Crash gets Bobcats the lead, a win, and a rolled ankle
Posted by James on 03/12/2010Boxscore
Score: 106-98 Charlotte
Charlotte Bobcats record: 33-31
Offensive Efficiency: 112.8
Defensive Efficiency: 104.3
Meritorious Player: Stephen Jackson 24pts 6 assists, 2 steals
I didn't know who to go with for the MP of this game because everyone played so well, at least at first glance. Most would say why not Raymond Felton, well because he had A LOT of trouble with Baron Davis in this game defensively. As a matter of fact the conventional boxscore numbers make it look like Charlotte played atrocious defense, the Clippers shot 57.5% from the field and 47.4% from three.
But that's why we look at those efficiency numbers, 104.3 isn't awful but it isn't good either. The Bobcats held LA down by forcing so many turnovers and converting those to easy shots in their 29-3 fastbreak point advantage.
Most of the damage was done in the first half as Gerald Wallace had four steals in just 21 minutes, with most of them creating easy transition points like the play he was injured on. I tweeted this during the game and still believe it now, while Baron Davis isn't a dirty player that was a dirty play. Baron was embarrassed that he was undressed by the Bobcats defense and wanted to make up for it; however, Gerald was too fast for him to grab so he pushed and tried a half-hearted swipe at the ball to make it look clean. Bad basketball no matter how you look at it.
That is the unfortunate thing about the Bobcats fifth straight win they could lose Wallace for a game or two and that could be big as far as playoff seeding. Larry Brown said that x-rays are negative but the fact that Gerald didn't return is telling. He's the Bobcats toughest player and his play really embodies this team's strengths.
The reason Charlotte leads the league in free throw differential is because of Gerald's fearless drives to the paint. The reason Charlotte succeeds in transition is because Gerald is electric and deadly on the fastbreak, and you can't forget he still leads the team in rebounding and is third in both blocks and steals.
The good news is that at least Gerald Henderson is in the rotation so he'll likely get a chance to play extended minutes and ironically many of his strengths are very similar to Gerald's. Orlando will present quite a challenge for Charlotte as they've lost seven straight to the Magic. Game-time is at 6 on Sunday and don't miss the tip because you forgot to set your clock forward this weekend.
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Charlotte vs Los Angeles Clippers Preview
Posted by Brett on 03/12/2010Who: Charlotte Bobcats vs Los Angeles Clippers
What: NBA Basketball - Bobcats Home Game
When: 03/12/2010 at 7pm EST
Where: Live at Time Warner Cable Arena in the Queen City or on FoxSports Carolinas
The Matchup:
| Record | Offensive Efficiency | Defensive Efficiency | Pace | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charlotte | 32-31 | 103.3 (24) | 101.6 (3) | 91.3 (27) |
| Los Angeles Clippers | 25-39 | 102.4 (26) | 108.2 (22) | 93.3 (18) |
Previous Meetings:
2/22/10 - 98-94 LAC - Recap - Boxscore
Injuries:
Charlotte: Nazr Mohammed - Game time?
Los Angeles Clippers: Eric Gordon - DTD
Starting Lineups
| Bobcats | Clippers | |
|---|---|---|
| PG | Raymond Felton | Baron Davis |
| SG | Stephen Jackson | Steve Blake |
| SF | Gerald Wallace | Travis Outlaw |
| PF | Boris Diaw | Drew Gooden |
| C | Theo Ratliff | Chris Kaman |
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Bobcats roll Philly, win 4th straight
Posted by James on 03/10/2010Boxscore
Score: 102-87 Charlotte
Charlotte Bobcats record: 32-31
Offensive Efficiency: 108.5
Defensive Efficiency: 93.5
Meritorious Player: Gerald Wallace 28pts (9-10FGs, 10-11 FTs) 4 rebs, 2 stls
This game wasn't as close as the final score and just like the Tv guys said even though Charlotte didn't lead from beginning to end it sure did feel like it. The Bobcats kept the Philadelphia "fans" silent and out of the game from the first quarter on.
It looks like the 76ers have called it a season because they clearly didn't want any part of this game and with the Bobcats playing so well this one got ugly quick. Charlotte built an 18 point lead in the first half and pushed it up to 28 in the 3rd quarter. This maybe the one game that gets Eddie Jordan fired as the boos started in the first half and continued through the second.
