This story is part of ESPN The Magazines Oct. 31 NBA Preview Issue. Subscribe today!Charlotte HornetsOverall: 27 Title track: 104 Ownership: 54 Coaching: 42 Players: 37 Fan relations: 40 Affordability: 8 Stadium experience: 58 Bang for the buck: 18 Change from last year:?+56The buzz is officially back. In the second season since they reclaimed their bug-eyed identity from New Orleans, the Hornets finished with the highest win total (48) since pro basketball returned to Charlotte more than a decade ago. Their playoff run lasted but one round, but the future remains bright, and the teams jump of 56 spots from last year was the second-largest in sports.Whats goodThe Hornets missed out on being the cheapest ticket in basketball by a measly 40 cents (at $30.60 a ticket, theyre a hair more expensive than the Pelicans). But add $5 parking and a free program, and the Hornets are the best deal in the sport, especially considering they went 30-11 at home last year (good for a bang for the buck ranking of 18th overall and fifth in the NBA). Although the team still doesnt feature a true superstar, it does have Steve Clifford, who has pieced together a top-10 defense in each of his three seasons and has rightfully earned a reputation as one of the brightest minds in coaching (at 42nd overall, hes up 46 spots).Whats badThe on-court product is finally worth the modest price of admission, and the fan base has warmly embraced the return of Hugo & Co., but fans still arent convinced this team has a title in it (104th in title track). Twenty-two other NBA fan bases gave their squads better scores than the Hornets in expectancy to win a title during their lifetimes. Another blow to the Hornets fan relations and stadium experience (40th and 58th, respectively): The NBA pulled the 2017 All-Star Game over objections to North Carolinas House Bill 2.Whats newIn the summer of 2015, the Hornets took heed of the machine forming out in Oakland and loaded up on players boasting similar profiles: offensively skilled, versatile shooters. The resulting roster -- ranked 37th overall by the fans, up an astonishing 64 spots -- didnt place the team on quite the same fast track to a title, but this squad was right on the cusp of a breakthrough postseason before it squandered a 3-2 series lead to the Miami Heat. A 25-spot jump in stadium experience is in part thanks to a new, state-of-the-art scoreboard above center court that is both pricey ($7 million) and enormous (42.8 feet wide and 25.2 feet tall on the sideline, 31.3 feet wide and 18 feet tall on the baseline). The Hive will now be the biggest living room, likely, in Charlotte, Pete Guelli, the teams executive vice president and chief marketing officer, recently told the Charlotte Observer.Next: Boston Celtics?| Full rankings Josh Hart Pelicans Jersey . The return match will take place next Wednesday. Udinese leads Fiorentina 2-1 in the other semifinal. Napoli staged a second-half comeback from two goals down after Gervinhos opener and a stunning strike from Kevin Strootman. Jordan Crawford Pelicans Jersey .Y. -- Buffalo Bills coach Doug Marrone has drawn on his Syracuse connections once again by hiring Rob Moore to take over as receivers coach. https://www.pelicanslockerroom.com/Nicolo-Melli-City-Edition-Jersey/ . LUCIE, Fla. Zion Williamson Pelicans Jersey . But the quarterback hopes to stay involved in football after officially calling it quits Tuesday. "Id love to look at those opportunities as they arise," Pierce said in an interview from his Winnipeg eatery. Josh Hart Jersey . Colin Wilson had two goals and an assist, and Mike Fisher scored a goal and helped set up two others in the Predators 6-4 victory over the Red Wings on Monday night.Sky Academy Sports Scholar Mark English continued to show fabulous form by winning the 500m in Stockholm in his second race of the season. Fresh from a three-break winter training trip in South Africa, the 22-year-old from Letterkenny kicked off his running campaign with second spot over 800m at the PSD Meeting in Dusseldorf on February 5.And on Wednesday night, he went one better by setting a new Irish record over the rarely-run 500 metres with a time of 1 minute 0.93 seconds at the Globen Galen in Sweden ahead of Amercian Erik Sowinski.Im very pleased to have run 60 seconds in my second outing this year, said English, who has already qualified for the Rio Olympics this summer.With some more competition I think I can break 60 seconds. It was great fun and the crowd were as supportive as always! Id also love to give the 600m a shot at some point.The world record stands at 1:15.12. Sowinski, who Ive just beaten, has run 1:15.61 and so Id like to think Im also capable of being in that territtory.ddddddddddddTwo weeks ago, English kicked off his 2016 campaign in Germany in the 800m, his usual distance, in conservative fashion, but he showed his gears by moving through the field and only just missed out on top-spot after a fine battle in the last 100m with the lively Mussaeb Balla of Qatar.Next up is the indoor circuit in Scotland where he will be up against many of his British rivals in the 800m.English added: Im focused on running a quick time at the Glasgow Indoor International on Saturday.WHATS COMING UP FOR OUR SCHOLARS...JAN 16 - MARCH 5: Siobhan OConnor, AustraliaFEB 20: Mark English, Holly Bradshaw, Grand Prix IAAF Indoor Meeting, GlasgowFEB 22-28: Jack Bateson, Strandja tournament, Bulgaria Also See: English bows out in style About the Scholarship Meet the athletes Blogs Videos Galleries ' ' '