TORONTO — Deemed still not ready for prime time after TNT pulled the team’s only nationally televised appearance of the season, the Charlotte Hornets turned their attention to the next best thing.
Since they’re not going to be in the postseason barring an unprecedented and miraculous run, and their initial nationwide broadcast set for next week yanked, the Hornets’ date with Toronto on Thursday night presented the closest opportunity they’ll get to tasting a playoff berth. A two-game set in three days against the Raptors was supposed to provide a different perspective.
“I think it’s a lot better for a lot of reasons,” coach Steve Clifford said, “but the biggest one would be with the way we travel now and where you don’t play as many back-to-backs. So, a four-game trip like this, instead of being four flights, four 1:30 am landings, you get to be here for a couple of days. Where we don’t get two days off as much as we used to, I think it makes a big difference for everybody just rest-wise.”
