The aftermath of the next two battles at home. A tale of two polar opposite games. And yet, both showing much improvement from Vincent's Bobcats.
The Houston Rockets blazed in to Bobcats Arena with a fiery start of 5-1. Under Adelman's Run and Fun offense T-Mac and Yao have flourished. It also can't hurt they have a full host of players coming off the bench with names like Mike James, Bonzi Wells, and Luther Head. These guys can play and would start for most teams. Side note: Steve Francis did not travel for the game.
The Bobcats were ready. They continued that inspired play seen in the 2nd half of their last game against the Bucks. The defense by the Cats was outstanding, with decisive traps, fronting blocks, quick rips, and an in your face style that seems to be missing from Charlotte's brand of ball. We were all led to believe that Vincent wants to run and the roster would be loose with nearly all coming in and out with a frantic pace. The 86.7 points for the Cats and a higher differential for the opponents seems to state something else. What's interesting is, removing the two blowout losses by the Suns and Philly...we see a team able to win with nearly a bottom of the league offense. Hmmm.
Defense is keeping them in games. Defense is winning out. Emeka's electric play defensively with rebounds and blocks; Gerald being lightning quick defender; and the dual-point guard monster of "Jefmond McFelton" is causing opposing teams problems. They're making good teams look sloppy. We've been most successful running the "small" lineup and Vincent is leaning on it heavily and is running a tight roster. McInnis, Felton, Emeka, G-Force, and time split between the SG's J-Rich and MC13 (Matt Carroll's self-referred nickname) is a potent one. Since adopting it we came back to beat the Bucks (led by the best shooter in the league, Michael Redd); stuck it to the Rockets leading the whole way (I'll get to the conspiracy-worthy finish in a second); and hammered the Heat...leading by as many as thirty points. I think Vincent is on to something. Tonight is the formidable test on the road against SE division rivals, Atlanta. They have an absolutely stunning list of athletes on that team. They could readily run the offense that Vincent had originally intended for the now injury-depleted Bobcats. Josh Childress, Speedy Claxton, Al Horford (may give Durant a run for ROY), Joe Johnson, Josh Smith, Pachulia, Marvin Williams, Shelden Williams, etc. are deep with talent. Of note: my favorite college shooter in years, Acie Law IV is on that squad and if they make a playoff run this year watch for this guy to make a name, much like a Daniel Gibson or Mike Bibby did in recent years.
I do have to comment on the finish to Rockets game, where a win was ripped from us. We were down by one point...Gerald Wallace drives to the hoop from the top of the key curling baseline with 6-7 seconds left...jumps...hangs...lets the ball go after getting held on the arm and bumped with the body. The shot didn't go in, but a whistle blew. The crowd erupted with joy for the obvious call. A defensive foul...right? Well...it was a call alright, but an offensive foul...a charge. Another ref. changed that call to a "clear out". The replay showed that none of this was the case and, in fact, Wallace was fouled. A good ref. knows to not call that play either way, unless it is brutal and blatant. Let them play. And let their play decide their fate at the end of a game. Never have a refs decisions dictate their fate like that. It is not right. It is shameful. The right call is a defensive foul. The best call is a no-call. Neither was the case. What would've happened? Don't know. The players didn't get to decide...
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
Saturday, November 10, 2007
Morrison's Knee Surgery
The latest news from the AP:
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Charlotte Bobcats forward Adam Morrison underwent surgery Saturday to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee.
Morrison suffered the season-ending injury in an exhibition game on Oct. 20. The team said the surgery, performed by team physician Dr. Glenn Perry, was successful.
Morrison will remain hospitalized until Monday, when he'll begin several months of rehabilitation. Morrison is expected to be healthy in time for the start of training camp next fall. The No. 3 overall pick in the 2006 draft, Morrison averaged 11.8 points last season.
I have to say that I was so excited to get Morrison for the Bobcats. He seemed poised, according to the hype and his 50 point nights for the Zags to be next Larry Bird. Maybe the expectations were too great. He was a rookie. His footspeed and dribbling are subpar. This made him a defensive liability as well. His shooting could save all, right? It could be the cure to an ailing team that had trouble putting points on the board. Well, he had some good games and put up decent numbers, but it didn't help the team all that much. His shooting percentage was below .400, he gave up so much on the defensive end, and when the ball ended up in his hands on the break it was a guaranteed turnover.
