“What is wrong with the Charlotte Hornets?” is the common refrain of the nowadays NBA fan, their minds clouded by the ever-looming menace of Michael Jordan.
The answer is that this whole thing could have been expected. I think the name and image change earned so much good will (as well it should have, those unis are SICK), that people got blinded and began thinking the Hornets were actually good.
They weren’t good last year, getting the 7th seed in a historically weak conference. They got rid of one of their major contributors, Josh McRoberts, and replaced him with a guy who averages 6 and 3 in 24 minutes a game. Then they added Lance Stephenson, which speaks for itself. Kemba Walker has regressed to his crappy mean, and Al Jefferson is somehow slower looking than before. The stink of awfulness is hard to wash off a franchise sometimes.
Luckily, PJ Hairston is not part of the problem. He hasn’t been great to start the season, but is doing about as well as a late first-round pick can be expected to do. Better than Vonleh, at least.