Yes Philly made a run and Larry Brown had some nervous moments when the lead shrunk to the teens but thanks to Charlotte forcing 21 turnovers, attacking the basket and going to the line 41 times this really wasn't in doubt.
Gerald Wallace and Stephen Jackson set the tone in the first quarter as they combined for 25 in the opening frame as Charlotte scored 37 points in the first 12 minutes. They both kept attacking and the Bobcats continued to force turnovers and bad shots.
Tyson Chandler continues to impress scoring 12 points and grabbing 5 rebounds but the most impressive thing about his 15 minutes of on the court time was the fact he didn't commit any turnovers. Tyrus Thomas also scored in double figures off the bench as did DJ Augustin.
The LA Clippers are up next and if Charlotte keeps playing this way it'll be five in a row after Friday.
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Philadelphia vs Charlotte Preview
Posted by Brett on 03/10/2010Who: Philadelphia 76ers vs Charlotte Bobcats
What: NBA Basketball - 76ers Home Game
When: 03/10/2010 at pm EST
Where: Live at the Wachovia Center in the City of Brotherly Love or on SportsSouth
The Matchup:
| Record | Offensive Efficiency | Defensive Efficiency | Pace | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia | 23-40 | 104.3 (21) | 108.1 (22) | 92.9 (22) |
| Charlotte | 31-31 | 103.2 (24) | 101.7 (4) | 91.2 (27) |
Previous Meetings:
11/18/09 - 86-84 Philly- Recap - Boxscore
12/05/09 - 106-105 CLT - Recap - Boxscore
Injuries:
Philadelphia: Marreese Speights - Day to day
Charlotte: Nazr Mohammed - Out?
Starting Lineups
| 76ers | Bobcats | |
|---|---|---|
| PG | Jrue Holiday | Raymond Felton |
| SG | Lou Williams | Stephen Jackson |
| SF | Andre Iguodala | Gerald Wallace |
| PF | Elton Brand | Boris Diaw |
| C | Samuel Dalembert | Theo Ratliff |
Both teams played last night - only one team is in the playoff race. The Bobcats need to play like it tonight, because this is the kind of game they need to win, but it feels like they miss out on (no stats to back it up, just thinking back to some of the late season losses last year). Philadelphia does a decent job of forcing turnovers and holding on to the ball themselves - the types of things that are kryptonite to the Cats. If Charlotte gets sloppy with the ball, the 76ers have the athletes to make them pay, with Andre Iguodala, Thaddeus Young, Jrue Holiday, and Lou Williams. Just like yesterday, this is not a must-win for the Bobcats - but they are all good to wins.
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Bobcats cool off Heat, take season series
Posted by Brett on 03/09/2010Boxscore
Score: 83-78 Charlotte
Charlotte Bobcats record: 31-31
Offensive Efficiency: 93.3
Defensive Efficiency: 85.7
Meritorious Player: Raymond Felton - a big 3 late that gave the Bobcats the lead for the first time since the opening minutes capped off Raymond's solid night. Ray finished with 15 points, 11 assists, 4 rebounds, and just 3 turnovers (yes, just - this was a defensive battle and there were plenty of opportunities for Ray to have lost the ball as the Heat showed hard when he would come off a screen). 4 Bobcats players took more than 10 field goal attempts - Felton was the only one of them to score better than a point per attempt. Tonight, that was enough.
Why was it enough? The cliched title tells it all - the Bobcats slowed the Heat's offense to a crawl in the second half, allowing just 30 points after the break, with 18 in the 3rd and just 12 in the final frame. The jump-shots that were falling early started bouncing off and the Cats held the Heat to just 7 offensive rebounds, while grabbing 36 defensive caroms. For anyone who loves to watch a defensive struggle, this was your game. Had it not been for Jermaine O'Neal's trip to the Fountain of Youth (19 points on 7 of 11 shooting and 3 blocks), the Heat would have proved as inept as the two team's last meeting (when the Heat scored just 65 points). As it was, Jermaine just delayed the inevitable - the Bobcats started slow, with a bit too many careless passes (and illegal screens - there were 7 offensive fouls between the two teams) but the ball movement improved late and a couple of timely fastbreaks sealed it.
