Shades of 2011
“Luke: I won't fail you. I'm not afraid.
Yoda: You will be. You... will... be.” - Star Wars Episode V Empire Strikes Back
With 13 seconds, I thought the five point lead against the Chicago Bulls was safe. I started to clean up my mess of stat sheets and got ready to head down to catch the post game press conference.
“Just hold off a little bit,” my conscience whispered to me. “They still can screw this up.”
Right about that time is when Satoransky hit the three to bring the Bulls within two points. The rest, as they say, was academic. Especially if you’ve followed the Hornets for any sort of time.
For this year’s Hornets, this was the second of two straight meltdowns in the fourth quarter. The same habits you’ve seen in ghosts of Hornets past popped up both in Washington. The late game turnovers, the offensive droughts, the inbounding issues. Everything was like reliving your worst high school memory.
What might hurt the most about games like this are the fact that it tamps down on the hope that one might have it this team in the future. Because the scars of prior building teams creep back up. It’s like having Rob Schneider with his crappy cajun accent saying “oh we suck again” on loop.
I’ve always been one of those who will repeat the “enjoy the ride” mantra, but after this last four game losing streak (that’s almost guaranteed to be five after Monday’s game in Miami), I’d get why anyone would want off.
And that sucks, because this team can bring such highlights. But the lowlights can bring such pain, even when you’re not expected to compete for a playoff spot.
OTHER NEWS AND NOTES
In the postgame presser, Coach Borrego mentioned that his message to his team was to “stay together”. While I get that was probably said to prevent any sort of splintering, it’s also a bothersome quote. If there’s any sort of fracturing going on SEVENTEEN GAMES IN , this has the chance to get much worse before it gets much better.
I don’t want how dynamic the defense was in the 3rd quarter of this Bulls game to get lost. They held the Bulls to THIRTEEN points. It was a dynamic performance, and it should have been the bridge to breaking a three game losing streak.
Also in the not getting lost pile is Marvin Williams 2nd half performance. For large stretches of the 2nd half, Marvin was the offense. It was fun watching Marvin turn back the clock, and there’s a small part of me that hopes he gets a chance to finish his career in a Hornets uniform.
ABOUT THE CITY EDITION UNIFORMS
So I know that these came out to very little fanfare and a ton of scorn and anger. I get most of the anger, the disappointment and the derision. Hell, I was meh about them on the Locked On Hornets podcast segment I do weekly (which you should be able to find here).
But my friend Clay brought up some points that I felt like I should respond to. The first thing I feel like I need to say that that, yes, the branding and everything have been on point for the Hornets up until this year. I’d also ask anyone disappointed in these jerseys to find me the culture in this city that isn’t done better elsewhere.
Craft beer is done FAR better in other parts of this state, if not the country. The no brainer concepts the Hornets could’ve done (Dreamville partnership w/ J.Cole, recognizing the civil rights history of NC) either highlight other parts of the state OR they scare away the lighter shade of the fanbase.
What people of Charlotte SHOULD look at this is a stinging indictment that the pool of culture in this city is much shallower than anyone really thinks it is. And the fact that the Hornets feel like they can’t brand around it is a bigger problem than anyone wants to admit.
Song of the Weekend
The original is iconic, Frank’s remake is just as awesome. It’s perfectly depressing for a team that’s lost two straight heartbreakers. Sip a cold brew (or non-alcoholic beverage you go to when depressed) and mourn away.
Even if this a low period, take time to focus on the high points in a single game and enjoy the ride.