Charlotte is basically at full strength again

All season long, at least one player has been on the Hornets injury report and it never seems like this team is at full strength. However, this has not stopped them from being successful, as they have plenty of young, high-level talents that have stepped up when it matters most. 

Guys like Miles Bridges, P.J. Washington, Cody Martin, Caleb Martin and Jalen McDaniels, all players who were nothing more than role players and bench players entering the season have all stepped up for Charlotte this year and without these key guys, this team would not be close to being a playoff team! 

Given how well they have held things down with some of the Hornets key players being out, Charlotte finds themselves as the 8-seed in the Eastern Conference, just 2.5 games behind the Boston Celtics and Miami Heat for the 6-seed. 

READ MORE: 3 potential first-round NBA playoff matchups we want to see

With LaMelo Ball back from his wrist injury, that leaves Gordon Hayward as the only Hornets player out right now and he could be coming back within the next few weeks. He has been dealing with a sprained right foot, but there is optimism that Hayward is on the mend and could be back for the Hornets’ last few regular season games. 

Being healthy is extremely important, but being healthy at the start of the playoffs is even more important, especially for the Hornets who will likely have to fight for their playoff lives in the play-in tournament this year. 

Charlotte without both Ball and Hayward is a much different team than they are with them both healthy and on the court, which is why they are going to be a tough team to beat now with not only LaMelo Ball back, but Gordon Hayward on the mend as well.