Charlotte Hornets Small Favorite (-1 to -3) Betting Trend

The Hornets' struggles as small favorites stem from their franchise's inherent identity crisis between talent and execution. Charlotte has historically operated as a team caught between rebuilding and competing, creating a psychological dynamic where they often fail to impose their will against supposedly inferior opponents. When laying small spreads, the Hornets frequently play down to their competition's level rather than asserting the dominance that the betting market expects. This pattern reflects Charlotte's organizational tendency to lack killer instinct in winnable games. The franchise has rarely sustained periods of true contention, meaning their players haven't developed the mental fortitude required to consistently close out games they're expected to win. Small favorite situations demand a team to execute with precision and maintain focus for 48 minutes, qualities that have eluded Charlotte across different roster iterations. The Hornets' young core compounds this issue, as inexperienced players often struggle with the pressure of meeting expectations rather than playing as underdogs with nothing to lose. Their offensive system, typically reliant on pace and transition opportunities, becomes less effective when opponents slow the game down and force Charlotte into half-court execution. This trend matters most during home games against sub-.500 opponents, where the Hornets' psychological disadvantage as small favorites becomes most pronounced.