Stephen Graham exterminates the Durantulas
Posted by Brett on 03/18/2010Boxscore
Score: 100-92 CLT
Charlotte Bobcats record: 35-32
Offensive Efficiency: 107.5
Defensive Efficiency: 97.9
Meritorious Player: Stephen Graham - again. A career high tying 19 points, on 7 of 9 from the field. 5 rebounds and 1 block. And he had a huge part in holding Kevin Durant to 26 points on 26 attempts. Efficient offense, strong defense - a great night for Stephen.
Not that it seemed like it was going to be a great night - not with a 19-point first half deficit staring down the Bobcats. But, similar to what they did in Indiana in closing things up late, the Bobcats used defensive pressure to create a quick 11-0 run over the final 2 minutes of the first half to close the gap to 8. And that momentum continued after the break, with the Bobcats winning the 3rd quarter by 11 to take the lead and in the fourth they solidified it.
Recap via links today:
Royce at Daily Thunder breaks down the Thunder breakdown: "Then the final two minutes of the half ultimately cost OKC the game. The Thunder turned the ball over four times in a minute and gave up an 11-0 run to the Cats to close the half, making it 51-43 going to the locker room. Charlotte came out of the locker room and made another bucket and just like that, a 19-point lead evaporated to six in a little over two minutes. The Thunder turned the ball over just 13 times, but those four gifts before halftime should count as three a piece. It's what lost the game."
David at Rufus On Fire liked how Raymond Felton managed the game: "All I've asked of Raymond Felton over the months and years, as a fan, is that he exhaust all other options before he decides that he has to try to be the offense himself. Tonight, he did just that in the first half, waiting until everyone else had taken their cracks at shouldering the offensive load, and when they failed, he stepped in to the void. Felton started all over in the second half and spread the ball around more, ending the game with 17 points on 7-10 shooting, 7 assists, and no turnovers."
Dr. E at Bobcats Baseline commends Stephen Graham: "Dude gets his own section. After setting a new career high in last night's loss to the Pacers with 19 points, Graham got another start for the injured Gerald Wallace... and responded by tying his new career high with 19 again (7-9 FG, 1-1 3PT, 4-6 FT)."
Rick Bonnell gets this quote from Stephen (Jackson) about Stephen (Graham): " "One thing I love about him – he doesn't mind guarding their best guy," said Stephen Jackson, who scored 18 of his 20 in the second half. "Durant is impossible to stop because of the volume of shots he takes...You've got to make it tough for him, and Stevie Graham had that down to a 'T.' " "
UPDATE: Sebastian at NBA Playbook comes through again:
The Cats pull away for good out of a timeout: Breakdown of a late game alley oop to Tyrus Thomas - fun stuff.
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