The Heat vs. the Bobcats 3/9/10

The Bobcats had a lead (6-4) with a little over ten minutes in the first quarter. They did not have another lead until until only a little over three minutes (3:33) was left in the game. It took a team effort on defense to pull them back into a game they easily could have lost to Miami. The Heat shot a better field goal percentage, a better free-throw percentage, and had fewer turn-overs but could not stop the Bobcats when they had to be stopped. Raymond Felton led the ‘Cats to victory with a double-double (15 points and 11 assists) and clutch play in the fourth quarter. Point-guard play was a big plus for Charlotte with DJ Augustine adding 10 points (including a 4 point play), as both Ray and DJ attacked the Heat all night. Gerald Wallace led on the defensive boards with a solid 17 board effort. Stephen Jackson led ‘Cats scorers with 17 points. When you’re in the final season stretch the wins do not have to be “pretty”, they only have to be wins, which is exactly what the Bobcats gave their fans tonight!

Charlotte had an announced attendance of over eighteen thousand tonight watching their team gain a big win against the Heat. The fans have responded in a very positive manner as the Bobcats push for their first-ever play-off berth. Every game, for the remainder of the season, is a big game for the Bobcats. Tonight they answered the pressure by fighting back against a team just as determined to win. This victory gives the Bobcats the season tie-breaker (head-to-head games) against Miami. The win pulls the ‘Cats ahead of the Heat in the play-off race and a loss tonight by the Bulls will leave the ‘Cats with the seventh seed in the Eastern Conference.

The Good:

Raymond Felton’s double-double.

Team defense.

Gerald Wallace on the boards.

Team determination.

Bench play.

The Bad:

Field-goal shooting (38.95)

Free throw shooting (73.35)

The Ugly:

Nothing, really.

Next game for the Bobcats: Wednesday 3/10/10 7:30pm at Philadelphia 76ers

Eric Spolestra, Dwayne Wade, Michael Beasley, Pat Riley…sorry, unimpressed. Let me break this down for a min or two:
Longest Home Win Streak
21 wins for the first time before what? April
Highest FG % for a quarter
Fewest FG % and # allowed
Fewest Points Allowed
Largest Margin of Victory
3rd Time Ever 2 games over .500

Go back to Miami and try and figure out how to play ball. I am not big on rubbing one in but man I can’t stand the Heat and living off of a Championship for the past few years. Dwayne Wade has RSVPed for like 20 attempts per game. Dick Bavetta comes to his house at Thanksgiving and calls pass interference on his cousins in the family pick up game. It’s ridiculous.

Listen, the Bobcats are actually GAINING momentum. After losing a 20 something point lead on Monday afternoon, they crush the Heat by almost 40. We’re riding a win streak and just not like 1 or 2 points, save Monday, for all it’s worth. The question when this home stand started was: can they gain enough wins so that the West Coast trip doesn’t hurt too bad. Now, the West has to think “Here comes straight fire into our arena. Can we contain it?”

Just wait, sit back and enjoy. If you are a first timer on this site, just remember, we’re the guys standing by when we are celebrating being above .500 at the November 21 mark back in 2007. That’s 6-5 and they didn’t do any better. We are 21-19. I said WE because I feel the energy, I was in the arena and felt the glee of a serious beat down at the expense of a team % points above us in the standings…Orlando, you’re catching us at the wrong time and we are catching you at the right moment. Be prepared!

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

The Bobcats beat the Heat Saturday afternoon behind 35 points and 8 rebounds from Stephen Jackson. This was the first road win for the Cats since November 28 when they got a win against the gun toting Wizards. This afternoon they have a chance to get a 2nd straight road win, If they get it will make one fan in particular very, very happy.

There were several positives to take from this game:

• DJ Augustin shot the ball very well and played with a lot of confidence
• Derrick Brown had a strong 2nd quarter and was a big part of getting the game turned around with his play
• The Bobcats had 31 free throw attempts to the Heat’s 16
• And of course Stephen Jackson’s 35 points, 8 boards and overall solid defense on Dwyane Wade

My only complaint

• Can we somehow find a way to get Gerald Henderson some minutes?

I’m hurting. I’m not taking it personally but I am hurt. I have to think the Bobcats are way out on their hope to make the playoffs. All those away games coming up and 2 straight, heartbreaking losses, I have to start thinking, this might not be it. Last night was fun, I mean going to the game and the excitement of the crowd an the new people taking interest in my team. But then leaving after the loss and people smiling and the drummers in the Atrium, I just got all depressed.

