Just a few days ago, we saw the Charlotte Bobcats play horrible basketball in Washington, D.C. but somehow come out with an overtime win over the Wizards, 95-86. There would be no overtime tonight, as the ‘Cats survived multiple attempts at a comeback by the Washington Wizards to win 107-96. The Bobcats earned their franchise-record 38th win, and are for the first time ever four games over .500%. The Wizards, however, set their own franchise record with their 14th consecutive loss. While it wasn’t pretty, it’s a win, and that means the magic number to make the playoffs is down to 7.

Suspended Wizards guard Gilbert Arenas showed up for his sentencing earlier in the day (30 days in a halfway house and community service, if you were wondering), but most of his teammates were nowhere to be found. Mike Miller scored just 10 points in 36 minutes and just three Wizards scored more than 10 points. One of them is D-League call-up Alonzo Gee, who replaced the injured Al Thornton in the starting lineup with 19 points, making him Washngton’s leading scorer. No Wizard had more than 7 rebounds, and they had shots blocked by the Bobcats 8 times. Believe it or not, Raymond Felton had two of those blocks to go along with his 19 points (on 8-10 shooting) and 11 assists. Felton said postgame that “we’re treating every game like a playoff game” and attributed his recent performance boost to “being at my comfort level.” But he was far from the only Bobcat to contribute. Gerald Wallace had 23 points, 6 rebounds, and 2 steals along with several crowd-pleasing dunks. Stephen Jackson dropped in 20 points, and Boris Diaw put out a 12/5/4 line. Tyson Chandler had 4 points, 5 rebounds and a block off the bench, but his post presence was more valuable than numbers can show. New Bobcat Larry Hughes had his best game in a short period, going 4-10 for 10 points with 3 rebounds. But perhaps the most encouraging stat of the game is playing time: No starter played more than 34 minutes, and league leader in minutes per game Gerald Wallace played just 32:28 with just as much effectiveness. While I doubt this will push Coach Larry Brown to rest the starters more, considering the poor play of the bench (outside Chandler and Hughes, there were just 11 bench points on 16 shots, and 7 turnovers from the bench), it’s at least a good sign for one night. Regarding the game, LB said “I wasn’t crazy about it, we turned the ball over too much, we got beat on straight line drives.” He’s also been keeping tabs on NCAA tournament action, saying “Hell, you can be Northern Iowa, St. Mary’s, Butler, it doesn’t matter, we gotta respect whoever we play…Sometimes, I don’t know if we completely understand that.”

Notes: The Bobcats led the whole game…Former Bobcat Earl Boykins did not play in a coach’s decision for the Wizards…Despite sitting himself in the previous game against the ‘Cats, Andray Blatche started and played 38 minutes…The Bobcats swept the season series with Washington 4-0…Two of the Bobcats’ next three games are against close rivals in the playoff race, Monday the 29th vs. Toronto and Friday April 2nd vs. Milwaukee…With the Bulls being inactive tonight, the magic number of Bulls losses and Bobcats wins is now 7, and the Bobcats could possibly clinch a playoff spot by beating the Bulls in Chicago next Saturday (april 3rd), though mathematically it could be as soon as the 2nd…Miami beat the Bucks tonight, placing Charlotte 1/2 game back of the 6th spot in the Heat but just 1 1/2 games back of 5th (Milwaukee).

I know, I know, it’s not Saturday, and none of this actually happened on Saturday to begin with. But I decided with this glut of information to throw at you I should just make a Godfather post, starting in the Queen City and ending in Disney World. Let’s start from the beginning, shall we?

