The Charlotte Hornets are still in the fight and battle for the 8th and final spot for the Eastern Conference Playoffs. Al Jefferson said that he had heard a pop in his knee last week, but the MRI showed no signs of an injury, but he is still hurting. Coach Steve Clifford has come to grips with the truth that big Al will not be 100% this year, ever.
According to Rick Bonnell of The Charlotte Observer:
“Al is not going to be 100 percent here the rest of the year. He is just not,” Clifford said.”
Al Jefferson has had TONS of injury problems in the past and that is one of the main reasons that he hasn’t been able to fulfill his role as the team’s best player. With Al Jefferson out, Charlotte will have a much harder time trying to get into the playoffs and at this point you can basically count them out. In my opinion, the only teams that legitimately have a chance for the playoffs are the Celtics and the Pacers, with the Heat being locked in.
