Snidely FC wrote:he Hornets this season have appeared to be misguided and particularly deficient on defense. That’s troubling – especially considering Clifford’s reputation as a stout defensive coach and the Hornets’ expensive acquisition of rim protector Dwight Howard. Howard has been durable and has put up big numbers all year. But he seems lost in many high pick-and-roll situations, can’t defend as well against today’s “five-out” NBA offenses and has made absolutely no difference to the Hornets’ win-loss bottom line.
Clifford is very honest. When I asked him about the team's defensive woes in general, he included this sentence in his answer: “Frankly, we do play a number of guys who are just not good defenders.”
As for what else has gone wrong this season, Clifford said: “In essence…. Offensively, we are not far in my opinion from where I hoped we would be. I was expecting top 10 to 12 (in points per possession), and we’re like 13 or 14. … It’s the defense. I thought we could be a dominant defensive team — and we’re not even close. As we sit here today, we’re 16th or 17th on defense. It’s been our worst defensive team.”
http://www.charlotteobserver.com/sports/spt-columns-blogs/scott-fowler/article207455094.html
the team gave Cliff the rim protector he clamored for and the defense got worse - another Top 3 reason why Clifford must go
This what I have been saying for a couple years now. Everyone likes to blame Cho for the roster composition but it feels so much more like Cliff. Every year he harps on something as the reason we underachieve. It was outside shooting at the 4, Boom we draft Frank, then it was play making in the second unit, Boom we trade for Beli, then it was shot blocking and rim protection, Boom we trade for Howard. This roster was made perfectly in Cliffs image he just doesn't know what he is doing at all.
The Observer even said Cho was allowed to win one this draft and take Monk because Cliff got his way and got Howard. Now which of those looks better right now? This team is messed up because Cliff had Jordans ear and basically got his way on a bunch of bad moves IMO. Now he needs to go like a number of us were saying two years ago when it was obvious he cannot learn from his mistakes.
