The Hornets made this one close all the way until the end, but they ended up falling to the Nuggets 112-114. Getting so close to grabbing a W off a pseudo-contender like the Nuggets might seem like a minor tragedy for the Hornets, but you’ve gotta think about the bigger picture here. In my opinion, this is exactly how the Hornets should attempt to operate going forward, and remember, my opinions are always right, so when I say something is my opinion, it is actually a fact.
The Hornets are tanking. They don’t want to win games. But to go toe-to-toe with a good team like the Nuggets? That’s gonna keep butts in the seats until the end of the game. And if the butts are out of the seats, it’s because they’re off at the popcorn cart getting a whole big thing of popcorn that costs thirteen bucks and a bottle of soda to wash it down with for five bucks. The butts aren’t walking back to their cars to beat the traffic. And, if the Hornets consistently showcase their ability to be competitive in any game, maybe, just maybe, all those empty seats in the stands will be slightly less empty. It’s a win-win! They don’t hurt their lottery chances, but they also don’t hurt their bottom line which is reliant on ticket sales.
History has shown us that fans don’t care about teams with “potential” if they suck. You can have exciting young players like Devonte’ Graham, but if the team around them sucks every single game, nobody’s going to waste their time watching the games just for the off-chance that Graham drops 30/10. That’s why the Hornets might not want to go all-out tank mode. If Graham can drag the team to a near win but then barely miss out in the fourth quarter, that’s what he should be doing.
P.S. does the Hornets’ arena have a mini-donut stand? If they do, can you sell it to me?