Why it's important this team makes the playoffs now?

[BobsBuddy]

Here's reasons why we need to make the playoffs:
1. MJ has invested millions in Free Agents to get to this spot...The Chemistry of this team is not like allot of NBA teams...The players root each other on... everybody/everynight wants to win.
2.Coach Clifford is the right coach,but if he doesn't improve on last season ,he will probably be let go.
3. Als,Lances, and Kemba's performance will drop off next season if we don't make the playoffs now and if we start off slow next season..It could be years before the Hornets see the playoffs again.
4.Cho will be forced to make trades based on a short term win now mentality not what's best for the overall organization.
Free Agents will not even consider coming here.
5. The Fans will lose faith in the team and hatefull comments will get worse than they already are now.
After putting a new marketing plan in for the purpose of drawing fans to TWC,ticket sales will go down.

That's my take on why we need to make the playoffs now? What's Yours?

[MasterIchiro]

Some will say experience for the young players.

Here's the way I look at it.

We have 26 games remaining

We have at most 2 playoff games

We can start the veterans for the final 26 games, cater to Al and Hendo as they continue to hog minutes and boost their contract profiles, push to reach the post season so we can get "experience for young players" for those last 2 games which amounts to PJ, Vonleh and Biz all sitting on the bench watching the veterans get bulldozed by the Cleveland Globetrotters. GREAT experience there for our youth.

Or we can forget all about those 2 playoff games where our young players will surely be benched and use the final 26 games to start PJ over Hendo and Vonleh over Marv and bench Al for Biz when Biz returns.

Which experience is more valuable to our young players?

[SeanBobcats]

1 and 5 I can agree with. 2-4 I don't agree with

[stinger14]

Some will say experience for the young players.

Here's the way I look at it.

We have 26 games remaining

We have at most 2 playoff games

We can start the veterans for the final 26 games, cater to Al and Hendo as they continue to hog minutes and boost their contract profiles, push to reach the post season so we can get "experience for young players" for those last 2 games which amounts to PJ, Vonleh and Biz all sitting on the bench watching the veterans get bulldozed by the Cleveland Globetrotters. GREAT experience there for our youth.

Or we can forget all about those 2 playoff games where our young players will surely be benched and use the final 26 games to start PJ over Hendo and Vonleh over Marv and bench Al for Biz when Biz returns.

Which experience is more valuable to our young players?

Definately like option 2 there, and the crazy part is that I honestly believe that Vonleh and PJ could actually improve the team over Marv and Hendo and help get us in the playoffs. Sitting Hendo for PJ and sitting Al behind Biz probably makes them unhappy and they opt out for a better situation, which would make me very happy

[Hornet Mania]

I am 100% in favor of fighting tooth and nail to make the playoffs, but the thing is I don't see playing PJ and Vonleh more as necessarily being a tank move. PJ can't be worse than Lance, let's be realistic, and if anything may turn out better. Vonleh in 5-8 minute appearances (ideally against larger backup front lines that Max struggles against) is also potentially a boost in the short-term in addition to developing him so he's better next season.

Clifford's insistence on playing Lance meaningful minutes every night over PJ (or anyone else, actually), and playing Maxiell over Vonleh probably makes sense to him but I think in reality it's probably not boosting our odds of winning as much as he assumes. Dude is a little bit old-fashioned to a fault sometimes, I still believe that if Zeller didn't have the "NBA Ready" tag going into last year's draft he'd probably be glued to the bench too.

We can develop our talent and fight for the postseason at the same time, it's not an either/or proposition in my eyes. The most important thing is to remain focused on winning and competing for the playoffs, that is the mentality I want instilled in all of our young players. Our organization, imo, if correct to aim for the playoffs. Clifford is just wrong to assume that some of our young prospects will be unable to contribute to that push, especially when the alternative is Lance "no one will trade for me for a reason" Stephenson and Jason "I thought I was gonna be 12th man, but this is cool too" Maxiell. And I don't even want to dump on Max actually, he's really fought hard out there the last couple months he's just overextended. Lance though, he sucks this year.

[Eoghan]

Placate ignorant, casual fans and playoffs $$$. I don't think getting our butts kicked in the first round again is going to do much from a developmental, attract free agents standpoint.

[Robot Rock]

I don't see how going 33-49 helps that free agent market either.

[LofJ]

A chance at lottery euphoria > The certainty of getting crushed by the Cavaliers

Playing the Hawks though? I'm all for that.

