped us stay in contention even with the 2-3 games we gave away on that last road trip.......7-3 these last 10 games gets us to the 8th seed.. Otherwise BYE BYE Clifford and others....

[JDR720]

we are now 2 games back from the Brooklyn Lopez's for the 8 seed, they own the tiebreaker

[BlackOutBuzz]

we are now 2 games back from the Brooklyn Lopez's for the 8 seed, they own the tiebreaker

So that's effectively 3 games out with 9 games left...welp.

[BlackOutBuzz]

And two of those games are vs. Detroit, so the 8th pick may be in reach.

Then again, two others are against Toronto, so you can pencil in those wins.

[MasterIchiro]

God I want that 8th pick, you have no idea…

I'm not comfortable at all with pick 9.

[MasterIchiro]

The issue is the Pistons have the same shooting needs we have and would be targeting the same players as us in this range. I want them OUT of the way.

[Bassman]

God I want that 8th pick, you have no idea…

I'm not comfortable at all with pick 9.

Time to tank, but it won't happen with this staff.

Imagine a great irony; Cliff tries to tank and plays Noah, results in wins along with "why weren't you playing this guy sooner?" screams. MJ agrees and cans his azz.

[MasterIchiro]

God I want that 8th pick, you have no idea…

I'm not comfortable at all with pick 9.

Time to tank, but it won't happen with this staff.

Imagine a great irony; Cliff tries to tank and plays Noah, results in wins along with "why weren't you playing this guy sooner?" screams. MJ agrees and cans his azz.

You got your guy last year (and Lance) so I'll be watching your offseason blueprint. I'd love to see Hezonja + Danny Green.

[BlackOutBuzz]

Apparently Detroit just lives in that 7th-9th pick range these days.

2010: 7th (Monroe)
2011: 8th (Knight)
2012: 9th (Drummond)
2013: 8th (KCP)
2014: 9th (Vonleh)

[Hornet Mania]

God I want that 8th pick, you have no idea…

I'm not comfortable at all with pick 9.

Time to tank, but it won't happen with this staff.

Imagine a great irony; Cliff tries to tank and plays Noah, results in wins along with "why weren't you playing this guy sooner?" screams. MJ agrees and cans his azz.

I firmly believe that Vonleh would be a decent contributor (better than Maxiell, at minimum) if we had just started spoon-feeding him 5-10 minutes a game after the all-star break. We're also destroying the kid's trade value in the event we needed sweetener to push a good deal over the top. I can't imagine many executives consider Vonleh worth much these days since he can't even play over Max.