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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 USA Soccer Shirts . During the athletes parade, the 23-strong Ukrainian team was represented by a lone flagbearer in an apparent protest at the presence of Russian troops in Ukraines Crimean peninsula. Matt Miazga Jersey . What general manager Dave Nonis called "short and productive" negotiations ended with Kessel signing a US$64-million, eight-year contract on Tuesday. https://www.cheapusasoccer.com/281j-keegan-rosenberry-jersey-usa.html . Calgary scored on the first shift, and Michael Cammalleri scored twice as the Flames cruised to a 5-2 win over the Washington Capitals on Saturday. Marcelo Balboa Jersey . -- Aldon Smith believes he is on the path to being sober for good. Jackson Yueill Jersey . -- Jonathan Drouin gave Halifax the boost it needed to edge host Sherbrooke Phoenix 3-2 in a shootout in Quebec Major Junior Hockey League action. ST. LOUIS -- If Matt Hollidays return on Friday night was his final appearance with the St. Louis Cardinals, he made it one to remember.Holliday connected for his first career pinch-hit homer after he was activated from the disabled list before the series opener against Pittsburgh, giving the veteran outfielder an opportunity to get back on the field with his future in St. Louis in doubt.Holliday, who broke his left thumb when he was hit by a pitch Aug. 11, asked the club to activate him Friday to make what could be his farewell appearance in a Cardinals uniform. The Cardinals are not planning to pick up their $17 million option on his contract for 2017.Matt had reached out to me earlier in the week to have an understanding of what were going to do with his option. I told him the probability of us picking it up is low, general manager John Mozeliak said.Its been seven and a half great seasons, Matt has been an amazing teammate and weve had a lot of success. He is grateful for being a part of the Cardinals the past 7 1/2 years and he wants to express his thank you to the fans.Holliday appeared to wipe away tears when he received a standing ovation before stepping into the batters box in the seventh inning of St. Louis 7-0 victory. After he drove an 0-2 fastball into the right-field bullpen, the crowd at Busch Stadium gave him another standing ovation that brought Holliday to the top of the dugout steps for a curtain call.ddddddddddddHolliday signed a $120 million, seven-year contract after the 2010 season that remains the largest in Cardinals history. If the team declines to exercise his option, he would receive a $1 million buyout.While Im disappointed this could be it here in St. Louis, I understand that it might be time to move on, Holliday said in a statement. It has been an honor to play in front of such great fans and for such a historic organization. I can honestly say it has been a dream come true.Holliday helped St. Louis win the 2011 World Series, the 2013 National League pennant and reach the playoffs the past five seasons.He was hitting .242 with 19 home runs this season before he got hurt. Mozeliak did not rule out the possibility of negotiating a new deal with Holliday after the season.Saying there is no chance that hes coming back, Im not prepared to do that, Mozeliak said. We havent had our offseason meetings. We have an understanding of what we want to see happen but those kinds of conversations are done at seasons end.The Cardinals entered Fridays game against Pittsburgh trailing the San Francisco Giants by one game for the National Leagues second wild card.Matheny also said right-hander Michael Wacha would start Saturday against Pittsburgh. ' ' '