The Charlotte Hornets entered the first-round of the 2016 NBA playoffs fighting an uphill battle.
Their playoff resume was virtually barren, and their opponent, the Miami Heat, had claimed two of the last four titles. When the Heat opened the series with consecutive double-digit victories, it was fair to question whether the Hornets might be in over their heads.
But clever coaching tweaks and better two-way efforts have pushed the Hornets to within a single victory of the franchise's first playoff series win since 2002. And with Game 6 shifting back to Time Warner Cable Arena—a building where the Hornets have won 15 of their last 17 outings—this early underdog now has the unmistakable appearance of a favorite.
And it has three major changes to thank for its suddenly advantageous position.
1. Super-sized Starting Five
The biggest strategic move in this series was, like many great innovations, born out of necessity.
When the Hornets lost Nicolas Batum to left foot and ankle injuries late in Game 2, head co ...
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Article written by Zach Buckley