Buzz City Rising: Are the Hornets for Real?

Buzz City is alive. The Charlotte Hornets have ripped off their first nine-game winning streak since 1999 and now sit just one win away from tying the franchise record set in 1997-98. In just three weeks, they’ve gone from the bottom of the Eastern Conference to the 10th seed at 25-28 — completely flipping their season. So what changed? We break down the Hornets’ stunning surge, powered by a true “committee” approach:

• Brandon Miller emerging as the offensive engine, leading the team in scoring in 6 of 9 games
• Miles Bridges stepping into the closer role
• Kon Knueppel catching fire from deep, already top-3 in the NBA in made three-pointers
• LaMelo Ball orchestrating as the floor general, averaging nearly 19 PPG and 9 APG

But this run isn’t just about offense. Charlotte owns the #3 Net Rating in the NBA over this stretch, with a top-5 Defensive Rating and a dominant +13 point differential. Moussa Diabaté has turned into a double-double force, controlling the glass with monster rebounding performances. Is this sustainable? Or is this a Play-In mirage?

Plus, we shift to the NBA buyout market as teams position themselves post-All-Star break. We analyze potential fits and destinations for:

• Chris Paul
• Lonzo Ball
• Khris Middleton
• Cam Thomas
• Mike Conley

Which contenders should make a move? And who could swing the playoff race? Tap in for elite NBA analysis, advanced metrics, roster breakdowns, and playoff implications — only on The Baseline NBA Podcast.

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