Charlotte In Over Their Head With Born Ready?

[CarolinaPanthers8789]

Inside Info From Reiter

Bill Reiter: Was told a few weeks ago Lance Stephenson, not Paul George or anyone else, impacted Hibbert so negatively last season. Looking accurate.

Bill Reiter: Also told me that, from the start, folks in Charlotte started to realize in Lance they'd bitten off more than they'd planned on chewing.

Comments From Lance

After missing his first two shots of the second half Wednesday, Stephenson was replaced by Brian Roberts at the 8:04 mark of the third quarter and didn't return for the remainder of the game. Stephenson had eight points, seven rebounds, five assists and two steals in 23 minutes. He was short on answers when asked afterward about his diminished role late in games. "It's Coach's decision," Stephenson said. Pressed further about his status, Stephenson said he's no longer dealing with some of the nagging injuries that slowed him in training camp and entering the season. "I'm not hurt. I'm healthy," said Stephenson, who has seen his playing time reduced over each of the past five games. "There are no more excuses. Hey, it's Coach's decision if he doesn't want to play me in the fourth [quarter]. I'm just going to continue to work hard and do what it takes to win games."

Comments From Cliff

Hornets coach Steve Clifford believes Lance Stephenson's problems adjusting during his first season in Charlotte are partly due to the guard's struggles to live up to external expectations. "To be fair, one of the things that's made it more difficult for him is that he came here and people proclaimed him as the next superstar," Clifford said Wednesday. "He's not a star. He's a guy that has talent to become a star. To be a star in this league, you have to do it over years." ESPN.com

[Rubi]

I mean the guy has trouble hitting open mid range jumpers...that's a red flag tbh

He's been at his best when he creates for others. Ball moves and fakes and then feeding other guys. Being a distributor

His challenge is getting his shot to fall. Which may take a long time to improve

[cbarrier90]

Lance was such a cancer Larry Bird offered him a five-year contract.

Once again, he's unfairly labeled as the scapegoat when he's a smaller part of a larger issue. Poor rotations, Kemba not shooting well either, Marvin Williams, injuries.

Trading Lance is not going to fix those issues, and with his value at its lowest come December 15th, trading him sets this team back officially to Jahlil Okafor status (which honestly I would not mind.)

[Panthers Fanatic]

Good grief...this team needs a W in the worst way!

[Manos]

I think at this point we might need to move Lance to the bench and use him like the spurs use Ginobli. Not sure who we would start over him but letting him go nuts with the backups for 25 minutes a game might maximize his potential. Maybe start neal at the 2, Mkg to the 3(when healthy) and start Zeller. A bench squad of Roberts, lance, hairston, Marvin and biz could be decent.

[Keith Moons Liver]

I've been disappointed with Lance, but I think Reiter is full of poo. "Folks" are his sources? Weak. And he just happens to be an insider with both the Pacers and Hornets? I call BS. He's not going to be the breakout star some of us might have been hoping for, he can't shoot and is a poor fit for our mediocre-at-best roster, but he's the easy media target for a team that is struggling and just isn't that good. The Pacers were interested in keeping him and offered him a very long contract, Larry Bird would not have done that if he thought any of that was true. 

 

I do think Stepheson is an off-the-court scumbag, but as far as being a locker room cancer I think that's overblown. 

[Dexterity]

Lance is a worse shooter than Henderson.

Let that sink in.

[toldozer]

I thought driving to the basket was his thing. He's so hesitant to do that and I think it's partly because big al is in his way. I think they need to be on the court at different times. Not to mention lance vulturing all of Jefferson's rebounds

[Rise of The Hive]

I think this will be his only year with us.

[yasuhara2241]

He's deferring way too much. He has open shots but has no confidence right now. He's not the only one with issues. This entire team seems out of sync. I have always said Im not worried until late Dec/early Jan, but we do need to sprinkle in some wins! 

 

Issues: 

1. Lance not being comfortable with the Hornets and it's affecting is aggressiveness and shooting

2. Kemba's shooting...atrocious 

3. Injuries: This stretch without MKG shows how much we need him. And who would have thought also wanting Gary Neal back (but hope we don't overpay in FA for him)

4. Big Al = terrible at the pick and roll defense

5. Big Al = needs to work on pass out of double team 

6. Rotation = Hey Cliff! When we need defense and are trying to hold onto a lead how about put our best Defensive players in the game??