Charlotte hopes to scare James Gang
Kemba Walker has poured in at least 20 points in each of the Hornets’ past seven games. But can the 26-year-old lead his squad to victory against the class of the Eastern Conference?
Charlotte attempts to upend Cleveland this afternoon, with a 3:30 p.m. ET tip at Quicken Loans Arena. Online sports book Bovada.lv gives the host Cavs odds of -400 to come out on top. Conversely, Steve Clifford’s club represents a +300 underdog.
The Hornets (6-2) appear well on their way to returning to the playoffs for the second straight season, thanks primarily to Walker’s emergence as a bona-fide star. In Friday’s 113-111 loss to the Raptors, he became the first point guard in Charlotte history to score 40 points, haul down 10 rebounds and dish six assists. Walker’s still searching for a sidekick, though.
Cleveland (7-1), of course, boasts arguably the best one-two punch in the league. As LeBron James relishes the role of facilitator more and more, Kyrie Irving continues to attack the basket with stunning regularity. The Duke product is also canning percent of his attempts from beyond the arc.
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We view the Hornets as legitimate contenders in the East. The Cavaliers, however, belong in a category unto themselves. As a result, expect things to get a little out of hand in the second half.
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