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Charlotte Hornets Look for the Hornets to pick up where they left off
Updated: Wednesday October 03, 2001 7:10 PM
By Marty Burns, CNNSI.com The Hornets were a Jekyll-and-Hyde team a year ago. They played like zombies through much of the regular season only to turn into a powerhouse in the playoffs. They swept the Heat in the first round and nearly upset the Bucks in the semifinals. With Jamal Mashburn and Baron Davis gaining confidence, look for Charlotte to pick up where it left off. Though they didn't make any any big-ticket moves, the Hornets still have the key ingredients. With center Elden Campbell, power forward P.J. Brown and shooting guard David Wesley joining stars Davis and Mashburn, Charlotte has arguably the most solid starting unit in the East.
The Hornets will miss the open-court skills of Eddie Robinson, who signed with Chicago, but new GM Jeff Bower made some subtle moves that will help. First, he signed veteran swingman Stacey Augmon, a much better defender than Robinson. Then he filled Charlotte's need for outside shooters by inking Matt Bullard and Bryce Drew. Perhaps the biggest question for Charlotte in training camp will be whether Derrick Coleman shows up ready to play. Last year he didn't, and he was basically a non-factor all season. If he gets his act together, the Hornets could contend for the Eastern title. Standout Stat: 22.3 Average margin of victory in the Hornets' first-round sweep of the Heat last spring.
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