For a team with playoff aspirations, the Charlotte Hornets face a daunting start to the season. In their first fifteen games, they’ll encounter ten teams with postseason ambitions, including two matchups against the defending champion Boston Celtics and clashes with conference finalists Indiana Pacers and Minnesota Timberwolves.
While the early stretch will test the Hornets, there’s potential for them to build momentum as the season progresses. The question remains: Can the Hornets recover from this challenging start, or will it set them back too far? Here are some key takeaways and predictions for the Hornets’ 2024-25 NBA season.
The Hornets 2024-25 Season: Key Projections And Predictions
The 2024-25 Hornets Best Month
If you’re looking for the Hornets to have a winning month, January is where they’ll shine. Although they start the month with four straight losses, the Hornets will bounce back resiliently. They’ll win five of their next six games, including notable victories against the Dallas Mavericks on January 20th and the Memphis Grizzlies on January 22nd.
Their momentum continues on January 24th with a projected win against the Portland Trail Blazers. This strong stretch could spark play-in discussions. However, back-to-back games against the New Orleans Pelicans and Los Angeles Lakers on January 25th and 27th may result in losses. The Hornets will close the month strong with consecutive wins over the Brooklyn Nets on January 29th and the Los Angeles Clippers on January 31st.
After finishing January with an 8-7 record, the Hornets will enter February with an 18-27 overall record. This will significantly improve after a brutal November and December when they struggle to a 10-20 mark. January is a turning point, allowing the Hornets to build confidence and shift their season’s trajectory.
The 2024-25 Hornets’ Worst Month
November will be the Hornets’ busiest month, with sixteen games on the schedule, but it won’t be the most rewarding. They’re projected to secure just four wins, making it the third-fewest in any month this season. The month starts with back-to-back home games against the Celtics, where the Hornets could struggle, likely dropping both contests.
The following seven games will challenge the Hornets, likely resulting in losses to the Detroit Pistons, Pacers, Philadelphia 76ers, Orlando Magic, Milwaukee Bucks, and Cleveland Cavaliers. The Hornets are projected to earn their first win against the Nets on November 19th, offering brief relief. More tough matchups follow, including expected losses to the Pistons and Bucks.
The Hornets could gain momentum, winning three of their final four games, with only one loss coming to the New York Knicks.
With a 4-12 record in November, the Hornets will start the season with a 6-14 overall record. This slow start shows the Hornets aren’t yet ready to compete with top-tier NBA teams despite returning key players.
All-Star Break
As February begins, the Hornets will continue to face ups and downs. They will alternate wins and losses against the Denver Nuggets and Washington Wizards before facing a rough patch with three straight losses to the Bucks, San Antonio Spurs, and Pistons again. However, the Hornets are expected to regain some footing with road wins against the Nets and Magic just before the All-Star break.
Regarding All-Star weekend in San Francisco, the Hornets will have representation:
- Brandon Miller will participate in the Rookie/Sophomore game, showcasing his talents on a big stage.
LaMelo Ball will find himself in a unique position. Ball is among the league’s elite point guards when healthy, but his availability has been a recurring issue. While a bounce-back season seems likely, the Hornets’ struggles might prevent him from securing a spot on the Eastern Conference All-Star team.
Following the break, the Hornets will resume play with a road game against the Nuggets, likely resulting in a loss. They’ll bounce back with victories over the Portland Trail Blazers and Sacramento Kings before closing out the month with defeats from the Golden State Warriors and Mavericks.
The Hornets’ 5-7 February leaves them 23-34, needing significant ground to make a playoff push.
The Stretch Run
The Hornets are projected to close out the 2024-25 season with a combined March and April record of 9-14, bringing their final tally to 32-48. Though underwhelming, it’s a notable improvement from last season’s 21-61 record, marking an 11-game progress for the team.
For context, last season, the Atlanta Hawks secured the 10th spot in the Eastern Conference with 36 wins, clinching the final play-in position. Even with two games left to be determined, the Hornets’ projected ceiling this season is just 34 wins. Though likely short of the playoffs, the improvement signals potential growth as they develop their core players.
In Conclusion
The Charlotte Hornets are making strides, but their 2024-25 season will still be challenging. With an 11-game improvement over last year, the team is on the right track, though they will likely fall short of playoff contention. The season’s challenging start and struggles against top-tier teams highlight the gap they still need to close.
However, with young talents like Brandon Miller and the continued growth of LaMelo Ball, the future holds promise. Though this season may miss the playoffs, it’s a vital step in the Hornets’ journey to becoming competitive in the East. This year’s progress sets the stage for a potentially more successful campaign soon.
Side Note: Depending on two unscheduled games due to the NBA Cup, the Hornets will finish 34-48, 33-49, or 32-50.
