We now know where Lance Stephenson and the Charlotte Hornets stand. It turns out he doesn’t fit in. Which isn’t really news. When everybody started to notice that Lance was not getting the numbers he was getting back in Indy. It was clear that they’d lose patience with him. Now I wasn’t expecting head coach Steve Clifford to bench the guy for their most important game to date. That was a mistake in my view. There is no time to experiment. You’re in a tight Playoff race. And because you’re playing about, you might not get that 8th seed.
Nevertheless, it happened. And now Stephenson has to find his place in the Hornets franchise. According to the Associated Press, he like being there. It’s just going to take time.
“Not at all,” Stephenson said. “I love this system. I love my coaches. I love my teammates. Some people come into systems and fit right in. Some people it takes time. I feel like with me, I’m going to take time.“
Head coach Clifford also set the record straight. Much needed.
“I think the biggest thing for him is he’s 23 and this is the first time he’s gone somewhere different,” Clifford said. “He’s played for the same team and same coach for four years with the same basic offensive and defensive structure.“
Four years. It took three years for Stephenson to have his breakout season. So is Clifford saying that it’ll take Lance his 3-Year deal to actually find a place?
Hopefully it won’t take that long. But he is 23. And patience is clearly something that the Hornets need to have. As does Stephenson.
