Opening day of the 2024 season.
Three predictions. Not ranges but one number
Worst case
Best case
Your prediction
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Worst: 30 wins. Injuries continue, this years team is a little deeper, so it won’t hurt as much as years past. Top 10 pick.
Best: 44 wins. Everyone stays healthy. Competitive team. Might actually get to a playoff series.
My Prediction: I’ll split the difference. Somewhat healthy, no major injuries, but some missed games by key players. Looking at you Lamelo and Mark. 38 wins, make the play-in.
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Worst: injuries and injuries etc. Melo ankle, mark’s body isn’t right and makes it clear he’s not the center of the future, Lee struggles, and Brandon doesn’t take the next leap because he’s trying to do too much on his own. 26 wins
Best: Team stays healthy, Melo looks like the dude again, Miller’s upward trajectory continues, and mark Williams is the team’s X factor at center. Mark Williams unlocks the top end potential for this team (stay tuned to read some of my ramblings later!). Our depth is real, Salaun carves out a reliable (and exciting!) small role, and coach Lee garners a few votes for coach if the year. 48 wins
Most likely: Obviously a mix of these two. Melo plays 60 games and we all somehow feel like that’s a small victory. Also, Melo is kind of banged up for like 15-20 of those 60 games, but we get prime Melo for an exciting 12 game stretch until it’s taken away from us (like how everything else good is taken away from us, so the 60 games feels nice-in the most sad, pathetic way). Mark Williams shows flashes, but can’t stay healthy. Taunts us with one or two of those 20/20 games. And Miles Bridges shows off his dunks and low BBIQ on a nightly basis. 40 wins
Things to look out for:
-Melo plays reduced minutes compared to the past. Coach Lee will keep his minutes in check.
-If Green struggles or is slow to get rollin: don’t be surprised to see a hot Tre Mann get the start at SG. Lee could try Cody Martin or even Miller at SG, but I think it’s more likely that he keeps it simple and starts Mann.
-In case the Hornets look pretty good this season, look for Mann to get a couple votes for Most Improved Player OR 6th man of the year.
-If the Hornets push for the play in, I’d expect coach Lee to get a few votes for coach of the year.
-Don’t be surprised if there’s commotion or rumors about the Hornets trading Miles Bridges around the deadline. 20% chance to trade him
-Last time I’ll say it: Hornets should’ve acquired Isaac Okoro.
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Ah, I was gonna start the annual bold predictions thread, but you beat me to the punch!
I feel optimistic this year. Maybe it’s because we went through an entire summer without a series of headaches and dumbassery, but it felt nice not to be in the news for nonsense. What’s it been , 3, 4 years since we’ve had that?
Now, we live on cursed tribal land, so whenever you ask if things can get worse in Charlotte, the answer is always a resounding YES!!! But I think this will be one of those good years, the year to be a darkhorse, a sneaky darling of the league.
Worst case: Hornet’s Law proves stronger than Hornet’s DNA, injuries abound, someone catches a case, the stadium collapses, 25 wins and….we fall to 7th in the draft.
Best case: I’m gonna crack open the 50 case. There is probably going to be a learning curve for Lee getting used to managing a team, but his program, messaging, communication, modern stylings of the basketball game, knowing how to get the best out of stars, this is what we’ve been asking of a coach since, I don’t know, Dave Cowens. Maybe Young Paul Silas.
Melo is one of those unique talents that makes the game look easy. He’s in that upper tier. Halliburton and Brunson have the numbers and health and success, but Melo has the ability, with the size, and I think he returns to the all star game this year. Miller will get stronger, and I think the two man game with him and Melo will be developed like Tatum and Brown (still a couple years away, but can be the start).
And the depth is the best it’s been since the Kemba/Linsanity team. That we of course couldn’t keep together longer than half a season.
Most Likely: I think at least 40 wins is definitely achievable, I’m gonna say they can at least match the 43 win Borrego teams with better depth and defense and a comparable offense. Make it 44. And they’re getting in the real playoffs this year dammit!
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43-39 if healthy.
If not healthy we need to make sure we are in the lottery to retain our pick
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Best case all things going well, 42 wins.
Worst case, health and bad luck, 31 wins.
My prediction, 37 wins.
Best case: 44
Worst case: 23
My prediction: 41
Feeling like we are due something to cheer about
26-51-43, which is also my locker combination.
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Best case: 45 wins
- LaMelo is healthy and plays like he was playing before he got injured last season
- Brandon Miller takes a step up
- What Tre Mann showed in the pre-season is legit
- Mark is healthy and playing at the level he was pre-injury
- Miles actually plays some defense
- Micic plays the way he did the last half of the year and not the way he did during the preseason
- Josh Green plays consistent above average to good defense
- Charles Lee raises the overall team defense
Worst: 28 wins
What I expect 36 wins
That’s amazing! I’ve got the same combination on my luggage!
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Yeah and is very similar to my SSN and credit card number too!
Worst - 29
Best - 48
I think with our newfound depth our bottom is a little higher so I’ll go 32. Best case 44
- I’m getting really pessimistic about Williams. Just hoping he can’t get over constantly getting hurt. We need that late lottery pick to hit.
48 wins. We are due.
45 if healthy. 29 if not.
Sounds like there’s a consensus agreement amongst us for win expectations, for the most part. We’re all so smart.
Are we? We are all long term fans of the Charlotte NBA team
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Our brains are smart, but our heads are dumb.
It’s these Carolina skulls, made all the harder by near religious zeal for beating them against walls.
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Had to throw in this monty python reference
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