The Charlotte Hornets are deep in a Playoff battle. It’s a 6 horse race for the final 3 places of the Eastern Conference Playoff seeds. Milwaukee are currently ahead in 6th. Next is the Heat and then the Boston Celtics. With Indiana, Brooklyn and Charlotte close behind.
Speaking of Boston and Charlotte. They faced off last night. It was a pivotal game for both teams. The winner would gain momentum in their efforts to get the 8th seed. The Celtics won that game, led by Avery Bradley who dropped 30 points. Which is a rarity. It was a close game. But there was one player that was inexplicably out. Lance Stephenson. Probably the Hornets’ biggest game in terms of importance and Stephenson wasn’t on the floor. Why? Because head coach Steve Clifford said so according to the Associated Press.
The Hornets signed Lance Stephenson to a three-year, $27 million contract in the offseason in part because of his playoff experience. But in the most important game of the season to date, Stephenson didn’t even play.
“It’s not in my hands. It’s in Coach’s hands,” Stephenson said.
When asked if he was upset by the decision, Stephenson said, “I mean, of course. I feel like I could help our team. I feel I could have helped tonight.”
Said Clifford: “I explained to him that I’m not saying it’s his fault at all but we have struggled to find a group that has played well off the bench in these last few games.
Is it just me? Or is it a tad late to be experimenting? Sure Lance has been mediocre all season. But of all games to cut him out on. That was the game you picked? Big mistake if you ask me.
