RealGM

I think I'm going with..

Best case 55 wins
Median case 45 wins
Worst case 30 wins

43 wins, 7th seed.

47-35

100-0

Too early to tell but if I had to do a premature prediction I'll go within the 45-49 range. Let's say 48-34.

47 wins.

Looks like I'm the optimistic one again. 52-30

yosemiteben wrote:100-0

15-1 and a trip to the Super Bowl.

50 wins. 3 seed.

Liver_Pooty wrote:50 wins. 3 seed.

I think Cleveland, Boston, Washington, Toronto, and Charlotte will each get 50+ wins, with only Cleveland, Boston getting 55+. My prediction of 52 wins gets us a 3-5 seed tie (give or take a game or two) with TOR and WAS

Last year, I think I predicted something like 42 wins and that the team would squeak into the playoffs. Not even close. This year, I will go with a losing record, 40-42, just missing the playoffs. The offseason in 2106 was dismal and the team became worse. This year's offseason was way better, largely due to the addition of Malik Monk. I just do not have any confidence that Coach C will let him be a difference maker in his rookie season.

Then there is the addition of Dwight Howard. If he starts in place of Cody, the record will suffer. If he is made to come off the bench, I have doubts he will take it in stride.

Finally, for a team that launches a lot of three-pointers, only one guy returns who hit over 35%, namely Kemba Walker. Marvin Williams was inconsistent, hitting exactly 35%, and Nicolas Batum came in at 33%. Kidd-Gilchrist only attempted nine threes the entire season. Yeah, I would say the Hornets need Malik Monk to play well and often.

https://94feetreport.com/2017-18-nba-win-projections-with-hierarchical-clustering-e22b2e58e4cc

Statistical projection of roughly 45 wins and 5th or 6th in the East....

Charlotte is projected to make the playoffs. It’s imperative that Zeller remains healthy and that the Hornets perform much better in close games. CHA had a Pythagorean Win Differential of -6 last season

Too much talent to not make it and be at least a 4 or 5 seed if staying healthy. I'd say about 45-49 wins

42 wins. The team takes some time to figure out how to work the new guys into the system, but finishes strong after the ASB and gets the 6th seed. Becomes the dark horse in the playoffs and loses to the Warriors in the NBA Championship 4 games to 3.

I had us 3 behind Cavs and Boston until Boston went full (Please Use More Appropriate Word) with that trade and now I think we all better than Boston and could end being the 2 seed in the east when the season is over we just got to keep the injury bug away from us and I like our chances.

anyone else agree?

HornetsFan29 wrote:I had us 3 behind Cavs and Boston until Boston went full (Please Use More Appropriate Word) with that trade and now I think we all better than Boston and could end being the 2 seed in the east when the season is over we just got to keep the injury bug away from us and I like our chances.

anyone else agree?

I disagree. Boston still has a glutton of solid wings and at worst stayed the same at point guard. I have us in the 4-7 seed range at this point.

To achieve the #2 seeding we need Marvin or MKG to pick up their scoring or we need to change the starting lineup to include Frank or Lamb. I'd prefer we trade for someone like Carmelo Anthony or Jabari Parker to slot between MKG and Howard; but unfortunately that seems unlikely to happen. If everything breaks right we could nab the #3 seed, but I just don't think we have enough offense to clearly move ahead of Boston and Washington.

We have all of the tools as far as talent and skills to be a top 3 seed in the East. I think ultimately it'll come down to coaching. Clifford, you're on the clock.

Washington and Boston have lower Regular Season floors with perhaps marginally higher ceilings. Depth matters and as of today Charlotte has the East's best overall quality depth through 10 and arguably 11.

And not just #'s but several multi-position players to cover injuries and B2B's, which is where notably Toronto falls short -- really, Boston and Toronto severely weakened their depth.

What a clown.