The Charlotte Hornets are in a rut right now. Despite the decent collection of talents in their fold, they are way below .500 at this point of season, sporting just a 10-19 record. They are 5.5 games out of the playoff picture, and could absorb more losses if they don’t change some of their ways.
Hornets guard Kemba Walker is very much aware of at least one of them and that’s the team’s ability to execute plays down the stretch.
Speaking to reporters on Monday while preparing for a game against the New York Knicks at home, Walker acknowledged that flaw in the Hornets’ game and took the blame for most of the team’s inability to score late in games or when they needed buckets the most, per Ricky Bonnell of The Charlotte Observer.
“We just can’t put the ball in the basket; that’s been the problem. We just can’t find a way to get over that hump when we’re down one possession,” Walker said. “We get good looks, but the ball doesn’t drop.”
Walker pointed the finger at himself above all.
“A lot of times we go to me, and I’ve got to make a play,” Walker said.
One solution for that is for Walker to incorporate his teammates on offense. As the team’s best player, Walker will always have the ball in his hands, but it sometimes comes at the expense of Charlotte becoming too predictable. Walker and the Hornets know they need to move the ball around more. They are just 28th in the league in assists per game (20.1) and 26th in passes made (282.7).
There’s still plenty of time for the Hornets to turn their ship around and catch up in the Eastern Conference, but they have to start making those changes sooner than later.
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