Opinion
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Will the Charlotte Hornets Sting the Atlanta Hawks at State Farm Arena?

As the Charlotte Hornets prepare to take on the Atlanta Hawks at State Farm Arena on March 23, fans are buzzing with anticipation. The Hornets have been showing signs of resurgence, and this upcoming game is a prime opportunity to prove their mettle.


CHARLOTTE, NC - FEBRUARY 14:  Cody Martin #11 of the Charlotte Hornets shoots the ball during the game against the Atlanta Hawks on February 14, 2024 at Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2024 NBAE (Photo by Kent Smith/NBAE via Getty Images)

In their last outing against the Detroit Pistons on March 11, the Hornets fell short, scoring 97 points to Detroit's 114. Despite a balanced scoring effort across all four quarters and a solid contribution from their bench with 11 points, it wasn't enough to secure victory. The team's field goal percentage stood at a modest 39 percent while they shot just 32 percent from beyond the arc. However, they did manage to grab an impressive total of 50 rebounds and dished out an encouraging number of assists (27), indicating that when they move the ball well, they can be quite effective.


The previous home game for CHA against Brooklyn Nets on March 10 showed more promise with a win of 110-99. The Hornets led for nearly half an hour in game time and capitalized on fast breaks scoring an impressive 26 points from such opportunities. Their field goal percentage was significantly better at an efficient rate of over half their shots made (54 percent). This level of offensive execution will be crucial if they wish to overcome ATL.


CHARLOTTE, NC - FEBRUARY 14: Kai Jones #23 of the Charlotte Hornets handles the ball during the game against the Atlanta Hawks on February 14, 2024 at Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement.  Mandatory Copyright Notice:  Copyright 2024 NBAE (Photo by Brock Williams-Smith/NBAE via Getty Images)

However, consistency has been CHA's Achilles' heel as seen in another recent away game against Washington Wizards where despite leading by as much as ten points during playtime, defensive lapses allowed WAS to surge back into contention resulting in a narrow loss for CHA by just twelve points (100-112).


Looking ahead towards ATL who will have home-court advantage; it is imperative that CHA maintains its focus throughout all four quarters. They must leverage their ability to score in transition while tightening up defensively especially around paint where DET managed to score heavily against them.


CHARLOTTE, NC - FEBRUARY 14: Trae Young #11 of the Atlanta Hawks handles the ball during the game against the Charlotte Hornets on February 14, 2024 at Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement.  Mandatory Copyright Notice:  Copyright 2024 NBAE (Photo by Brock Williams-Smith/NBAE via Getty Images)

The Hawks will not make it easy though; known for their dynamic offense led by sharpshooter Trae Young among others - CHA needs every player locked in defensively if they are going to contain ATL’s firepower.


Fans eager for action can catch this clash live at State Farm Arena or tune into BSSE TV networks on March 23rd starting at precisely half-past seven in the evening Eastern Time.

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