Hornets Crucial Stretch #1: 11/10 - 11/20

Post #1 » by **yosemiteben** » Mon Nov 9, 2015 6:03 pm

The Hornets are about to face a crucial stretch of the season. We have started 2 - 4, with two close losses to ATL, one game that was close down the stretch against MIA in the season opener, and one game that wasn't competitive at any point during the 4th quarter against SAS. Given the difficulty of our schedule, 2 - 4 is mildly disappointing yet not awful.

Starting tomorrow, we have a very difficult series of games based on schedule and travel concerns but not so much with regard to opponents:

11/10 - @MIN
11/11 - NYK
11/13 - @CHI
11/15 - POR
11/17 - @NYK
11/18 - BRK
11/20 - PHI

Two back to back games, both requiring overnight travel, and a total of 7 games in 11 days. Every single game is winnable. If we play up to our potential, it's not unreasonable to think we could be sitting at 8 - 5 by next Friday. To do that, we are going to have to get better play out of our second unit as a whole. We can't afford to come apart and drop a few games in this stretch.

After this series of games, we get a nice extended home stand (we don't play an away game from from 11/18 until 12/5 when we go to Chicago again), but we have a tough series of opponents - SAC, WAS, CLE, MIL, and GSW. We really need to use this next stretch to close out a strong November and get some wins on our record.

HornetJail · Post #2 » by **HornetJail** » Mon Nov 9, 2015 6:10 pm

Anything worse than 5-2 will be a massive disappointment. We've already blown out Chicago this season, and we are absolutely a step ahead of every other team on this list. If I was a huge optimist, I'd say we could win every single game, but I know that our defense isn't there to prop up our offense in the event that we go cold from the field. I'll say 6-1, with the one loss being in MSG, because Langston Galloway goes 7-8 from three or something.

Liver_Pooty · Post #3 » by **Liver_Pooty** » Mon Nov 9, 2015 6:12 pm

If we don't go at least 5-2 this season could spiral downward in a hurry.

Post #4 » by **fatlever** » Mon Nov 9, 2015 6:15 pm

I'd put the disappointment meter at anything less than 4-3. Portland (until the 4th quarter last night) has been playing really well. Not sure how that offense will travel though. Knicks are improved. Bulls will not play as poorly as they did in the first game. @Min is going to be a 50/50 game. I'd like to think we have to win vs Knicks, Sixers and Net at home. Then we need to get 1 game out of the rest of the bunch for it be not be disappointing.

Post #5 » by **JDR720** » Mon Nov 9, 2015 6:23 pm

we should win at least 4 of those. they do have players that can exploit what we are bad at though.

Knicks have Melo and he has played well, will Batum guard him or will we sacrifice PJ? Kristaps vs our no defense playing frontcourt might be difficult (Cody should be able to handle him though)

Chicago will be angry after what happened the last time we played, thats probably a loss.

Portland will be difficult, Lillard and CJ are playing great.

Nets should be an easy win, especially since Lopez is hurt.

Philly might be more difficult that we think, Okafor and Noel are a really good duo.

T-Wolves have played really well too.

Post #6 » by **yosemiteben** » Mon Nov 9, 2015 6:24 pm

I agree with fat, I think we drop 2 - 3 barring drastic defensive improvement by the bench. I think this team is still a work in progress defensively and offensively. It's possible that playing a bunch of games in a row could help crystallize the things we've been working on, but it could also lead to us playing sloppy and in need of a back to the basics tuneup.

In any event, we need to at least be at .500 after this stretch.

Vae Victus · Post #7 » by **Vae Victus** » Mon Nov 9, 2015 6:31 pm

5-2, the bench will step up simply cuz the defenses of most of those teams arent all that good, also as long as the starters keep up their strong play too. Those teams dont have many good defensive wings so Lin at least wont get constantly trapped/stripped on the perimeter, and if he can get into the defense that'll open things up for all the shooters on the 2nd unit. Also the players will play with a stronger sense of urgency since as noted a bad run here will be disastrous for the season, the teams listed just dont have that extra gear unlike alot of the squads recently played (MIA, ATL, SAS).

EwingSweatsALot · Post #8 » by **EwingSweatsALot** » Mon Nov 9, 2015 6:31 pm

We should go 5-2. But with the back to backs we should at no worse go 4-3.

A losing record in this stretch is a sign of bad things to come IMO. There is only 1 playoff team in that group, 1 maybe average team. And the rest are bottom of the NBA. This stretch will tell us a lot about where we are on the pecking order.

