Bob Licht

March 17, 2006

I was asked recently how Hornets fans can put a happy face on a seven-game losing streak.

It took a while for me to find a few answers, but I think you’ll agree with my assessment that as bad as things appear, they could be worse.

ANSWER #1
Last season the Hornets won a TOTAL of 18 games… and none after April 5. Prior to this slump the team already had 31 victories and was well on its way to at least doubling its win total from a season ago. So, as disappointing as the losing streak is, it pales in comparison to the 64-loss debacle from the 2004-2005 campaign.

ANSWER #2
Okay, the Hornets have fallen out of a playoff spot in the Western Conference after once occupying the sixth overall position. But they’re only one and a half games behind the Lakers for the final postseason spot, are actually TIED in the loss column with L.A., and have two more games against Kobe and Phil. Meaning? The Hornets are still well within striking distance and have their fate somewhat in their own hands since they’re playing the team directly ahead of them in the standings twice more.

ANSWER #3
There are no teams to jump over to get to that precious eighth and final playoff spot. As you know, the more teams between the Hornets and the final playoff spot the more difficult the task of qualifying for the postseason (since more teams must lose in combination with Hornets victories for that to happen).

ANSWER #4
The Hornets have come close to winning several times during the streak, but have fallen just short. In other words, they haven’t been involved in a lot of blowouts. Although the Clippers loss at the end of their road trip was as ugly as ugly gets with just 16 second-half points, the other games have been competitive. David West came within an inch of hitting a game-winning 3-pointer at home to beat Indiana. That miss led me to my final answer.

ANSWER #5
Remember the miraculous finish in December against AI and the 76ers when the Philly star missed a shot at the buzzer? Remember David West’s game-winners to beat Houston, Milwaukee and Washington? Of course you do. But what if those buzzer-beaters had fallen inches short like the trey against the Pacers? The Hornets would have gone into the All-Star break at .500 tied with the Lakers for the final playoff spot. The bottom line of course is that the Hornets surprised a lot of teams early in the season, pulled out a lot of close games, and lived on the edge prior to the mid-season break. Teams are no longer surprised by a vastly improved Hornets team. Teams are not taking the Hornets for an easy win based on last season’s record. And, the Hornets aren’t pulling out all of the close ones as they were in the first few months.

Those are my answers and I’m sticking to them. Of course, there are some more brutally honest answers to some more brutally honest questions that don’t need to be discussed until the final month of the regular season has expired.

Hopefully when April 19 comes and goes the Hornets will be scouting their playoff opponent and you’ll like some of those answers too.