No tanking here: Hornets insist it’s not time to ‘just pack it in’ despite injuries, losses

Steve Clifford insists nothing is changing during this final month.

As the injuries keep piling up for the Charlotte Hornets in a lost season that’s mercifully nearing its sad conclusion, the coach vowed they aren’t about to alter their approach.

With five key rotation players missing — Seth Curry, Cody Martin and Nick Richards joined LaMelo Ball and Mark Williams in street clothes Sunday night — their 111-106 loss Toronto at Scotiabank Arena and the uncertainty surrounding when they’ll be seen on the court again, there’s a contingent of people who believe it’s probably best for the Hornets to break it all down and look ahead to June.

Defeats in five of their past six games following a strong stretch has the Hornets going in the wrong direction once again. The more losses that pile up between now and then could increase the Hornets’ odds of landing a premium pick, giving them more of a choice of who to select and pair alongside Brandon Miller, who returned from his one-game back injury to lead them in scoring against the Raptors. Clifford, however, has zero plans to just toss out lineups that essentially waive the white flag before tipoff. “I think accountability is what it’s all about, in my opinion,” Clifford said. “Look, we’re shorthanded and there’s a big difference between in some of the games you play, there’s going to be a real challenge to win. But that doesn’t mean you play losing basketball. “And there’s a big difference between teams that just pack it in and teams that play the right way and win. And I think as an organization, I think trying to win every game is a big thing.”