Amidst the ongoing series of injuries, this time attributed to Terry Rozier’s sickness, Steve Clifford relied on his extensive expertise on Monday night.
This approach appears to be the most efficient tactic for the coach of the Charlotte Hornets to maintain his calm composure.
“As I’ve matured, I’ve improved in this aspect,” Clifford commented. “You need to comprehend your team and acknowledge that you cannot manage a team with a record of 5-23 the same way you would a team with a record of 17-12. You just can’t, you know?
“You can still be assertive and uphold high expectations. However, I do believe that NBA players have a sense of what’s right and wrong. The way you communicate and provide guidance to them is crucial. Even when you have all the players, this is still a challenging journey.”
Regrettably, the Hornets were without critical players, which became glaringly obvious after halftime, as the Denver Nuggets surged forward, leaving Charlotte’s makeshift lineup trailing behind. The third quarter witnessed the Hornets succumb to a 111-93 defeat against the Nuggets at Ball Arena, setting the tone for 2024 to mimic the conclusion of 2023 — with another loss added to their record.
Image Source: Charlotte Hornets @ Instagram
