The addition of the NBA's play-in tournament has a few teams at the bottom of each conference entering playoff mode a little earlier than what some would like. LaMelo Ball and the Charlotte Hornets are still in the hunt for the final two seeds of the Eastern Conference and are currently 33-36 at the eighth seed.
They have three games remaining, two of those games are against teams that have already secured playoff spots, and the last game is against a team that is also vying for a playoff spot in the play-in tournament (Washington Wizards). That is not exactly the easiest of schedules for the Hornets, but there is still a slight chance they can pencil their names in this year's postseason.
Of course, there is a lot of work to do for LaMelo Ball and company.
Unfortunately, seeds one through six have already been locked up out in the Eastern Conference. In turn, the Hornets will have to participate in the play-in tournament. However, they are not locked into the eighth seed that they hold presently.
The Indiana Pacers have the same record as the Hornets and will leapfrog them even if they slide just a little bit. The Pacers play the Lakers, Bucks, and the Raptors, so they do not have a cakewalk for their final three games.
Meaning, Charlotte probably just needs to win one of their three games because the chances that Indiana wins two of those three games is slim. So, if the Hornets could manage to steal a game from the Clippers, Knicks, or Wizards, they can maintain their current seed and focus on a possible matchup with the Boston Celtics for the seventh seed.
LaMelo Ball and the Hornets should be salivating for a matchup against the Celtics because they have dropped four of their last five games.
Ball has been finding his rhythm since coming back from a wrist injury, and he should be able to take advantage of that matchup. With Jaylen Brown out for the season, that is one less defender that the Hornets will have to worry about. Even if Boston comes away with a win in that matchup, at least Charlotte has another crack to get in the postseason against the winner of the nine and ten matchup.
Whether that be Indiana or Washington, the Hornets should like their odds to win either game. As long as LaMelo Ball controls the tempo of the game and Terry Rozier puts up big numbers, the Hornets can secure a postseason berth.
The Hornets have already exceeded expectations this season. Getting into the playoffs would certainly be icing on the cake because of all the doubters that had this team being a doormat of the Eastern Conference. Ball, Rozier, Gordon Hayward, and company have made this team relevant again.
Follow Us
Subscribe