Charlotte Bobcats Preseason: Let the Learning Begin!

We are three games into the preseason and so far it isn’t painful to watch these guys play (sorry Bobcats, but it was kind of painful at times last season). In fact, I think these guys are actually doing pretty good considering the changes they’ve gone through.

Working with a new head coach is always a challenge, but the Bobcats have another challenge facing them that most teams will not. They have a lot of new players to work in as well. So it’s not like they cohesiveness of an existing core can help speed up the learning process or any familiarity with the coach.

In a way I think that is good, but in a way it can also be bad.

With so many new faces to the team (roster and head coach) there really will not be any need to un-learn the old ways since as far as these guys are concerned there really aren’t any. So far the starting line-up has had at least two guys that played for a different team last year in it.

On the flip side of that there is the time that is necessary for a bunch of players to learn their new coach’s scheme. To compound that there is the time that it takes for the players to get to know each other as well.

During the whole learning process there will be times where the team will look good like in the win over the Washington Wizards in the first preseason game. There will also be times where they will be wildly inconsistent–like in the two games against New Orleans Hornets where they had one abysmal quarter in each game.

Now I am fully aware that this is only preseason action. Just like in the NFL, you can’t read much into how the preseason plays out in the NBA either. In the case of the Bobcats I think it is a little different this season.

With the learning curve the team is trying to battle through I think we will see a squad that steadily improves with each preseason game leading right up to the season opener against the Indiana Pacers at home on November 2.

So rest easy Bobcats Nation. Do not worry when you see the team score 8 and 7 points in a quarter (unless it’s in the same game; then you might need to be a little concerned). These guys are learning. They’re getting better.

Come November 2^nd they will be ready.