without such an important day-to-day player like McRoberts.
Hoppe:
Lance Stephenson: If the Hornets want to compete for the Eastern Conference crown this year, “Born Ready” is going to have to play a big role. His playmaking and defensive ability should give this team a lot of what it was missing last year.
Gary Neal: Neal has had an impressive pre-season, and we don’t have any reason to believe that won’t translate to when the games count. His ability to provide a spark off the bench should play a key role in the Hornets’ success.
Al Jefferson: Big Al exceeded everyone's expectations last year, as he lead the Bobcats back to the playoffs. How will he respond now that the expectations are even greater? Hopefully, Jefferson will become the second All-Star in franchise history this season.
Games To Watch:
Dec. 26: Hornets at Thunder- While Charlotte was snubbed from the NBA’s 2014 Christmas Day lineup, the Buzz got a nice consolation prize with a contest in Oklahoma City against a championship-caliber Thunder team the day after. Big Al, Durant, Westbrook, and Stephenson are just some of the names that will make this matchup against OKC one of the more exciting games of the year.
Hoppe’s Games To Watch:
Jan. 2nd: Cleveland Cavaliers at Charlotte Hornets- This is the first time all season that Hornets’ fans will get a close up of the new look, LeBron James lead Cavaliers at the Cable Box. The obvious added element to the game is that Charlotte was never able to beat LeBron in Miami. The Hornets will look to defend their home floor on what should be an entertaining holiday evening.
2014-15 Season Predictions
Hoppe: Overall, I’m really excited to see how the Hornets compete in the Eastern Conference in 2014-15. And while the East is competitive this season, it’s not unrealistic to think that Charlotte will earn a top four seed in the conference. In fact, I predict the Hornets will live up to all of the hype surrounding them this season and win 53 games. If this comes true, it will be the most victories in a single season in franchise history.
Calcagno: This is going to be an awesome year for the return of “the Buzz.” With an improved team under second-year Head Coach Steve Clifford combined with the abilities of stars Al Jefferson, Lance Stephenson, and Kemba Walker, look for this Hornets team to excel in 2014-15, winning fifty to fifty-five games and earning their second consecutive playoff berth.