Oh, no I didn’t. The guy that handicapped our salary cap space, the one that Sam Vincent demanded, the one that sat on the bench virtually all of last year, who makes over 6 million dollars in this economic climate. How on earth can Nazr Mohammed, who hasn’t even started half his games in Charlotte, be a bargain?

Well, first off, let me say I’ve always liked big men who can shoot and have liked Nazr for that reason. Nazr has shown that he can hit jumpers consistantly from mid-range and an occaisional long range 2. But I would be naive to judge a big man’s value on just his shooting, because then Alexis Ajinca would be playing outside of the D-League. So let’s look a bit further into what Nazr has done for this team. Be prepared, because the following may shock you, or put you to sleep.

If you read the forums, I make it very clear I don’t put much value into basically anything John Hollinger puts out. I maintain if he was truly ahead of the curve, he’d be in an NBA team’s front office. But when all given metrics say the same thing, I begin to take notice, and that’s what has happened with Nazr. PER, which stands for Player Efficiency Rating, measures per minute production, and has a base number of 15 for the entire league. Nazr leads the Bobcats in PER with 21.5, All Star Gerald Wallace being second with 18.7. Mohammed also leads the team in True Shooting Percentage, which takes into account the value of the shot (2 pointers, 3 pointers, and Free Throws), with a 59.7% mark, Wallace again placing second with 58.5% average. Effective Field Goal percentage is much the same as true shooting, except it does not take free throws into account. Here, Nazr leads the team with a 57.3% pace, DeSagana Diop coming in second at 55.6%. Now, let’s move from shooting to rebounding. Offensive Rebounding Percentage estimates how many offensive rebounds a player grabs while on the floor. Nazr leads the team with 14.7%, Gana is second at 11.5%. To give you some comparison, Gerald Wallace has just 5.9% of all offensive rebounds. Defensive Rebounding Percentage is the same thing on the defensive end. Here, Gerald leads the team with an astounding 25.3%, but Nazr is a very close second with 23.1%. Total rebound percentage combines the two, and Nazr leads the team with 19%. Tyson Chandler is second with 16.6%, Gerald third with 15.7%. There are also a few miscellanenous metrics that give us some insight into how Nazr is helping the team. Block percentage estimates the amount of two point shots blocked by a player while on the floor. While Gana leads the team at 4.5%, Nazr is second at 3.9%. Turnover percent estimates the number of turnovers per 100 plays, and Nazr has the lowest amount of any starter and third lowest number on the team at 11.4, despite being a center with questionable hands. Usage is the amount of team plays used by the player while on the floor. Nazr is the second starter on this list, behind Stephen Jackson. Offensive rating is how many points a player would score per 100 possesions, Nazr leads the team at 116. Crash is second at 113. Defensive rating is how many points a player would allow per 100 possesions, and while G-Dub is the best at 99, Nazr is second at 101. Congratulations, you just read through a complete metric report of Nazr Mohammed’s season.

Now, what does all that mean? Basically, despite the fact that he’s only playing 17.3 minutes per game, Nazr is our second best player statistically, and probabally the third from viewer’s perspective, behind Gerald and Jack. Yet, he’s fifth on the payroll on a playoff team below the luxury tax with no player making above 12 million. And, in a league and on a team historically parched for big men, he’s doing everthing asked of him and a more. In his last game against Minnesota, he put up the first 20/20 game of his career, with 21 points, 20 rebounds, and a game winning dunk. He’s hit double digit points four of his last six games, double digit rebounds five of his last seven. With Tyson Chandler, who makes nearly 12 million this season and nearly 13 next, coming back from injury slowly and Nazr (who in comparison makes 6.4 million this year and 6.8 next) resting up over the All Star break, I expect more great things from Nazr the rest of the year.

Notes: Gerald Wallace was the Bobcats first All-Star, as many of you know, and enjoyed himslef immensely this weekend in Dallas. In the actual game itself, he scored 2 points on 1 of 3 shooting, pulled down 3 rebounds, and had an assist. He also participated in the dunk contest Saturday, but was eliminated in the first round…Bill Ingram of Hoopsworld.com is convinced DJ Augustin will be packaged to Boston for Rasheed Wallace. Rasheed is earning the mid-level exception (a little over 5 and a half million) for this season and the following two, so there would need to be multiple pieces added, possibly on both sides. The Bobcats will try to force DeSagana Diop down Boston’s throat, but it’s doubtful Danny Ainge accepts that…It’s been rumored that the Bobcats and Heat have been in talks, but with the Heat looking for expiring contracts, it’s unlikely that the ‘Cats will pull the trigger on any deal….While many fans on the forums have been looking for a way to acquire Wizards forward Antawn Jamison, a Charlotte native, with the Mavericks taking on Caron Butler and DaShawn Stevenson’s salaries, it’s unlikely the Wizards move Jamison before Thursday’s deadline.