By the end of the year, I didn't care so much about Morrison and I jumped on the Herrmann bandwagon. Maybe it wasn't fair. Maybe we hadn't seen his best yet. I was encouraged with early news coming out of camp that he had worked hard all summer. Also, with the addition of J-rich, there'd be less pressure and he'd probably perfrom better. I went to 2 preseason games and it showed. He was shooting very well, around .500. He moved more fluidly. Mind you, he'll never be Barbosa, but he moved better. His dribble seemed more sure. His passes connected. The turnovers were nil. He looked good. He looked confident. It seemed as though the once great Phoenix of Gonzaga that could breathe fire on any foe would maybe once again rise from the ashes to take flight on a much improved Bobcats squad. I was rooting for him. I was hoping he would prove the critics wrong. Namely, myself. I was his critic after starting out as his adulating fan.
The injury is unfortunate, but I am hopeful that Morrison comes back to prove the now growing list of cynics wrong. He may never be Larry Legend, but he could be a solid contributor. Good health and best of luck to Adam Morrison.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Charlotte Bobcats forward Adam Morrison underwent surgery Saturday to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee.
Morrison suffered the season-ending injury in an exhibition game on Oct. 20. The team said the surgery, performed by team physician Dr. Glenn Perry, was successful.
Morrison will remain hospitalized until Monday, when he'll begin several months of rehabilitation. Morrison is expected to be healthy in time for the start of training camp next fall. The No. 3 overall pick in the 2006 draft, Morrison averaged 11.8 points last season.
I have to say that I was so excited to get Morrison for the Bobcats. He seemed poised, according to the hype and his 50 point nights for the Zags to be next Larry Bird. Maybe the expectations were too great. He was a rookie. His footspeed and dribbling are subpar. This made him a defensive liability as well. His shooting could save all, right? It could be the cure to an ailing team that had trouble putting points on the board. Well, he had some good games and put up decent numbers, but it didn't help the team all that much. His shooting percentage was below .400, he gave up so much on the defensive end, and when the ball ended up in his hands on the break it was a guaranteed turnover.
By the end of the year, I didn't care so much about Morrison and I jumped on the Herrmann bandwagon. Maybe it wasn't fair. Maybe we hadn't seen his best yet. I was encouraged with early news coming out of camp that he had worked hard all summer. Also, with the addition of J-rich, there'd be less pressure and he'd probably perfrom better. I went to 2 preseason games and it showed. He was shooting very well, around .500. He moved more fluidly. Mind you, he'll never be Barbosa, but he moved better. His dribble seemed more sure. His passes connected. The turnovers were nil. He looked good. He looked confident. It seemed as though the once great Phoenix of Gonzaga that could breathe fire on any foe would maybe once again rise from the ashes to take flight on a much improved Bobcats squad. I was rooting for him. I was hoping he would prove the critics wrong. Namely, myself. I was his critic after starting out as his adulating fan.
The injury is unfortunate, but I am hopeful that Morrison comes back to prove the now growing list of cynics wrong. He may never be Larry Legend, but he could be a solid contributor. Good health and best of luck to Adam Morrison.
Opening comments to the first 5 games...
Well, here we are. 5 games in and it feels like the rollercoaster that true fans have grown quite accustomed to. 2-0, including a win over the Miami Heat (without D-Wade mind you) and it was high expectations and great elation. It was the best of times, if you will.
And then, it was the worst of times. And I do mean worst. The Cats got crushed at home against the Suns (without their star Amare Stoudemire) taking another beating that was reminiscent of last year's trainwreck at home. To add insult to injury, Felton was injured by Nash pulling a cheap move...something Nash must have picked up from San Antonio's 2007 Playoff run when done unto him. The Suns looked hungry after getting demoralized by the Lakers by more than 30 and it showed. The game was over after the first quarter.
