The Charlotte Hornets have done what once seemed unthinkable this season. A team that has been loaded with young talent in recent years but could never quite put together winning basketball is finally starting to do so. Their 29-point road win over the Boston Celtics yesterday really turned some heads around the league. To me, this team is following a trajectory similar to the recent Indiana Pacers teams. I’m not saying they’re going to the Finals, but an unexpected playoff run suddenly doesn’t seem crazy.

The Hornets have now won 16 of their last 19 games, including a six-game win streak where every victory has come by at least 15 points. That kind of dominance hasn’t been seen often. It's the longest stretch since the 2017–18 Golden State Warriors led by Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant accomplished something similar. Because of their slow start, Charlotte currently sits at 32–21, but in the NBA it’s often better to peak late than early. At one point the Hornets were +100000 on FanDuel to win the Finals, but the recent play has now shortened the number all the way to +10000.

So what’s been the key to the turnaround? For starters, the Hornets are loaded with talent. They have a potential Rookie of the Year candidate in Kon Knueppel alongside stars like LaMelo Ball, Brandon Miller, and Miles Bridges, while Moussa Diabaté has quietly developed into a very solid big man. Their depth has also been huge, with veterans like Coby White, Josh Green, and Pat Connaughton contributing off the bench. Over the last month everything has clicked, with Charlotte ranking 2nd in offensive efficiency and 7th in defensive efficiency, showing this team isn’t just winning they’re dominating on both ends of the floor. They currently sit in the Play In spot, but I'm sure no team in the Eastern Conference wants to see them come playoff time

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