Charlotte Hornets Not Afraid of Heightened Expectations

With the signing of Lance Stephenson and Marvin Williams to help complement Al Jefferson and Kemba Walker, expectations of the Charlotte Hornets have risen and head coach Steve Clifford will not run from them.

“We have a better starting lineup, more shooting and potential for more depth,” Clifford said at Monday’s media day in Charlotte.

“I think expectation is what you want in this league. For players and coaches the NBA is about winning in the playoffs. You can’t run from that and you shouldn’t run from that as an organization or as a coach or as a player.”

“We’re better, we’re more talented. Whether we play better, that will play out,” Clifford said. “But certainly from a talent standpoint the possibilities are exciting.”

When it comes to winning in the playoffs, the Charlotte Bobcats/Hornets, or Horcats as I’ve seen them called, have nowhere to go but up as they look to improve on their 0-8 record.

[Charlotte Observer]