The Charlotte Hornets kept saying, following a 91-84 home loss to the Miami Heat, that they still view themselves as a playoff team.
It felt like one of those, “Don’t tell me, show me” moments.
Teams fighting for their playoff lives can’t afford to lose to peers, particularly at home. Teams fighting for their playoff lives don’t match a season high in turnovers, as the Hornets did Wednesday (21). Teams fighting for their playoff lives don’t give up 18 offensive rebounds or look so befuddled trying to score against a zone defense.
Teams fighting for their playoff lives sure don’t lose five consecutive home games.