The beginning would be in Time Warner Cable Arena on Friday night. Your Charlotte Bobcats played the much-maligned Los Angeles Clippers, one of the most poorly managed franchises in all of sports. They didn’t play like it for much of the game, though, keeping pace with the Bobcats. However, part of that likely had to do with former Charlotte Hornet Baron Davis drawing a flagrant foul on Gerald “Crash” Wallace in the 2nd quarter, which left Wallace out for this game and likely a while longer, but we’ll get to that later. In the short term, that didn’t matter, with Stephen Jackson’s 24 points and 6 assists leading the ‘Cats to a 106-98 victory. Jackson had assistance from Raymond Felton’s near triple double (10 points, 11 assists, 8 rebounds), Boris Diaw’s 16 points and 5 assists, and Tyson Chandler’s spectacular 13 points and 9 rebounds off the bench. Wallace had 17 points, 6 rebounds and 4 steals in 21 minutes. Michael Jordan was not present, missing his first game since it was announced he’s buying the team. He was with his son Jeff, who is on the Illinois basketball team that was competing in the Big Ten tournament.

Wallace has been diagnosed with a sprained ankle, and missed the entire second half of the Clippers game, tonight’s game against the Magic (recap below) and is out for Tuesday’s game in Indiana. His status after that is “day-to-day” and he will take off the protective boot upon arrival in Indianapolis. When asked about Wallace’s condition, Stephen Jackson simply said “Pray.” In other injury news, Center DeSagana Diop had dizzy spells during a Thursday practice and is out until at least Atlanta, possibly longer depending on tests. No word on Center Nazr Mohammed’s progress, though with the tremendous play lately by Theo Ratliff and Tyson Chandler, no rush to either Gana or Naz. Get well, guys.

We learned over the weekend that another injured player has been added to the Bobcats roster. That would be former 76ers first round pick Larry Hughes, who played for Larry Brown in Philadelphia and for Michael Jordan and Bobcats GM Rod Higgins in Washington, along with being a teammate of multiple current Bobcats. He is expected to be able to play within 7-10 days, and will be a backup shooting guard and the emergency third point guard if DJ Augustin or Raymond Felton were to get into foul trouble or be injured. Hughes will be playoff roster eligible, and since he will likely be able to adequately replace Flip Murray, the trade for Tyrus Thomas becomes that much more of a steal. Hughes has also played for Golden State, Cleveland, Chicago, and New York. He averaged 22 points per game with the Wizards in 2004-2005, and was the inaugural recipient of the Austin Carr “Good Guy” Award, for being helpful to the Cleveland media and community.

The last major update takes us to Orlando, where the ‘Cats were on the road tonight to face the Orlando Magic. Without Crash, Stevie Graham made his 6th start of the season, and Captain Jack took over the load once again, with 28 points, 6 rebounds, and 6 assists to help get the ‘Cats their sixth straight win, 96-89. Graham added 12 points and 6 rebounds, Ray Felton put in 16 and dished out 7 assists, Theo Ratliff had 10 points and 9 boards, and Tyrus Thomas had 9 points and 9 rebounds. The Bobcats held the free-shooting Magic to 11-32 three point shots, or 34%. Sharpshooters Rashard Lewis, Jameer Nelson, and J.J. Redick combined to go an abysmal 1-12 from behind the arc. Dwight Howard led the Magic with 27 points on 12-14 shooting, but was 3-10 from the free throw line. Magic Coach Stan Van Gundy said postgame “We weren’t very good at anything.” While that might be a bit harsh, he’s right in that the Bobcats are on a roll and have been playing excellent basketball, with or without their All-Star. Yankees Ace C.C. Sabathia drove up to see good friend Stephen Jackson play against the Magic despite pitching earlier in the day.

Rick Bonnell noted recently that

“All you fools who made fun of me for writing it would be a huge mistake for the Bobcats to sign Allen Iverson (you know who you are; I can look up the responses) can send me your heart-felt apologies soon as possible.”

While I assume Rick was just being trivial or attempting humor, he was not only wrong to begin with (what else is new) but he called his readers fools, which in jest or not, none of us here at BCP will ever do. Now, let’s look at why Mr. Bonnell is wrong. When the discussion for this signing was being made, Stephen Jackson was still playing in California, Bob Johnson seemed to be well in control of the team and Gerald Henderson was the only backup shooting guard. What many of us were asking for was what Memphis did very well. Sign Iverson, sell a ton of jerseys and tickets, and if he doesn’t work out, waive him with a minimal hit to the team. What’s so “wrong” about that, Rick?