Speaking of fastbreaks - D.J. Augustin ran a couple by himself tonight and impressed with his ability to create points - if he did not finish at the rim, he seemed to draw a whistle. He put up 8 straight points for the Cats in the 4th to take it from a 72-63 game to a 72-71 margin. D.J. played just 13 minutes on the night, and only had 2 points outside of that solo-run, but it was a bit more of the player we had expected to see coming into the year, and a seeming continuation of his recent solid play. As tough as Raymond is, he has to sit sometimes and D.J. is making that a little less un-nerving of late.
I mentioned above, but I'll fill in the details here: The Cats did not shoot well. Stephen Jackson went 6 of 17 for 17. Gerald Wallace shot 3 of 11 for just 8 points. Boris Diaw had 11 on 4 of 11. But they all contributed in other ways. Crash had 17 rebounds. Diaw followed up his near triple-double against the Warriors with 8 rebounds, 5 assists, and 3 blocks tonight. Stephen Jackson? He only helped hold Dwayne Wade to 27 points and 4 turnovers on 11 of 26 shooting. Oh, and just assists for Wade, following a week where he won Eastern Conference Player of the Week while averaging 33 and 12 assists. So, Jax had a bit of a role in the W - once you look past the offensive contributions.
As of my writing this, the Bobcats are currently in a 3-way tie with Chicago and Miami for the 7th spot in the East...but, Chicago is trailing Utah by 8 in the 4th and the Cats own the tie-breaker on the Heat now. So, no matter what happens in Chicago tonight, the Cats will be no worse than 8th in the morning, and could be sitting at the 7th spot with 20 games to go in the season. That'll do.
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Posted by Brett on 03/09/2010
Who: Charlotte Bobcats vs Miami Heat
What: NBA Basketball - Bobcats Home Game
When: 03/09/10 at 7pm EST
Where: Live at Time Warner Cable Arena in the Queen City or on Fox Sports Carolinas
The Matchup:
| Record | Offensive Efficiency | Defensive Efficiency | Pace | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charlotte | 30-31 | 103.4 (24) | 102.0 (5) | 91.3 (27) |
| Miami | 32-31 | 105.1 (19) | 103.9 (11) | 91.1 (28) |
Previous Meetings:
01/02/10 - 107-97 Charlotte- Recap - Boxscore
01/20/10 - 104-65 CLT - Recap - Boxscore
Injuries:
Charlotte: Nazr Mohammed and DeSagana Diop - Game Time Decisions
Miami: Rafer Alston - Suspended by team
Starting Lineups
| Bobcats | Heat | |
|---|---|---|
| PG | Raymond Felton | Carlos Arroyo |
| SG | Stephen Jackson | Dwyane Wade |
| SF | Gerald Wallace | Quentin Richardson |
| PF | Boris Diaw | Michael Beasley |
| C | Theo Ratliff | Jermaine O'Neal |
Don't believe Rick Bonnell: Bobcats playoff prospects could hinge on win over Miami - tonight's game against Miami is important - they all are. But if the Bobcats lose, they do not need to start tanking to save their lottery pick. A loss tonight would leave them at worst 3.5 games out of 5th in the Eastern conference, chasing other team's with their own identifiable weaknesses. The Bobcats have 5 games after tonight against those 4 teams, and a chance of at least splitting the season series against them all - only the Bucks cannot be passed for the season series win, with a 2-1 edge already. That hardly seems the stuff of gloom and doom to me. Yes, go Bobcats tonight - knock off a team I have never cared for since the days of the Hornets. But, do not mourn the season if the game ends with an L - there is still a lot of meaningful basketball to be played.
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Diaw leads Bobcats to win over Warriors
Posted by Brett on 03/06/2010Boxscore
Score: 101-90 Charlotte
Charlotte Bobcats record: 30-31
Offensive Efficiency: 106.3
Defensive Efficiency: 96.3
Meritorious Player: Boris Diaw (did I give it away with the title?) - 14 points, 12 rebounds, 9 assists, and just 1 turnover. Boris just destroyed Golden State with his interior passing, creating 3 layups/dunks for his teammates against the Warriors zone. A couple of more posts moves mixed in would have been...you know what, I am not even going to say that. Diaw played a tremendous game tonight and helped the Bobcats pull this one out.
