Hornets Embracing House Money in Surprise Season

Charlotte Hornets looking to make the most of low expectations this NBA season

Mar. 15, 2026 at 11:51pm

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The 2025-2026 Charlotte Hornets are being described as playing with "house money" this season, similar to the Indiana Pacers' surprise run to the Eastern Conference Finals the previous year. With low expectations, the Hornets have a chance to exceed them and make their own Cinderella playoff push, without the pressure of high expectations weighing them down next season.

Why it matters

The Hornets' current situation mirrors that of the Pacers last year, who exceeded expectations by making an unexpected deep playoff run. While that set a high bar for the future, the Hornets have a chance to play freely this season without the burden of lofty goals, allowing them to potentially pull off their own surprise postseason appearance.

The details

The Hornets, led by coach Rick Carlisle and newly acquired center Ivica Zubac, have the talent to make noise in the Eastern Conference. However, after their own surprise playoff run last season, the pressure is off, allowing them to embrace an underdog mentality and "play with house money" as they aim to match or exceed the Pacers' prior success.

  • The Hornets are entering the 2025-2026 NBA season.
  • The Pacers made an unexpected run to the Eastern Conference Finals the previous season (2024-2025).

The players

Rick Carlisle

The head coach of the Charlotte Hornets, known for his ability to get the most out of his teams.

Ivica Zubac

The Hornets' newly acquired center, who will be a key part of their roster this season.

Tyrese Haliburton

The Pacers' star player who led their surprise playoff run the previous season.

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What they’re saying

“Doug Branson of Locked on Hornets has mentioned on multiple occasions that Charlotte is playing with house money this year, which is true in every sense of the metaphor.”

— Doug Branson, Locked on Hornets podcast host (si.com)

“Rod Morrow joined Locked on Hornets and said the expectation is coming next year, no matter what, and he may just be right.”

— Rod Morrow, Locked on Hornets podcast host (si.com)

What’s next

If the Hornets can make a deep playoff run this season, similar to the Pacers the year prior, it will set high expectations for the team going forward, potentially putting more pressure on them to succeed in future seasons.

The takeaway

The Hornets have a unique opportunity this season to play with low expectations and potentially exceed them, similar to the Pacers' surprise run the previous year. This "house money" mentality could allow the team to embrace an underdog role and make an unexpected playoff push, without the burden of lofty goals weighing them down in the future.