Notes: Larry Brown has been rumored to both the Philadelphia and LA Clippers Head Coaching jobs, even though neither is technically available, but he said that him staying is “up to Michael (Jordan).” For right now, it appears MJ wants Larry around, and no changes are imminent…The Bobcats sale to Michael Jordan is expected to go through by the end of this week, at which time we will have a special ownership edition of Michael’s Minute with Bobcats Director of Corporate Communications Michael Thompson. If you go to the forum, you can submit a question you’d like answered.

If you had any question how well liked young Stephen Curry is in the Queen City, then that was certainly answered tonight. Returning home to Charlotte as a Golden State Warrior, the rookie received a standing ovation in player introductions and was cheered nearly every time he touched the ball. However, Gerald Wallace, DJ Augustin, and Boris Diaw helped the Charlotte Bobcats ruin his trip home, winning 101-90.

Curry, who was the leader of the miracle Davidson squad that made the Elite Eight in 2008, scored 25 points but went just 8-23 from the field, including an 0-3 start that featured an airball. The rest of his team didn’t help much either, with only Corey Maggette (19 points) and Charlottean Anthony Morrow (11) also reaching double figures.

The Bobcats, however, had a team game going and began to pull away in the fourth quarter, led by DJ Augustin’s 19 points on 7-10 shooting and 3 of 4 three pointers. Gerald Wallace, who was ejected with a minute left to go in the game for throwing an elbow that didn’t connect, had a spectacular game, putting in 18 points, grabbing 10 rebounds, dishing two assists, and blocking five shots. Augustin and Wallace were not alone, however, as Boris Diaw nearly had a triple double (14 pts/12rbds/9ast), Stephen Jackson had 12 points and 6 rebounds, and Theo Ratliff had 11 points and 5 rebounds in his 7th consecutive start. Tyson Chandler continued his impressive return from a foot injury, adding 2 points, 4 rebounds, and a block in 7 minutes off the bench.

Notes: When discussing Stephen Curry, Coach Larry Brown said “If I ever retire, I’d pay to see him play”…Gerald Wallace will likely receive a one game suspension for the “foul” he commited on Anthony Tolliver leading to his ejection, even though the elbow thrown did not connect and he denies any malevolence whatsoever: “It was not intentional. I wasn’t trying to hurt anybody, everyone knows I’m not that type of player”…Gerald Henderson once again saw meaningful minutes, going 1-4 from the field for 3 pts and 3 rbds with 2 steals…Centers Nazr Mohammed and DeSagana Diop once again missed the game, with back spasms and a right MCL sprain, respectively…Owner-to-be Michael Jordan sat courtside for the third straight home game, making him 3-3 since it was announced he was buying the team…the only players who entered the game and did not record a turnover were Derrick Brown and Tyson Chandler…Former Bobcats Raja Bell and Vladi Radmanovic, who were traded for Stephen Jackson, were on the Warriors bench. Bell currently owns a house in Charlotte…The Bobcats are now 22-8 at home and 30-31 overall, ninth in the East.

Nights like tonight are when I remind myself why I suffer through losing streaks, ownership issues, bad tv deals, and all the other problems of being a Charlotte Bobcats fan. Being a Bobcats fan means all that, but it also means an annual win or two against the Kobe Bryant-led Los Angeles Lakers, in front of a packed house sprinkled with fair-weather Kobe-lovers, Ric Flair, Bob Johnson, and MJ himself. Tonight was no different, and Gerald Wallace, Stephen Jackson and crew led the Bobcats to a win, 98-83.