If you have any questions, comments, or complaints, email me at teej@bobcatsplanet.com

There are many good ways to spend a Saturday evening. Unfortunately for us Bobcats fans, none of those ways involved anything that happened in last night’s Bobcats game.

For starters, we had Emeka Okafor come back to town. Emeka is a nice guy, and to be honest with you he was one of my favorite players during his time as a Bobcat. With that being said, it was more than a little bit painful watching him put up 16 points, 7 rebounds, 2 blocked shots and 1 steal while playing solid D. The guy that we got for him ( Tyson Chandler ) when we traded him away this summer had a nice suit, a great view of the game from the bench while resting his eternally gimpy ankle… again.

Next was the George Shinn factor. When Shinn ripped the NBA out of Charlotte almost a decade ago, he single-handedly managed to sour the fanbase on the NBA to the point where people are still reluctant to come back. So to watch that little goofy assed dwarf’s Mr. Shinn’s team come back and drop an ‘L’ on the Bobcats was unpleasant to say the least.

Next on my list was watching a rookie fill in for CP3 who was out and not miss a beat with 24 points and 4 assists. Seriously guys, Darren friggin Collison????

Next, puzzling rotations. Let me preface this by saying that Larry Brown knows more about basketball than 99.99% of the human population, BUT his rotations baffle me at times.  DJ Augustin was playing really well ( 5-6 from the field, 5 assists but only 18 minutes ). Nazr Mohammed played Emeka well in the first half but we don’t see him on the court in the 4th quarter with the game on the line, Instead we go small?

The final straw to a rotten Saturday night was the 3rd quarter collapse. They entered the 3rd quarter up by 10, they exited the quarter down by 5. They gave up a ridiculous 36 points in that quarter and the defense looked nothing like the devastating D that we were seeing during the month of January.

All of these factors combined to create a pretty rotten Saturday evening.

What were your thoughts on Saturday’s game?

The last time a star Warrior was traded to Charlotte for almost nothing and returned to Oracle Arena in Oakland, he was given a hero’s welcome. This time, the Warrior fans had little love for their former swingman. You see, Jason Richardson not only didn’t want to be traded, but he was somewhat upset to be traded. Stephen Jackson, however, isn’t one to keep his mouth shut, and he let it be known that he wanted out of Oakland immediately if not sooner. So when he came back, the rabid fan base in Oakland quickly forgot all the heart, passion, and energy he played with and bombarded him with more boos than Jake Delhomme has ever had. But in the end, it didn’t matter. Captain Jack came to play, as did his First Mate and the rest of his Crew.

After a slow start, losing the first quarter to the Dubs 28-24 and being down by 5 in the middle of the second, the Bobcats asserted themselves, entering halftime up 6 and leading by as many as 21. The Stephen Jackson and newly-named All Star Gerald Wallace duo combined for an evenly split 60 points (almost 50% of the team total) and 17 rebounds, 13 of which were Wallace’s. 6 Bobcats were in double figures (Jackson, Wallace, Boris Diaw, Raymond Felton, DJ Augustin, and Flip Murray) and both Wallace and Nazr Mohammed grabbed double digit rebounds. The Bobcats utterly dominated the Warriors on the boards, grabbing 48 solo and 13 team rebounds to the Warriors 32 solo and 9 team, which comes out to a +20 mark. This was with center Nazr Mohammed playing just 16 1/2 minutes (despite those 10 rebounds, along with his 6 points) and backup DeSagana Diop recieving a DNP-CD. This meant Boris Diaw spent most of his night at the 5 spot, scoring 12 and pulling down 6 rebounds. DJ Augustin put in 14 points on 5-7 shooting, including 3-5 from 3 point range, along with 6 assists. We even had a Gerald Henderson mohawk sighting, for a brief 2 1/2 minute period where he scored 1 point. All in all, a stat sheet-stuffing performance, putting the Bobcats back above .500 at 23-22, tied for 7th in the East.

Tomorrow night the Bobcats play the Kings in Sacramento. Let’s just hope Crash stays away from Andres Nocioni if possible. Tomorrow is also DeSagana Diop’s 28th birthday, which could signal extra playing time if the game isn’t close.

