Charlotte Hornets guard Kemba Walker: Struggles not the coach’s fault

Charlotte Hornets point guard Kemba Walker says fans are blaming coach Steve Clifford too much for the team’s struggles this season and perhaps blaming the players not enough.

Fan frustration on some Charlotte sports-talk radio programs and Twitter of late has often suggested there should be a coaching change at the end of the season.

"It has nothing to do with him," Walker said of the Hornets sitting 10^th in the Eastern Conference, two spots out of the final playoff berth in the Eastern Conference. "He does a great job, he’s a fantastic coach. He always does his best to give us the right game plan, to try and get wins.

"I’m 100 percent behind him. I believe in him."

The then-Bobcats finished an unexpected 43-39 last season, Clifford’s first as an NBA head coach. The Bobcats qualified for the playoffs, but were swept by the Miami Heat.

Clifford finished fourth in balloting for NBA Coach of the Year.

"It was no (coincidence) we got to the playoffs last season," Walker said of Clifford’s coaching.

"It hasn’t been the best season for us this year, but he is definitely not to blame. We’re the ones out there playing, we’re the ones who have to execute, we’re the ones who have to win those games. I think it’s on us."

This story was originally published April 2, 2015 at 12:28 PM with the headline "Charlotte Hornets guard Kemba Walker: Struggles not the coach’s fault."