https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UqBA-H4elsA
Don’t look now, but the Hornets have won their last five games and sit at the No. 7 spot in the East after a 108-101 win in Detroit last night. They’ve climbed their way back into the playoffs, but they might have to face LeBron in the first round for the second consecutive year. All this even though Lance Stephenson couldn’t hit water falling out of a boat.
Lance looked a lot better last night in 22 minutes off the bench. He was 4-of-8 from the field and added five dimes to his nine points. He was even 1-of-2 from deep, despite connecting on just 15.2 percent of his attempts from beyond the arc this season.
Plus, he had Anthony Tolliver windmills his arms to keep from falling on his keister before knocking down this pull-up.
We’re glad Born Ready’s confident enough, despite coming off the bench, to shimmy shake after the bucket. Antoine Walker — who knows a thing or two about struggling from the field — would be proud.
Stephenson’s first year in Charlotte has been a disaster. He’s ranked dead last (out of 98 shooting guards) in offensive real plus-minus and his field goal percentage — 37.3 — is way under the NBA’s Jason Kidd line. The Hornets score almost seven more points per 100 possessions and give up more than two points less per 100 possessions when Stephenson is on the bench. He’s been that bad. Numbers don’t lie.
Hopefully Stephenson turns it around, but Michael Jordan’s desire to build on last year’s success, while injecting new life into Charlotte’s offense, has had the opposite effect since the signing of Stephenson. Luckily for fans, the team in teal is still likely to make the playoffs in the embattled East.
(video via Fluxhoops)
