In the Crosshairs: Hornets need to finish games

With the Charlotte Hornets losing eight of the last 10 games and falling to 4 ½ games out of the last playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, playing the next six of seven games at home could play a key role in whether or not they can make a playoff charge in March and early April.

The team has had a tough time closing games and has had one particular stretch in multiple outings where the opponent gained the upper hand and the Hornets couldn’t catch up.

“We played a great game all but for one stretch in the late first quarter and into the second quarter,” said interim coach Stephen Silas, of a recent 108-96 loss in Houston, “But hopefully it is a situation where people learn from it and how important they are when they come off the bench.”

Silas used guard Kemba Walker more with the second team in a recent 116-103 win in Oklahoma City. In four of his last five games, Walker has played 37-plus minutes as he now has 16 games where he has scored over 20 points. Silas has increased his minutes because Walker is a steadying force on the floor with the players who rotate in off the bench.

Walker is good with the extra minutes if it makes the Hornets “flourish and the team be better.”

“I’m going to be a little bit more selective and not have the whole group second group on the floor at the same time,” said Silas, “Having Kemba play the whole third quarter and maybe a couple of minutes in the second quarter or the whole third quarter is where we can make it to where it’s not so hard for those guys when they come in the game.”

Walker has so many moves and does so many dynamic things that are a natural part of his game that there is potential for him to wear down later in the season, but no player of his ability thinks that way. He wears on other teams’ guards with his dribble moves and acute ability to change directions. Many around the game note that his movements make him almost un-guardable.

“Whatever your scheme is and whatever you go through in practice or shoot around, he will make that totally different,” said Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra, “Just the way he moves and the way he handles. He is so deceptive. You have to put multiple bodies on him and try to wear him down as soon as possible.”

Dwight Howard’s presence in Charlotte has been one of the major positives through the first 26 games as he continues to average a double-double while shooting 55 percent from the field. He is averaging 20.9 points and 12.8 rebounds over his past five games and has put his teammates in position to make plays throughout the first one-third of his initial season in Charlotte.

“He’s so dominant inside and I am cool with going inside, but I don’t play the same game that I have played the last two years,” said forward Nic Batum, who has had injury issues with his elbow this season, “I was way more involved with the pick-and-roll and running and stuff like that. He has been so dominant the last couple of games, it is better if we go to him.”

Silas though noted that he wants to get Batum involved more in the screen-roll game which can potentially set up his three or get him going at the basket.

“I think I need to do a better job of running plays for him,” said Silas, “He finds himself just out there and having him with the ball makes it easier for everybody on the floor. Running plays where he is getting the ball and on the move or in pick and roll makes it easier for him.”

As most teams are finishing up the first one-third of the season, the Hornets have perhaps been besieged with more challenges and general bad luck than any other team in the league. This was capitalized on when on Dec. 6 coach Steve Clifford had to take a leave of absence for an undisclosed medical issue.

In addition, a myriad of injuries and the inability to close out wins have put the team in an already tough position. The key is to come out and win games with a consistent third option developing beside Walker and Howard,