There is no secret what kind of team Steve Clifford likes to coach and build. His Charlotte Hornets teams all had a strong defensive identity. It was the one that that was consistent about his entire five-year run with the Hornets.
They were top 10 in defensive rating for three of the five years he was there. The fourth year, the Hornets were top-10 until injuries hit after the All-Star Break. Only last year did the Hornets fall outside the top-10.
Defense was always his team’s identity. It was the base for the team’s entire measure of success — as limited as it might be.