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Hornets coach Steve Clifford knows first-hand growing pains of a young team

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Take it from Charlotte coach Steve Clifford, Timberwolves fans. Things are going to be all right.

Clifford and Wolves coach Tom Thibodeau have been friends for years since they both worked for the New York Knicks. So maybe Clifford knows what he's talking about. Besides, he has experienced this, too.

He took over the Hornets for the 2013-14 season, inheriting a team filled with young talent like Kemba Walker, who was entering his third season, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, who was entering his first, and rookie Cody Zeller. He took a team that had won 21 games and won 43 his first season, leading the team to the playoffs for the second time in 10 seasons.