The Charlotte Hornets have been placed in a difficult group for this year’s inaugural NBA in-season tournament. Group B of the Eastern Conference will feature two contenders, one up-and-coming team, a rebuilding roster, and the Hornets – but more on that in a moment.
The in-season tournament is the latest addition to the NBA calendar. In Europe, most sports have a tournament that runs alongside a primary league, with soccer having numerous versions happening throughout the year. Now, it would appear the league wants to follow a similar route as to try and improve mid-season ratings while giving non-contending teams an additional target to aim for.