As it stands, the Charlotte Hornets' magic number to reach the playoffs is four, which can be achieved through any combination of wins or Chicago Bulls losses. If they can beat the 9-65 Philadelphia 76ers the two times they play this week, that number shrinks to two, and that is not considering how the Bulls fair.
Without taking their playoff berth for granted, the Hornets are allowing themselves to set their sights on what will happen when it actually happens. The last time they made the playoffs, two seasons ago, they were swept out of the first round.
Now, they have the third best post-All-Star-break record behind only the Golden State Warriors and the San Antonio Spurs. Still, they are in sixth place and would need to outpace the Boston Celtics by a game or more from here on out to clinch home court advantage in the first round.
"It's fun," Walker said. "Especially the way the Eastern Conference is this year. It's just what, maybe four, five teams that's batting with similar records. If some teams had this record last year, you would probably have been third or fourth. But this year, that's not really the case. It's a lot different. So, it's been fun."
While it is certainly possible this year, head coach Steve Clifford envisions his young squad entering the conversation as being one the conference's best teams on an annual basis.
"That's where it all starts," Clifford said. "The NBA is about making - and then playing well in - the playoffs.
"We want to become a team that's a perennial playoff team that's always fighting for one of the top four spots. With the way the guys have played the last month and a half, that's where we are."
Leading the way for the Hornets is point guard Kemba Walker, who is contributing to a team that has improved its long-distance shooting. Whether it is the Warriors Way or not, it is working for the Hornets. A former lottery selection and one of the longer-tenured players on the young roster, Walker has also emerged as the Hornets' leader and his shooting improvements have set the tone.
"Over the last couple of years, as far as consistency, it just hasn't worked out for me. This year it has," Walker said. "Just the guys that we have helped as well with spreading the floor out and me seeing the basketball go through the net early in the season has given me confidence. I'm trying to stay confident."
