2017-2018 NBA Previews – Hornets Odds
Looking for 2018 Charlotte Hornets Predictions? We’ve got your back. Charlotte finished last season 36-46, finishing 10th in the NBA’s Eastern Conference. If that sounds as if the Hornets were close to making the playoffs, however, you couldn’t be more wrong. This team was too good to tank but probably should have anyway despite choosing not to trade Kemba Walker at the February trade deadline.
Charlotte Hornets Season Preview
Head Coach: James Borrego
2017-18 Record: 36-46
Hornets Odds to NBA Title: +30000
Hornets Odds to Win Conference: +8000
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Despite finishing just two spots back from a postseason berth, there were seven games back from the eighth seed Washington Wizards and spent too much time early in the year wondering if they wanted to make the playoffs or shoot the moon and try for a top lottery pick.
Charlotte Hornets Strengths:
Consider the Dwight Howard trade this summer addition by subtraction. The truth is that Howard had himself a solid season in terms of sheer numbers. He showed he can still play around the rim and that rebounding is something he hasn’t lost a step in.
But despite the positives on the court, Howard was a clear negative off of it. He’s never been known as a positive locker room presence, and that didn’t change last season.
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Howard aside (which is how the Hornets will be able to proceed with the big man in Washington), this team has more talent than it’s previous season-long record indicates. Kemba Walker, should the Hornets remain as devoted to him as he is to them, will be an All-Star for Charlotte. Tony Parker, the team’s newest addition, will add a level of depth in the backcourt the Hornets have lacked.
Miles Bridges and Malik Monk will be two names to keep an eye on this season. They both have tremendous upside, but how far away they are from those ceilings is still very much in question.
Monk is coming off a rough rookie season, but possesses the scoring and shooting ability to make a difference in Year 2.
Bridges will need to work himself into meaning minutes as a rookie, but with the Hornets projecting to be back in the lottery, there should be plenty of opportunities for him to do just that.
Charlotte Hornets Weaknesses:
This team has failed miserably over the past couple of seasons when it came to closing out close games. And there are two ways of looking at that.
A) Losing close games is good for business, as long as business is aimed at making the lottery.
B) Losing close games is bad for business, as long as business is aimed at making the postseason.
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As far as this team goes, this huge weakness could be what helps management decide which direction it wants to go this season. If the team is figuring out how to win close games, put it to the test and see how far it can go.
If it continues to drop games in close situations, steer into the skid and find a way to rest starters in favor of players like Monk and Bridges who have upside to offer in future seasons.
Charlotte Hornets Betting Prediction: 39-43
The Hornets were given an over/under wins loss projection of 35.5. Unless the team decides to tank before the All-Star Break, that should end up being low.
Bringing on players like Tony Parker would make no sense if the team was planning on ditching Walker at the deadline and aiming for ping-pong balls in the lottery.
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And if you’re Parker, you don’t sign with a team at this part of your career unless there is significant playing time, money or success on the line.
Nobody expects the Hornets to compete for a title this season, as evidenced by their +30000 championship odds. But with LeBron James out West and the East wide open, Charlotte should be comfortably in the playoff race until the end of the year.
2018 NBA Gambling
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