Notes: Yankees pitcher CC Sabathia sat courtside. He grew up 30 minutes away from Oakland and is a good friend of Stephen Jackson….Bobcats color analyst Dell Curry spent the second quarter on the Warriors broadcast talking about his son, Stephen, who nearly had a double double with 22 points and 9 assists….Acie Law didn’t play against his former team….former Bobcats Cartier Martin and Vladimir Radmanovic came off the bench for the Warriors, scoring 4 and 6 points, respectively. Ex-Bobcat Raja Bell is out for most of the season with wrist surgery….After winning just 1 road game to 14 losses in 2009, the Bobcats are now 4-3 outside Charlotte in 2010. They are now ahead of Milwaukee and Detroit for 4th worst away record in the East, 7th worst overall….The Bobcats could reach 12-4 for the month of January if they win tomorrow. I think that’d be a franchise best.

I don’t want to say I’m devastated, but color me disappointed. With a sellout crowd of over 19,200 on hand for the annual Charlotte Bobcats Nascar night, featuring 4-time Sprint Cup champion Jimmie Johnson and Ladycat Jordan’s boyfriend Denny Hamlin, I would’ve hoped for a big win and settled for just a win. I mean, with a crazy home record of 18-4 coming in, what else should I expect? And at the end of regulation, it seemed that was what was going to happen. But instead, the Bobcats came out totally flat for overtime and were outscored 14-3 in the period to lose by a final of 106-95, after coming back from a 16 point deficit in regulation.

The game started off rather tepidly, with Charlotte losing each of the first three quarters and entering the 4th down by 10. About the only bright spots up to that point were Nazr Mohammed (12 points/9 rebounds) and Raymond Felton (14/5/4 assists) playing solidly on both ends of the floor. Soon to be named All-Star Gerald Wallace was held scoreless for much of the game, although he did finish with 9 points and 10 rebounds. In the fourth, along with Wallace, DJ Augustin (22/2/1) and DeSagana Diop (6/4/2 Blocks) asserted themselves as key players in the comeback. Diop would’ve had 8 points, but a jumper from about 10 feet out was called off for a shot clock violation. Down 92-90 with 6.8 seconds left, the ‘Cats came out of the timeout and Stephen Jackson (15/5/4) hit a floater from under the basket to send the game into OT. After that, well, lets just say it wasn’t pretty.

If you want to find places to put the blame, there are plenty. The Bobcats missed 6 free throws in 22 attempts, shot just 39.8 percent from the field (including a combined 10-38 from Boris Diaw, Stephen Jackson, and Gerald Wallace), and outside of DJ Augustin’s 5-9 3 point shooting, the team was 4 of 18, which comes out at an atrocious 22.2 percent. They had their shots blocked 11 times and were outrebounded by 7. And while it appears that the officials cannot count to three when the Magic have possesion, the Bobcats could have won despite bad officiating – which had Stephen Jackson complaining all night long, including him being assessed with the game’s only technical foul – that allowed Howard the freedom to have dinner and dessert in the lane. They had their chances and let it get away.

Charlotte now starts a six game road trip:
Monday in Denver (facing former Bobcat Malik Allen and G/F Stevie Graham’s brother Joey) – Sportsouth 9:00 ET
Tuesday in Pheonix (facing former Bobcats Jason Richardson and Jared Dudley) -FSCR 9:00 ET
Friday in Golden State (facing former Bobcat Vladi Radmanovic and announcer Dell Curry’s son Stephen) – FSCR 10:30 ET
Saturday in Sacramento (facing former Bobcat and tub of lard Sean May) – Sportsouth 10:00 ET
Monday the first in Portland (facing former Bobcat Juwan Howard) – Sportsouth 10:00 ET
Wednesday the third in Los Angeles against the Lakers (facing former Bobcats Shannon Brown and Adam Morrison) – Sportsouth 10:30 ET

Notes: Tyson Chandler missed the game once again, and while he is supposedly “day-to-day” I don’t think we’ll be seeing him anytime soon….DJ Augustin appeared to regain his confidence for at least the fourth quarter, expecting to make shots instead of hoping….Larry Brown played his centers 46 out of a possible 53 minutes, which is one of the highest amounts in a long time….Brandon Bass, the player many Bobcats fans have been clamoring for in a trade, had a DNP-CD, so don’t expect to see him in a Charlotte uniform….Dwight Howard was the only player with a double-double, collecting 10 points and 20 rebounds….The Bobcats wore special NASCAR themed uniforms, with checkered side panels; Jimmie Johnson recieved a special #4 “Johnson” jersey at halftime in honor of his 4 championships….

When you move quicker than your opponent, basically in anything, you’re going to win.  I think that’s the best attempt I’ve ever had at a Sun Tzu quote that I made up on the fly.  I’m sure that might be in one of the Zig Ziglar books my Dad gave me or maybe a Tony Robbins tape he gave me (seriously, I no longer possess a tape deck, younguns, ask Ziggy what a tape is).  This thought came to me as the Bobcats went to the locker room at halftime of the Wednesday Night game versus the Raptors.  The clips are all flying to the basket, dunk, put-back, dunk, steal, dunk, run, lay-up and the Bobcats are up by 6.