I think we lose to CHI and one of the NYK games because of where they are located.

HornetJail · Post #9 » by **HornetJail** » Mon Nov 9, 2015 7:32 pm

Liver_Pooty wrote:If we don't go at least 5-2 this season could spiral downward in a hurry.

Yes they could. The games after this 7 game stretch are: SAC, WAS, CLE, MIL, GS, @CHI, DET, MIA, @MEM. Seven home games and two away games, but none of those are going to be easily. I'd be pretty happy to win 4 of these. If we went 5-2 over the upcoming 7 games, and then went 4-5 in the following 9, we'd be right at 11-11, which I believe is enough to claim the 6th or 7th seed out here.

kent335 · Post #10 » by **kent335** » Thu Nov 12, 2015 9:53 pm

2-0 so far in this stretch! Hope the good team play continues.

HornetJail · Post #11 » by **HornetJail** » Fri Nov 13, 2015 1:26 am

If we play like we did in these last two games, we're not beating Chicago tomorrow night. We looked way too shaky at times, and we probably should've gone to OT or lost to New York last night if the calls were correct.

DY_nasty · Post #12 » by **DY_nasty** » Fri Nov 13, 2015 3:04 am

I think we play to our competition still

i expect us to float around .500 tbh

Braggins · Post #13 » by **Braggins** » Fri Nov 13, 2015 3:50 pm

I think we will probably go 3-2 over the next five to put us at 7-6. I see us losing 2 of our next 3 against CHI/POR/NY and then beating Philly and Brooklyn, but we could easily go 4-1 in that stretch if we stay focused. Either way, 7-6 is a very decent start considering our schedule.

Post #14 » by **yosemiteben** » Mon Nov 16, 2015 2:22 pm

11/10 - @MIN - W
11/11 - NYK - W
11/13 - @CHI - L
11/15 - POR - W
11/17 - @NYK
11/18 - BRK
11/20 - PHI

Starting tomorrow we have three games in four days, starting on the road and then two at home.

NYK has the night off tonight before playing us tomorrow. BRK plays ATL on the road tomorrow, then makes the quick travel to play us on a back to back.

We better not lose to Philly at home.

HornetJail · Post #15 » by **HornetJail** » Mon Nov 16, 2015 3:03 pm

All three *should* be easy wins, but you never know with this team

Sauce_Castillo · Post #16 » by **Sauce_Castillo** » Mon Nov 16, 2015 4:33 pm

I'm nervous for the Knicks game sans PJ, he did a admirable job vs melo in the first meeting. Anyone know if he is good to go?

Sent from my iPhone using RealGM Forums

Post #17 » by **fatlever** » Mon Nov 16, 2015 4:52 pm

I don't think the Knicks game is an easy win at all. On the road vs a decent Knicks team that just lost to us last week on a heartbreaking (controversial - if you ask them) call. They will be ready.

Sixers team is a tough out.

I'll be pissed if we lose to the Nets however, but anything can happen on the 2nd night of a back-to-back.

We are living and dying by the 3pt shot so far this year. One bad game of shooting and we can lose to anyone on any floor.

Post #18 » by **fatlever** » Mon Nov 16, 2015 4:53 pm

Sauce_Castillo wrote:I'm nervous for the Knicks game sans PJ, he did a admirable job vs melo in the first meeting. Anyone know if he is good to go?

Sent from my iPhone using RealGM Forums

Welcome to the board. Interesting name for a Hornets fan.

Sauce_Castillo · Post #19 » by **Sauce_Castillo** » Mon Nov 16, 2015 5:03 pm

Haha thanks man, ya big fan of Michigan basketball as well and just think that nickname for stauskas is gold.

Sent from my iPhone using RealGM Forums

Sauce_Castillo · Post #20 » by **Sauce_Castillo** » Mon Nov 16, 2015 5:06 pm

I have kept an eye on Philadelphia this season as well, and IMO they are easier to beat then last season. Last year they were playing fringe nba players that wanted to just stay in the league, so there was constant energy and fight regardless of the talent pool, now that they have Okafor, stauskas and others that energy isn't as prevalent. I also think, while okafor will still get his baskets, he isn't much of a positive while on the floor yet still terrible pnr defender and overall team defender, and lacks the ability to pass creating a lot of turnovers.

Sent from my iPhone using RealGM Forums