When things have gotten rough for the Charlotte Hornets in recent years, the possibility of blowing it all up and starting over with a new rebuild has been a common point of discussion. But the team's [win over the Atlanta Hawks](https://swarmandsting.com/hornets-get-served-harsh-lesson-close-call-vs-hawks) on Thursday night was a stark reminder of why this current core still has far too much potential to do so.
In the first half, the Hornets moved the ball extremely well, which led to an astounding 18 three-point makes in just the first two frames. This mark tied the most three-pointers by a team in a half in NBA history.
Atlanta battled hard, and things got dicey down the stretch. But the home team kept their trust in their teammates and executed down the stretch to come out with the victory. It was Charlotte's second consecutive win, and their fifth in their last nine games.
The Hornets being injured so much in recent years has provided much of the fuel to the shouts of starting over. But when healthy, this group can clearly reach some pretty incredible heights.
The Hornets are beginning to realize their potential
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That's why it would be such a misguided idea to blow this team up. We're seeing the health factor improve a bit in recent weeks, and with it the number in the win column has been slowing ticking up.
LaMelo Ball no longer has to do a majority of the scoring or facilitating for this offense to be successful. Kon Knueppel has emerged as a reliable creator that plays with the [composure of a 10-year veteran](https://swarmandsting.com/kon-knueppel-maturity-offense-deserves-more-attention), Brandon Miller bends defenses with his slashing and shooting, and Miles Bridges remains a strong floor-raiser as well.
This core has proven that when they're whole, they can absolutely do some special things on the hardwood. When the spacing is right and the ball is popping, this roster can overwhelm teams in a hurry, and it's currently doing so without relying on one player to bail them out possession after possession. This is something the front office will have to take into serious consideration when deciding how they want to approach the trade deadline.
The Hornets' decision-makers should take note of how this group functions when roles are clear and bodies are available. There's still plenty of growth ahead, but there's also a real foundation already in place. Charlotte doesn't need to burn it down. They need continuity and patience, because the flashes are starting to become a pattern.