Charlotte gets big nights from a host of players in a 104-103 win over the Lakers on Tuesday night.
1. Mo Money
Mo Williams once again proved just how valuable he is to this team, not only making the clutch free throws in the final seconds to secure the win, but he was able to score and get his teammates involved to make Charlotte a much more well-rounded team.
In the past, the Hornets have essentially relied on two players -- point guard Kemba Walker, who has missed several games to injury, and center Al Jefferson. More times than not, one of those two players led the team to victory.
What Williams has been able to do is not only get his points, but he's also getting those on his team involved more offensively.
Williams has now played six games with the Hornets (25-33) and he's averaging 22.8 points per outing on 44.8 percent shooting, including 42.0 percent from 3-point range. However, what's impressive about it is he's averaging a robust eight assists per game.
In his six games, Williams has three games with at least 10 assists. The rest of the team combined has three games with at least 10 assists -- Walker with two and Lance Stephenson with one.
2. Hairston in Trouble Again
Hornets first-round pick P.J. Hairston was held out of his second straight game Tuesday night for disciplinary reasons. According to the Charlotte Observer, Hairston missed his weight training session Sunday morning.
It's the second different time this season he's been deactivated for missing scheduled sessions. Back on Dec. 9, Hairston missed a practice.
"P.J., to me, has a chance to be a very good player," Hornets coach Steve Clifford said. "His approach has to be, and I have talked to him again today, is one where he is constantly learning what the NBA game is all about. That is something that he has not done a very good job with. ...
"He hasn't done terrible, but he hasn't done as well as I hoped that he would have."
It has to be frustrating for the Charlotte brass. When they drafted Hairston, they knew that he came with some baggage, but had hoped he'd learned his lesson.
Apparently he hasn't.
Hairston was kicked out of the University of North Carolina after his sophomore season after receiving improper benefits.
He spent last season in the NBA Developmental League before being selected by the Hornets. When he met with the media, Hairston stated that he'd grown up and learned his lesson. A short time later, he was charged with punching a high school player during a pickup game at a YMCA in Durham. Charges were later dropped.
Hairston also exchanged cars with Cleveland Browns wide receiver Josh Gordon, who promptly got a DWI in Hairston's vehicle.
Then came the odd incident of Hairston signing with agent Juan Morrow, who wasn't even an agent. Morrow hadn't received his certification from the NBA. He later did and still represents Hairston.
"He has, in my opinion, potential to be a starter in this league," Clifford said. "Being a professional player is not easy for a young guy."
3. Playing Like It's the Playoffs
With six teams within three games of each other and fighting for two playoff spots in the Eastern Conference, Clifford said the team is officially in playoff mode and that his substitution patterns will reflect that.
No longer will players be playing just so others can get a rest, Clifford will be putting the hot hand out on the floor and who matches up best with whom. There are no more set rotations.
"From here on out, we sub to win," Clifford said. "Some guys will get their regular minutes, other guys, it's going to be a match up thing here or there. If a guys is playing well on a certain night, he may get more minutes, but that's how we're going to do it."
That was never more evident than in the second half when Stephenson didn't see the floor. He played nine minutes in the first half, scoring five points and committing three turnovers.
The players know just how important this stretch is, which is why Williams said Wednesday night's game at Brooklyn is exceedingly important.
It just so happens that Charlotte is tied with the Nets for the final playoff spot, though Brooklyn holds the tiebreaker.
"(Tonight) was a must-win for us going into Brooklyn," he said.
3 -- Number of Charlotte players with at least 20 points (Jefferson 21, Gerald Henderson 21, Williams 20).
7 -- The number of players that were from either North Carolina or Duke on the two teams. That doesn't include UNC alums Mitch Kupchak and Michael Jordan.
Follow Brett Jensen on Twitter @Brett_Jensen