At least a game against a weaker Eastern team would help the Bobcats refocus, right? Not exactly. Being without the floor general, Felton, due the injury to his knee and an alarming lack of focus the Cats took a back-to-back brutal beating two the hands of Philly.
Was this a suprise? No, not really. Even in the Win against Miami a twelve point lead dwindled away in waning moments and we barely escaped. Even the home opener against the Bucks, was in question as well with numerous missed free throws in the last few minutes. Certainly with shots from the stripe, Emeka has been the worst culprit. His truly horrendous free throw shooting in troublesome, but he's not alone by any means. Focus is a problem over talent thus far. This is a cause for concern for many young teams. Defense. Free Throws. Finishing games out. Pacing. Avoiding silly fouls. It all goes back to discipline and focus.
So how about game 5 against the Pacers at home? The drama about Kareem Rush aside (read Rick Bonnell's awful Charlotte Observer blog for that news), this game had a desperate feeling for the season's hopes. I know it sounds rediculous at Game 5, but that is the ebb and flow of such a volatile team with such a talented starting lineup. The Pacers being a quality team led by Jermaine O'Neal would make this no easy win. Again, we played erratically, a microcosm for the season itself thus far. The heralded star, Jason Richardson, was lazy on defense and shot only 2-10. Brezec was awful as well with two points and getting scored on at will. Hollins, not much better. Jamareo has yet to show any defensive intensity. So what to do?
This is what I love about Sam Vincent, coach for the Bobcats. He's the anti-Bernie. Bickerstaff would mess with lineups constantly almost appearing to throw common sense or any semblance of chemistry to the wind. Sam plays to win. Sam doesn't play the best players. He's plays who is trying hard, who is doing the right things and who is playing well TOGETHER. If they play that way, then they stay that way. Most of the second half was Matt Caroll, Jeff McInnis, Raymond Felton, Gerald Wallace, and Emeka Okafor. This was a smaller lineup, but it was working. They played defense. They helped. They trapped. They got out on the break. They pushed the ball. It worked. Vincent saw it wasn't broke, so he did the smart thing and didn't try and "fix" it. Much like Bernie's endless tinkering that wreaked havoc with the "W's" we got lost season. Also, to Sam's credit, most of the starting line get benched in the second quarter of the Suns game, never to return. I don't believe he was saving them or babying them...it was punishment for uninspired and lackadaisical play. Again. You're paid professionals...act like it. Sam's demanding and should be. I am a huge fan of what I've seen from him. Much of the erratic play is not his fault, but more of a team in transition looking for an indentity that he wants to set. "We come to play hard, non-stop, for 48 minutes".
So, after all the talk of Emeka being out of his mind for demanding Dwight Howard money and not putting up Howard numbers. He's a great guy and solid contributor (except in the free throw department), but $17 million a year? Reportedly the Bobcats offered $12-13 with incentives and Emeka and his agent, Jeff Schwartz turned it down. They wanted the maximum that Howard had just been given. I think the offer was fair and Bernie felt it was appropriate in every way. Still, he held out. If you're going to hold out you need to put up numbers and show you're worth it. Putting up numbers also includes not getting injured (which is already a recurring problem in his young career). Put up numbers he did in Game 5. 25 Points. 23 Rebounds (7 offensive). 71% Field goals (still 38% from free throw). A steal. A block. And only one turnover in 41 minutes of play. He changed the game. He went aggressive to hole, trying to dunk over defenders and looking for putbacks. This type of passion seemed renewing to the faith of all those that looked on. The Cats turned the tide from being down by over 10 to being up by that number. Emeka changed the game. Emeka put up Howard numbers and then some.
Is this a sign of what's to come or erratic flash that will be mired with inconsistent effort? It is hard to say. I'll tell you after Sunday's game against the very good Houston Rockets, who are 5-1 in the West under a new offensive scheme. McGrady and Yao look nearly untouchable thus far. Which Bobats will come to play on Sunday eve? I will report back. Thanks for reading!
And then, it was the worst of times. And I do mean worst. The Cats got crushed at home against the Suns (without their star Amare Stoudemire) taking another beating that was reminiscent of last year's trainwreck at home. To add insult to injury, Felton was injured by Nash pulling a cheap move...something Nash must have picked up from San Antonio's 2007 Playoff run when done unto him. The Suns looked hungry after getting demoralized by the Lakers by more than 30 and it showed. The game was over after the first quarter.