After a disappointing road trip out West and two poor games this week, it seemed the ship was taking on water at the very least. But for tonight, if not the future, Gerald Wallace returned to his pre-All Star Game form with 17 points, 10 rebounds and 4 assists, and Stephen Jackson did his part with 21 points and 4 steals. But while the stars were part of the story, the Bobcat Bench was the glue that sealed the win, led by Tyrus Thomas (14 pts, 9 rbds, 2 blks) and DJ Augustin (12 pts, 5 ast, 2 st) but supported very well by Gerald Henderson and newly-returned Tyson Chandler, who had been out with the foot injury that’s hurt him all season long. Augustin, who had been a miserable 2-27 in a 5-game stretch prior to the Boston game Wednesday, went 5-8, and 2-3 from 3 point range, which is encouraging for all ‘Cats fans. Henderson received his first meaningful playing time of the year (albeit someshort), and delivered with Raja Bell-like defense on Bryant, who scored 26 on 9-21 shooting (0-4 on threes). The rookie had 6 points and 2 rebounds along with a steal and a block. Larry Brown said afterwards “I was proud of Gerald Henderson. The first time we played the Lakers in LA he said ‘Coach, I’d like to play against them,’ and I was a little nervous about that, but I saw him play in Boston; If he makes mistakes, if he takes a bad shot, it’s not because he isn’t trying so I think I’m gonna put him in more, give him a chance.” In the locker room post-game, Michael Jordan came up to Henderson and congratulated him. Perhaps that highly publicized game of HORSE, which Henderson called a “blessing in disguise,” had a major impact? Coach Brown also said that Tyrus Thomas would be a “helluva player” and said his attitude was comparable to Gerald Wallace in terms of wanting to learn. Speaking of Gerald, he summed up the night rather well with these words on the sporadic Laker jerseys in the stands:

“We want them to come with whoever they want to go with, as long as when they go home they’re Bobcats fans we’re good with that.”

So are we.

I’m not blogging as much as I’d like and for that I appologize to you, loyal reader.  I started one last weekend but I was interrupted about 30-40 times by my Mother, Father and Niece asking “What are you doing?”  Or rather, when it’s my niece:  ”UN-kle! AN-DRAW!  You come play with my dooooollll-houssssseee?”  She’s 18 and we’re so proud she learned to talk finally (jokes, she’s 3 and the cutest stinkin kid you’ve ever seen).

I have been keeping up with all the goings-on with the Bobcats.  I’m very confused and excited by what’s been going on.  The Tyrus Thomas trade was excellent.  I am not sure if a first in addition to Flip Murray and Acie “I get more frequent flyer miles from trades than vacation” Law IV, was worth Thomas’s services for the rest of this year and next as a restricted free agent but hey, he filled a need.

Twitter was blowing up on Thursday last week, trade-deadline day.  It was absolutely nuts and I almost got fired because of it I think.  I was in these all day 2 days meetings and they can get boring, depending on the presenter.  The guy after lunch from 1-3 (3pm being the actual deadline I think) was absolutely killing me.  So, there I sat with phone in hand, sometimes under the table sometimes 6″ from my face.  Gleeful glow from my Blackberry as I scanned Twitter.  It was nuts!  By the way, I’m up to a whopping 15 followers, and I need to feel wanted to add me:  BigCatBobcat

So we got Tyrus Thomas, got Theo Ratliff (for a song mind you) but there are still games to be played.  I saw someone say they should make a “Bash Brothers” series of cards or action figures for the most athletic front line in basketball:  Gerald “Crash” Wallace, Tyrus “Pick Something” Thomas and Tyson Chandler.  You might be asking “Hey, BigCat!  Who the heck is Tyson Chandler.”  Tyson is a rare sight on an NBA floor this year, as well as last year but basically he’s like Emeka Okafor only we don’t have him down for a huge 25 year contract, just 23 years of which he’ll play about 35% of the games.   (That link under “Pick Something” is hillarious.  Henry Abbot is killing me on that one, first pic: Tyson Dunking over a flat-footed Solvenian Butterfly)

Sorry, sound bitter?  It’s because I am.  I told a guy at the game who had brought his High School basketball team in to watch the Bobcats that the guy needs to nut up or have surgery.  I also told him that Boris Diaw has put on too much weight and has a wide lady ass.  He quit talking to me after that, possibly because he didn’t want to smell like booze driving the activity bus back up to Hickory or wherever.

