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!