At least a game against a weaker Eastern team would help the Bobcats refocus, right? Not exactly. Being without the floor general, Felton, due the injury to his knee and an alarming lack of focus the Cats took a back-to-back brutal beating two the hands of Philly.
Was this a suprise? No, not really. Even in the Win against Miami a twelve point lead dwindled away in waning moments and we barely escaped. Even the home opener against the Bucks, was in question as well with numerous missed free throws in the last few minutes. Certainly with shots from the stripe, Emeka has been the worst culprit. His truly horrendous free throw shooting in troublesome, but he's not alone by any means. Focus is a problem over talent thus far. This is a cause for concern for many young teams. Defense. Free Throws. Finishing games out. Pacing. Avoiding silly fouls. It all goes back to discipline and focus.
So how about game 5 against the Pacers at home? The drama about Kareem Rush aside (read Rick Bonnell's awful Charlotte Observer blog for that news), this game had a desperate feeling for the season's hopes. I know it sounds rediculous at Game 5, but that is the ebb and flow of such a volatile team with such a talented starting lineup. The Pacers being a quality team led by Jermaine O'Neal would make this no easy win. Again, we played erratically, a microcosm for the season itself thus far. The heralded star, Jason Richardson, was lazy on defense and shot only 2-10. Brezec was awful as well with two points and getting scored on at will. Hollins, not much better. Jamareo has yet to show any defensive intensity. So what to do?
This is what I love about Sam Vincent, coach for the Bobcats. He's the anti-Bernie. Bickerstaff would mess with lineups constantly almost appearing to throw common sense or any semblance of chemistry to the wind. Sam plays to win. Sam doesn't play the best players. He's plays who is trying hard, who is doing the right things and who is playing well TOGETHER. If they play that way, then they stay that way. Most of the second half was Matt Caroll, Jeff McInnis, Raymond Felton, Gerald Wallace, and Emeka Okafor. This was a smaller lineup, but it was working. They played defense. They helped. They trapped. They got out on the break. They pushed the ball. It worked. Vincent saw it wasn't broke, so he did the smart thing and didn't try and "fix" it. Much like Bernie's endless tinkering that wreaked havoc with the "W's" we got lost season. Also, to Sam's credit, most of the starting line get benched in the second quarter of the Suns game, never to return. I don't believe he was saving them or babying them...it was punishment for uninspired and lackadaisical play. Again. You're paid professionals...act like it. Sam's demanding and should be. I am a huge fan of what I've seen from him. Much of the erratic play is not his fault, but more of a team in transition looking for an indentity that he wants to set. "We come to play hard, non-stop, for 48 minutes".
So, after all the talk of Emeka being out of his mind for demanding Dwight Howard money and not putting up Howard numbers. He's a great guy and solid contributor (except in the free throw department), but $17 million a year? Reportedly the Bobcats offered $12-13 with incentives and Emeka and his agent, Jeff Schwartz turned it down. They wanted the maximum that Howard had just been given. I think the offer was fair and Bernie felt it was appropriate in every way. Still, he held out. If you're going to hold out you need to put up numbers and show you're worth it. Putting up numbers also includes not getting injured (which is already a recurring problem in his young career). Put up numbers he did in Game 5. 25 Points. 23 Rebounds (7 offensive). 71% Field goals (still 38% from free throw). A steal. A block. And only one turnover in 41 minutes of play. He changed the game. He went aggressive to hole, trying to dunk over defenders and looking for putbacks. This type of passion seemed renewing to the faith of all those that looked on. The Cats turned the tide from being down by over 10 to being up by that number. Emeka changed the game. Emeka put up Howard numbers and then some.
Is this a sign of what's to come or erratic flash that will be mired with inconsistent effort? It is hard to say. I'll tell you after Sunday's game against the very good Houston Rockets, who are 5-1 in the West under a new offensive scheme. McGrady and Yao look nearly untouchable thus far. Which Bobats will come to play on Sunday eve? I will report back. Thanks for reading!
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