[Braggins]

I don't see how going 33-49 helps that free agent market either.

Yeah, its like some people don't realize that the actual NBA players are aware of how big of a joke the East is and will somehow be impressed by us making the 8th seed lol. Like some good free agent is going to be considering where to sign and think "Well, I could go to Charlotte. They made the playoffs in the East and got swept so they are a legit playoff team. Yeah, I think I'll go there."

[Robot Rock]

I don't see how going 33-49 helps that free agent market either.

Yeah, its like some people don't realize that the actual NBA players are aware of how big of a joke the East is and will somehow be impressed by us making the 8th seed lol. Like some good free agent is going to be considering where to sign and think "Well, I could go to Charlotte. They made the playoffs in the East and got swept so they are a legit playoff team. Yeah, I think I'll go there."

That's a better option than, "Hey, what about Charlotte?"

"Oh, you mean that team that couldn't even make the playoffs in a watered-down East, so it tanked late in the season for another useless lottery project? Hey! I love playing with teams who throw their season in the trash every year when March rolls around. Sign me up!"

[thruthefire]

A chance at lottery euphoria > The certainty of getting crushed by the Cavaliers

Playing the Hawks though? I'm all for that.

I'm up for playing anyone but the Cavs. I would prefer the Raptors or Wizards, but am fine with the Hawks or Bulls.

Knowing our luck, we will get the Cavs.

[JDR720]

ABC
Anyone But Cleveland

I think we could beat the Raps or Wiz in a series, maybe get a game or two vs the Bulls. Atlanta might be a sweep. but it will probably be a fun close series. Cleveland would murder us and since LeBron is there you know the media will go crazy over it.

[Vanderbilt_Grad]

ABC
Anyone But Cleveland

I think we could beat the Raps or Wiz in a series, maybe get a game or two vs the Bulls. Atlanta might be a sweep. but it will probably be a fun close series. Cleveland would murder us and since LeBron is there you know the media will go crazy over it.

ABC is actually my thought too, and not just Cleveland.

Atlanta
Brooklyn
Cleveland

Those are the teams I would rather avoid, thought Brooklyn isn't likely to be an issue at this point.

[KingCat]

Chance in the lottery>>>>dropping to 0-12 in the playoffs

[bobcatdynasty]

Chance in the lottery>>>>dropping to 0-12 in the playoffs

key word is "chance". Even if we were to lose every single game left, its too late to really tank. We would probably be stuck with another midround project, which we dont really need.

[HornetJail]

ABC
Anyone But Cleveland

I think we could beat the Raps or Wiz in a series, maybe get a game or two vs the Bulls. Atlanta might be a sweep. but it will probably be a fun close series. Cleveland would murder us and since LeBron is there you know the media will go crazy over it.

ABC is actually my thought too, and not just Cleveland.

Atlanta
Brooklyn
Cleveland

Those are the teams I would rather avoid, thought Brooklyn isn't likely to be an issue at this point.

Unless we miraculously catch up with Milwaukee, we're essentially stuck with ATL or Cleveland. LeBron destroys us, doesn't matter who he plays with. Give me Atlanta.

[Snidely FC]

Why is this a separate thread from Hornets Playoff Watch?

Anyway . . .

To me its about establishing a winning culture.First step is being a perennial playoff team.

Making the playoffs is always better than not making the playoffs. So what if we match up against CLE? You're a playoff team, and if you win one game against CLE that shows progress. If you get swept, then the team gets the revenue from 4 playoff games and MGMT recognizes roster changes are imperative.

Guys like PJ and Vonleh not getting playing time doesn't have anything to do with the playoffs. It has to do with Clifford being from the branch of the coaching family tree that says young players don't play, they have to earn playing time. I strenuously disagree with it, as do most of the posters on this board, but it is clearly a Clifford philosophy, not necessarily rooted in winning and losing.

Only possible silver lining to missing the playoffs imo is that MGMT recognizes guys like Al Jeff are not leading this team to a championship and need to be replaced asap.

[MasterIchiro]

Only possible silver lining to missing the playoffs imo is that MGMT recognizes guys like Al Jeff are not leading this team to a championship and need to be replaced asap.

And Hendo

[yosemiteben]

There is no way our FO thinks Al is leading this team to a championship in the first place. He was brought in to make us a respectable franchise and help get us to the playoffs. People seem to forget that three years ago we won seven games and two years ago we won 21. We were not thinking championship when we signed Al, we were thinking hopefully make the playoffs.