The Miami Heat vs. the Charlotte Bobcats 1/20/10

A new franchise mark, for largest margin of victory, was racked up against the Miami Heat (39 points). This team continues to set new franchise marks. With this win they extended the record for consecutive home victories to nine and tied the mark for wins in a row with six. The Bobcats offense started  the game with another strong outing producing  a (38-17) first quarter against the Miami Heat. Nazr Mohammed had a very intense first five minutes with 10 points and 5 rebounds. Mohammed finished the game with 16 points and 10 rebounds to record his first double double of the year. Gerald Wallace also pitched in with his twenty- second double-double of the year with 20 points and 10 rebounds. Stephen Jackson led all scorers with 24 points. This was all accomplished with the starters watching the game from the bench in the fourth quarter! The ‘Cats now have sole possession of the fifth seed in the Eastern Conference. Both meetings (between The Bobcats and the Heat) have been won by Charlotte giving them the lead for the head-to-head tie breaker.

The Bobcats shocked the Heat with an outstanding 82.4% shooting for the first quarter. Frankly, Miami looked shell-shocked by the end of the half! The ‘Cats had two major offensive runs of (18-2) and (17-4) points. The defense smothered the Heat but the shots fell for the ‘Cats. Coach Larry Brown emptied the Bobcats bench for most of the fourth quarter. The bench played very solid defense but showed why (offensively) they need more playing time. They held the Heat to (12) fourth quarter points but only scored (17) for the quarter. This completes a very successful six win home-stand.

Game Summary

The Bobcats shot a blistering 82.4% from the field for the first quarter! Nazr Mohammed had another excellent start (10 points and 5 rebounds in just 5:19 minutes). Bobcats lead (38-17) at the end of the first quarter.

The Bobcats extended their lead to a comfortable (61-34) at the half. Solid team defense kept the Heat at 34 points for the half. Stephen Jackson leads all scorers at the half with 18 . Gerald Wallace leads the rebounding with 8. The Bobcats have maintained very steady defensive pressure taking D. Wade out of his game (8 points at the half). The Heat shot only 27.9% from the field for the first half.

The third quarter saw the Bobcats extend the lead (87-53). Frustration began to show with the Miami players as PG Rafer Alston left with his fifth foul, a rather silly reach in at that. The Heat could not find any rhythm with their shooting as the continued to miss. The Bobcats defense forcing Miami to take bad shots and holding them to 32.8% shooting.

Fourth quarter action saw the Bobcats coach, Larry Brown, take out his starters. The “Cats begin the quarter with a 34 point lead. The bench players need more playing time from an offensive stand-point. They played very solid defense, limiting Miami to 12 fourth quarter points, but only scored 17 points.

The Rose:

82.4% shooting in the first quarter by the Bobcats!

Gerald Wallace double-double.

Nazr Mohammed double-double.

Tied the franchise record of 6 consecutive wins.

New franchise record of 9 consecutive home wins.

Boris Diaw actually dunked at the end of the first half.

Team defense was solid throughout the game.

Winter Wheat:

Bench play…solid defense…weak offense…they need more time…

Stink-weed:

Turnovers…20 turnovers is too many even in a win!

Next game for the Bobcats: Friday 1/23/10 7:00pm at the Atlanta Hawks