How The Bucks Compare: An Early Eastern Conference Primer

Oct 29, 2014; Charlotte, NC, USA; Milwaukee Bucks guard

(00) drives to the basket and scores as he is defended by Charlotte Bobcats forward

(40) and forward

(54) during the first half of the game at Time Warner Cable Arena. Mandatory Credit: Sam Sharpe-USA TODAY Sports

Charlotte Hornets

Last Season: 33-49 (11th)

Player Additions: Nicolas Batum, Jeremy Lin, Frank Kaminsky, Spencer Hawes, Jeremy Lamb, Tyler Hansbrough, Aaron Harrison

Player Subtractions: Lance Stephenson, Mo Williams, Bismack Biyombo, Jeffery Taylor, Jason Maxiell, Gerald Henderson, Noah Vonleh

2015-16 Outlook

The Charlotte Hornets went into 2014-15 with high expectations. After a resurgent 2013-14 season, their final one as the Bobcats and first under the guidance of Steve Clifford, Charlotte were finally looking relevant, and in many ways seemed set to become the darling of fans around the league.

So what did they do then? Naturally, the Hornets looked to take the next big step, and in picking up a young, talented and precocious young star in Lance Stephenson, Charlotte were undoubtedly aggressive.

We all know that didn’t work out for them, and in hindsight the Hornets may have jumped too soon, but could it have led to them landing in a better spot only twelve months later.

There may be close to no buzz (excuse the pun) over the Hornets this summer, but it feels like they have improved significantly under the radar.

Nicolas Batum is a veteran NBA wing who is long and explosively talented on both ends of the floor, and even more importantly, he’s only 26 years old. Heading into a contract year, he could be getting ready to put on a real show.

Jeremy Lin has shown the world what he’s capable of doing in the NBA, on more than one occasion, and he should offer Charlotte a more than serviceable backup or partner for their starting point guard Kemba Walker, who also has been reunited with his former college teammate Jeremy Lamb.

Veteran specialist big men like Spencer Hawes and Tyler Hansbrough offer different options to pair alongside Al Jefferson, while the additions of rookies like Frank Kaminsky and Aaron Harrison provide a nice balance of young talent to the squad too.

So, just to give you all a fair warning, the Hornets are set to be better than you expect.

How The Bucks Compare

The Hornets are one of the few teams in the East who have the length, athleticism and explosiveness to match up with the likes of Giannis and Khris Middleton on the wings, as Batum and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist are capable counters.

The area of the court where the Bucks should have a big advantage, and perhaps the major difference in the places both franchise find themselves in, is the presence of a potential offensive superstar at the four in the form of Jabari Parker.

If Parker is healthy again by the time the Bucks meet the Hornets, they don’t have many guys who seem like they’d be capable of checking him. Sure they could move Kidd-Gilchrist up a spot, but that would create mismatches elsewhere, meaning the prospect of the former second overall pick getting to grips with Cody Zeller, Kaminsky and Hansbrough should be enough to make Bucks fans salivate.

Next: A Fresh Approach For Chicago