Lance Stephenson returning from 14-game absence Wednesday
The Lance Stephenson chemistry experiment is set for Round 2.
Signed as a free agent by the Charlotte Hornets in the offseason, Stephenson's first stint with the team was unsuccessful, as the Hornets got out to a 6-19 start and Stephenson played poorly.
It was then that Stephenson sprained his pelvis, an injury that has kept him out for the last 14 games - a stretch during which the Hornets have surprisingly gone 9-5.
Stephenson is set to return Wednesday against the San Antonio Spurs, coming off the bench behind Gerald Henderson. That's something that he's OK with.
"I won't be mad over that," Stephenson said Tuesday. "I'll just try to feel everybody out. Right now we're on a five-game winning streak and I don't want to do anything to break that."
Stephenson is expected to play only about 15 minutes against the Spurs.
The Hornets getting on a roll without Stephenson has been surprising, especially since Al Jefferson has also been sidelined. The team has figured some things out without Stephenson, specifically on the defensive end, but playing better without him has been a season-long phenomenon for Charlotte.
| Hornets | O-Rtg | D-Rtg | Net |
|---|---|---|---|
| To Dec. 17 | 98.3 | 106.2 | -7.9 |
| Since Dec. 18 | 101.0 | 96.2 | 4.8 |
| Stephenson on court | 96.6 | 105.5 | -8.9 |
| Stephenson on bench | 101.3 | 100.4 | 0.9 |
In 25 games before the injury, Stephenson was averaging 10.2 points, 6.8 rebounds and 4.8 assists, shooting 38.6 percent from the field and 15.1 percent from long range.
Those percentages are due for some regression, and if Stephenson can find his ideal role in head coach Steve Clifford's system, the Hornets could be a player in the Eastern Conference playoff race.