Pull this one out? The Bobcats won by 11, you might say. Charlotte did win by 11 - but they trailed until late in the 3rd - never by much, but they did not run away with the victory. You may not believe the cause of consternation: Turnovers. Shocking, I know, but the Bobcats had 20 of them, including some passes to customers that just never had a chance of getting to a person who actually got paid to wear a jersey. Stephen Jackson led the charge with 5 turnovers, and D.J. Augustin and Gerald Wallace followed him with 3 apiece. I chose the word charge intentionally: The Bobcats were called for 4 offensive fouls, 2 of which Gerald accumulated in the first quarter, ending his 1st half action (his 2nd half ended early as well, for different reasons). Some parts aggression, some parts careless, the Bobcats helped the Warriors stick around, but when it got down to it, they were not going to lose.
Good example: With under 4 left, and the Bobcats ahead by 9, Chris Hunter takes advantage of a Bobcats double team on a pick and roll and gets open underneath - until Gerald Wallace pinned his dunk attempt to the backboard. Hunter did gather the rebound and drew a foul call on his follow attempt on Gerald (dubious call, replay looked clean) - but it was a "ball don't lie" moment - Hunter misses both free throws and the Bobcats rebound the miss. One of their 60 rebounds on the night - to 36 for the Warriors. Aside from Boris' big night on the glass, Gerald got his double-double with 10 rebounds to accompany his 18 second half points (18 total) (oh, and 5 blocks in his 31 minutes) and 4 other Bobcats had at least 5: Raymond Felton - 7, Stephen Jackson - 6, Theo Ratliff and Tyrus Thomas - 5. The Bobcats had the size advantage for once and they took advantage.
Final notes: Like I mentioned previously, Gerald's night ended early. He threw an elbow at one of the Warriors (Tolliver maybe - tough to tell and they were not showing replays in the Arena). The refs determined it was above the shoulders and sent Crash packing. It was unusual to see Gerald lose his cool, so I am going to look for a replay to see what may have caused him to get so upset. Considering it came on the night the Bobcats gave away Gerald Wallace arm sleeves to fans, it was not a great night to have it happen (not that there ever is, but poor timing). The other thing: Davidson fans and their favorite son, Stephen Curry. There were a lot of them and they were very loud in supporting him. But, they seemed more interested in partying in the stands than actually watching the game - it generally took the announcer mentioning Curry's name to draw a cheer, rather than them reacting to plays as they happened. It added a bit more energy than normal to the audience - but it was a kind of strange vibe to have a group that was more or less indifferent to the game and only there to cheer for the actions of a single player. Oh, wait, Kobe was in town last night as well and Dwayne Wade is next - that is going to become the norm.
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Charlotte vs Golden State Preview
Posted by Brett on 03/06/2010Who: Charlotte Bobcats vs Golden State Warriors
What: NBA Basketball - Bobcats Home Game
When: 03/06/2010 at 7pm EST
Where: Live at Time Warner Cable Arena in the Queen City or on SportsSouth
The Matchup:
| Record | Offensive Efficiency | Defensive Efficiency | Pace | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charlotte | 29-31 | 103.3 (24) | 102.1 (5) | 91.2 (27) |
| Golden State | 17-43 | 105.4 (16) | 108.9 (26) | 101.6 (1) |
Previous Meetings:
01/29/10 - 121-110 CLT- Recap - Boxscore
Injuries:
Charlotte: Nazr Mohammed and DeSagana Diop - Varying degrees of unlikely
Golden State: Monta Ellis, Andris Biedrins, Raja Bell - OUT?
Starting Lineups
| Bobcats | Warriors | |
|---|---|---|
| PG | Raymond Felton | Stephen Curry |
| SG | Stephen Jackson | C.J. Watson |
| SF | Gerald Wallace | Anthony Morrow |
| PF | Boris Diaw | Anthony Tolliver |
| C | Nazr Mohammed | Ronny Turiaf |
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