Think back to life in 2014, particularly in December. One thing Charlotte Hornets fans will remember is the utter disappointment of losing basketball after hope was sky high.

On New Year’s Eve, the Hornets had just lost to the Houston Rockets in their first game without Al Jefferson. It was their fourth straight loss, which dropped their record to a pitiful 10-23. As a result, Charlotte had fallen to 12th place in the lowly Eastern Conference.

Typically, New Year’s Eve is a time to make resolutions and promises for a better future. Well, the Hornets must have done just that, because 2015 has treated them well.

Since the calendar changed, the Hornets have posted an 8-2 record. Most impressively, these wins have come without at least one of Al Jefferson, Kemba Walker, or Lance Stephenson.

All three of these players are working their way back into the lineup, so it remains to be seen how that will affect the team as a whole. Jefferson, Walker, and Stephenson are the Hornets’ most talented players (Stephenson may not gel well with certain players, but you can’t deny his talent) so we may see Charlotte rise even further.

Now the question becomes: could the Charlotte Hornets actually be contenders in the East?

To get a better idea, let’s look at some of the areas they’ve improved in to get them back in the playoff hunt.

(All stats and rankings are prior to Wednesday night’s games)