Charlotte Hornets fans must have grown quite accustomed to their team’s style after three seasons of head coach Steve Clifford being in charge.
Signs like “We get back in transition” and “We defend without fouling”, placed all around Charlotte’s practice gym, per Rick Bonnell, epitomize what Clifford’s team is about.
The emphasis on abandoning the offensive glass in favor of transition defense, yet collectively handling defensive rebounding has put the Hornets in historical company in regards to securing their own basket. Charlotte is the second NBA team ever to finish first in defensive rebound percentage for three seasons in a row since the NBA first began tracking offensive and defensive rebounds separately in 1973-74.