Bobcats vs Raptors 3/16/2009 Boxscore
Score: 112-86 Bobcats
Bobcats Record: 29-38 (1 game out of 8th)
Game Efficiencies:
Offensive: 113.1
Defensive: 88.7
Meritorious Player: Gerald Wallace. A very Crash-like line for Gerald, 25 on 13 attempts, 8 of 8 from the free throw line, 9 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 steals, and 1 block. Plus a ridiculous alley-oop from Raymond. If someone finds video of it, please let me know.
UPDATE: Thanks to Jackson, here is video - it is highlight 3.
In one of their best performances of the season, the Bobcats dominated the Raptors. The Cats started slowly, with just 6 points in the first 6 minutes - after that, however, they turned it on: 9 of their first 10 baskets were assisted on, and the team finished the game with 32 assists - Ray with 8, D.J. with 6, Gerald 5, and Vlad with 4. While Charlotte may have taken a few more threes than Larry Brown likes to see (23), they shot well enough from inside the arc (38 of 66) and from the line (18-19) to off-set their wayward attempts from outside (just 6 of 23).
As part of their fine offensive performance, the Bobcats got contributions from just about everyone - and I mean everyone. 5 players finished in double figures, with Crash leading the way at 25, followed by D.J. with 15 (in 20 minutes on 10 attempts), Boris with 14 (12 attempts), Raymond with 13, and Raja with 12. That leaves the Cats well short of their 112 total - which is where the bench comes in - Vlad and Cartier both dropped in 9 points and Sean May even got into the act with 5 points in just 3 minutes. In all, the bench chipped in 42 points on the evening, with 11 of the 12 Bobcats to see action, scoring (Diop was the lone holdout, attempting no shots in his 11 minutes).
Enough about the offense: The Bobcats also had a strong defensive performance, that was made all the more surprising by the way Bosh had lit them up previously this season...but as you may have noticed - that was a different team Bosh did that too. With Boris available (and then Vlad), the Bobcats were able to put a 4 on the court who was capable of sticking with Bargnani on the perimeter, leaving Emeka the task of Chris Bosh - and he managed quite well, as Bosh finished with just 18 points (an efficient 18, on just 12 attempts and 8 of 9 free throws - but still, better than 40). Outside of a couple of breakdowns on their pick and roll defense, the Bobcats gave up few easy shots to the Raptors...when they even let them shoot. Charlotte forced 23 turnovers and scored 30 points off them. The normally steady Jose Calderon had 4 turnovers against just 8 assists (well below his average mark of 4 assists per turnover) and Anthony Parker was the main source with 6. My favorite though? Roko Ukic's lone cough-up. It came on a simple trap right across the half-court line with about 4 minutes left in the first quarter - Roko was bringing the ball up the right side of the court, with Ray providing token pressure in the backcourt - Shawn Marion was floating down that side, far enough out that Gerald was still out beyond the 3-point line when Roko crossed. Gerald sprang the trap, Roko panicked and headed the ball to Gerald - and off to the races. Gerald was fouled on the breakaway attempt, and his free throws gave the Bobcats the 13-12 advantage that they would not relinquish.
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| Jackson Says: | I think I saw the GW alley oop last night on Sportcenter's Top 10 Highlights (it was maybe number 6?). You might try there. | ||
| Tue Mar 17, 2009 1:26 pm |