As I’ve said many times before, basketball looks complicated and is a specialized game but it’s pretty simple if you take several things as “given.”  You have to take field goal percentage as a given.  The league average is .455 and the top team (Phoenix) is at .492 and the bottom (New Jersey by .02 under the Bobcats) is .401.  Nine percent of an average 80 attempts per game is 7, so the top and bottom of the league are separated by 14 points of %.  That’s shooting efficency, you have to figure defensive efficency as well.

What’s the point other than BigCat number crunching on a quiet Wednesday halftime?  The point is, it’s getting an upper hand in attempts, easier shots, more valued shots (threes) and lowering your opponent in each area.  Easier shots are free throws and they are not always a given, especially for the Bobcats.  There are 2 things going against the ‘Cats here: #1, no respect.  There is no way to get more FT attempts if there is no star, no referee preferred player, no the coach isn’t going to pull that respect and pressure them to call it our way or even to the point of being equal against a more “national” team.  #2 Felton, Wallace, Jackson and Chandler are not great FT% guys.  (collectively .720 career and Jack is at .560 since coming over from GSW).

The three pointers are not going to happen with this roster.  #23 in attempts and #29 in %, you just can’t count on that to work for this team’s offense either.  By the way, these are all cold facts, very objective but they come from research based on a subjective hunch.  Speaking of subjective, what do stats have to do with this:

So, my theory of “high value” shots, easier attempts (each only counts for 1 pt though), holding the opponent and attempts, you have to toss the first 3 (two based on lack of viability and defense is pretty solid (1st in the league at press time)).  The only other option is more attempts.  How do you get more attempts?  Defense and speed.  Pace of game is one part of speed, the other is the fast-break.

If you’re thinking “But BigCat, we learned this in middle school gym class.”  Well I didn’t.  I am having revelations here and I’ve had 2 doses of NyQuil so get off me.  The defense, steals and blocks and altered shots all lead to more attempts.  If the magic 3 are executed correctly, with speed and pace of game, the attempts are easier and should lead to an easy basket.

That’s whats happening against Indiana and Toronto.  How do the Bobcats carry this over to teams not coming off a back-to-back and with someone a little quicker than Tyler Hansborough leading the break?  Remains to be seen but a line-up of Gerald Wallace, Tyson Chandler, Gerald Henderson, Derick Brown, Nazr Mohammed, Raymond Felton, DJ Augustin and Stephen Jackson better find a way.  They’re athletic and smart enough to make it happen.  They won’t gamble too bad on a steal attempt, they can get out on the break.   It’s making it happen against Orlando, Atlanta, Chicago, and some of the teams out of the west, that has to become natural.

Set the matchups, out-speed your opponent and finish and this is an easy game to win, grasshopper.

This game’s win matches the Bobcats best initial home record and is the highest point total on the season, and that includes a double OT victory against the Knicks.  This is also the largest margin of victory in the young history of the franchise.  Are things changing in Charlotte?  I sure hope so.  Stay tuned for Friday’s game against the Cavs, I may chunk these stats and theories out the window.

Welcome back to the NBA! In about an hour, the Bobcats will start the 2009-2010 season in Boston. We finally get a chance to see Tyson Chandler, Gerald Henderson, Derrick Brown, and Stevie Graham show off Larry Brown and Rod Higgins’ GM’ing skills (Flip Murray is still out as far as I know), and the new Bobcats uniforms are put on display. Here’s your starting lineups (projected):

PG: Rajon Rondo vs. Raymond Felton
SG: Ray Allen vs. Stevie Graham
SF: Paul Pierce vs. Gerald Wallace
PF: Kevin Garnett vs. Boris Diaw
C: Kendrick Perkins vs. Tyson Chandler

Bench Battles: Rasheed Wallace vs. Nazr Mohammed
Marquis Daniels vs. Gerald Henderson
Eddie House vs. DJ Augustin

Notes:
* Bobcats G’s Raja Bell and Flip Murray are inactive to injury, and Boston is missing Glen “Big Baby” Davis after a fight where he hurt his hand.

* Celtics G Eddie House played for the Expansion season Bobcats, but was traded away in the team’s first year.

This presents a tough challenge for the Bobcats, and trying to beat the Big Three in the Celtics home opener is no easy task, considering injury and conditioning issue the Bobcats face, but Charlotte usually plays well against the Celtics and if the Bobcats want to make the playoffs, they have to show they’re worthy against a great team tonight. Enjoy the game!