Tyson Chander is great, when healthy.  When he’s not….he’s a tall guy with a beard in the second row.  Mike Cranston tweeted during the New Orleans game: While Tyson Chandler in his familiar street clothes and missing 22nd straight game, Okafor playing in 226th straight game.  YIKES! But the emergence of my 2nd favorite Tweep Nazr Mohammed has really made me want to trade Okafor for something else.  (Favorite is Andy Gray from SI, hilarious old Pics from the SI Vault)

The next big topic of interest: Ownership.  Now, I’ve written my piece and basically said all I want to say.  It’s wearing me out and I really don’t like the discussion but here’s the latest: NOTHING!  No transactions have transpired, no papers filed with the league, certainly no name changes, no announcements planned no press releases drafted, NOTHING!  I am not saying it won’t happen but here it is, February 26th and there is no new owner for the Charlotte Bobcats.  I say you ask the man who said “There will be a new owner by the end of February” what happened…but that’s just me.  Wouldn’t want to flood someones inbox.

So that brings us to on the court, actual game action.  I’m a little weak there, honestly.  I hate, hate west coast or actually anything west of Charlotte’s games.  I fell asleep in the recliner at 8:15 before the Jazz game.  I don’t know what my deal is.  I get home from work, eat a whole turkey, box of wine and somehow I can’t keep my eyes open long enough to watch my precious Bobcats on the road.  Blame me, you know, maybe if I could stay up and watch they wouldn’t be 0-3 on this road trip, limping into Memphis tonight.

Watch for the Grizzlies to go heavy to “The Other” Gasol (Marc) as he is 7’1″ and Theo Ratliff when he can push back from his walker and stand up straight is 6’10″ and did I mention he’s old?  They also have Hamed Haddadi coming off the bench and actually producing after being inactive for a while.  The Bobcats are thin (sorry Tyrus) and light on the players at the large positions.  A high point is that Mike Conelly is having a difficult time here lately and I’d put Raymond Felton among the best PG defenders in the league.  A big night needs to come from Ray, Jax and Crash in order for the Bobcats to have success tonight as they travel.  Road wins are hard to come by.

2 Games under .500 with 26  games left.  Gotta gel and get healthy soon.

The Wizards vs. the Bobcats 2/9/10

The Bobcats, after three straight loses, decided to right themselves against the Washington Wizards, (94-92). The ‘Cats pulled defense back out of the playbook and made it tough for the visiting Wizards. The ‘Cats had given up a generous 103.2 points over their last nine games. Finally they were able to hold a team for less (92 points) than their season average of 94.2ppg. The Wizards were held to a 43.2% field goal percentage for the game even though they took right more shots than the Bobcats (81-74). Gerald Wallace led the way for Charlotte with another double-double, 17 points and 13 rebounds, as he appears for his first-ever appearance in an All-Star game. Stephen Jackson led Bobcats scorers with 22 points. The game was sealed as Antawn Jamison missed the final shot of the game with 0.6 seconds left.

Flip Murray played extremely well for the ‘Cats off the bench scoring 16 points. Tyson Chandler also played, after missing twenty four games with an injury, and contributed 5 points and 5 rebounds in 10:02 minutes of play. Boris Diaw also woke up, from a very long nap, to score 16 points for the Bobcats. Raymond Felton also added 11 points and 5 assist despite twisting his ankle during practice Monday. This was anything but a blow-out of one of the six worst teams in the NBA. Rather, it was a much needed win for a team stopping a three game losing streak.

The Good:

Gerald Wallace with another double-double.

Team defense.

The bench play of Flip Murray with 16 very-needed points.

Team turnovers (12).

The Bad:

Free-throw shooting (74.1%).

The Ugly:

Team three-point shooting hit a brick wall (25%).

Next game for the Bobcats: Wednesday 2/10/10 8:00pm at Minnesota Timberwolves