As much as I’d like to be a good fan and enjoy the self loathing like Randy Quaid in Major League, I want wins. I want the playoffs and I want the national recognition. I’m a big picture guy and the Bobcats are a big part of the way I spend my time, between games and away games on tv, what I talk about with friends, this message board and this blog. I can’t invest that much time, effort and energy in a lost cause. But it’s not a lost cause, really. I mean what better way to spend a Friday night? Dwayne Wade, Jermaine O’Neal, Jermario Moon, Michael Beasley and Mario Chalmers, all names I know and recognize and appreciate for their play, come to town to face my team, who is on the verge of the playoffs and coming off a win against the Lakers and a double overtime loss to the Boston Celtics. I love it, but then I read they’d be wearing green uniforms.

Come on man, I get it, we’re talking about recycling and all that stuff but why would you want to confuse fans (I get confused easily, don’t hate), and even players. I think at one point Diaw thought he saw someone but didn’t and threw it to an open spot on the floor. “Green” is such an overused, junk, buzzword at this point in our culture that people are rebelling again and still loading up their SUV’s with 3 tvs and peeling out at traffic lights. On top of that, the previous game the Bobcats lost to the Celtics who wear green all the time, so it was like salt in the wound.

Good start for the ‘Cats. The Heat couldn’t do anything with the ball and easy baskets were a way of life in the first quarter. I love when it’s like that because it means these guys are playing great defense and moving the ball and easy baskets are way more fun to watch than those ridiculous leaners and circus shots D Wade likes to throw up. Another point on D Wade: We get it, you like to make contact and the refs because of the ’06 Finals will give you the calls in droves but this jump up in the air and lean in garbage, in my book, is worse than a flop. It is not fun to watch terrible halfhearted attempts to get the ball in the basket, followed by 10 minutes of walking around with your hands on your hips like you’re the man and then you miss one and make one on your free throws. Once he started that mess, it was only that first mess that kept the game close.

When it was tied at halftime, I just felt a little depleted, plus it was $3 beer night up at “Rock the Rooftop” so there were all these dudes in the way of me getting a beer or going to the bath room and going to my seats. One guy actually said, “Yeah, I’ll get out of the way Mr. Look at Me I’ve got Seats.” Who comes to a game to put out the vibe and drink $3 12 oz Bud Light? I do but that’s not why I was there in the middle of a playoff push and yeah, I watch the game. I’m not asking for everyone to be a die hard fan but let’s see, why did you pay $25 for your ticket and $3 for those beers? To talk to the dumb broads that stand in a protective circle around the hottest chick? No, we’re in a playoff push, put down your collar and pay attention.

Anyway, the second half was punctuated by some drastic calls. I wouldn’t say they were all bad but Mek would. He was incredulous every time he got called for a foul. Even a couple on Gerald and Diaw he was going nuts. My thought is that this disrupts your flow of the game. Don’t roll over and take it when a ref is dominating the game but don’t make this face, every damn time:

(Thank you Charlotte Observer for getting that shot, because I saw it like 15 times and it started to get into my head) Visit : The Charlotte Observer’s Website for the complete slide-show

Adding insult to injury, Raja Bell popped his calf muscle. Larry said “I imagine it will be a while.” What I didn’t really understand was putting rookie and former D-Leaguer Cartier Martin out there for such a long stretch after losing Bell. I think between Cartier and fellow rookie, DJ Augustin, you have to go with Cartier to defend but we’re talking about guarding Dwayne Wade here. I kept saying to myself and the few people around me “Just stay in front of him Cartier” but it was kind of a lost cause. Rick Bonnell tells us that: Wade amassed 14 of his 27 points and seven of his 10 assists after Bell left the game.

Losing Raja certainly hurts because of his defensive skills and he can put up some points when Wallace, Ray and Okafor aren’t. I don’t think that’s the nail in the coffin, the nail in the coffin for the Bobcats was losing that game. All they needed were good stops in the fourth and more of those easy baskets but they simply weren’t there. There were some serious BS calls there at the end, including a loose ball foul against Wallace that put Daequan Cook on the line with 5 seconds left. There are your 2 points to go with the other 3 that they had, which had been a 6 point lead until Diaw made that unbelievable 3. There were moments when the roof was about to blow off the Time Warner Cable Arena, but that wasn’t one of them. Half the crowd left after Dwayne Wade hit his free throws. That’s why it was a heartbreaker, because people would rather beat the traffic than will this team to win with a 6 point deficit and under a minute to go. It could have been an issue but to me, it is frustrating to see as a fan, just all those lower level folks headed up the aisles away from the court.

I don’t know if I’d definitely say it’s over, but it felt like it going home last night. The guy I go to games with says to me “Dude, it’s over and I’m so pissed. All those people happy, walking out of a loss that cost us the playoffs.” My response was “How do you think Okafor and Wallace feel?”