Charlotte Bobcats 09/10 Season Thread.

[jordan23]

Let's get some support here for the Cat's and hope they make it to the play-off's this season.

[checkers_rock]

yeh lets hope augustin actually gets sum play time

[Magicman]

Hey 2 Bobcats supporters on CDU what is the world coming too lol!!!

[wjrwebber]

Can't see them getting anything more than 30 wins, there team is just all role players, there isn't a standout contributor on the team. Sure, Wallace is a great fantasy player, but filling up the stat sheet wont win you a lot of ball games.

[checkers_rock]

Originally Posted by Magicman

Hey 2 Bobcats supporters on CDU what is the world coming too lol!!!

i wouldnt say im a supporter just collect d.j

[jordan23]

Way to go Bobcat's another big W today. I feeling like this is the season for the Cat's to get to the playoff's.

Well done Bobcat's management for creating big trades and getting Larry Brown.

The Charlotte Bobcats are 14-4 at home this season. Their best previous home record after 18 games is 10-8. These are the only seasons in which they were above .500 at this juncture.

I'm not sure what the difference is. Perhaps it's the fans. There were about 7,500 at Time Warner Cable Arena Tuesday for Charlotte's thrilling comeback victory against Houston.

Yet there were moments, and I promise I'm not exaggerating, when those 7,500 fans sounded like 7,600.


Being there reminded me how excited I used to get about the NBA when the Charlotte Hornets were here.

I promise I'm not going to liken the Bobcats to the Hornets. The Hornets were our first big-league team, and we cared enormously. On game nights 7,500 fans would be waiting outside the Charlotte Coliseum when the team opened its doors.

But the relationship between the town and the team went bad, and we became angry and then we grew bored. By the time the Hornets finally left for New Orleans, we volunteered to hold the door.

We didn't transfer our love for the Hornets when the Bobcats came to town six seasons ago. We transferred our apathy.

But these 2010 Bobcats are tough to ignore. They're entertaining, sound and solid. And when center Tyson Chandler returns - provided he sustains his health long enough to upgrade from guest to resident - Charlotte has the potential to upgrade from solid to pretty good.

The Bobcats have a tremendous opportunity to upgrade their profile this weekend. They will host San Antonio tonight and Phoenix Saturday.

Despite the paltry crowd Tuesday, those of us who were there loved it. This was a game in which, when you walked out of the gym, you wanted to find somebody who was there so you could talk about the game. Did you see? Could you believe? Is Stephen Jackson great?

Jackson is the first elite player the Bobcats have ever had. Larry Brown is a much better coach because in a close game he finally can call the play every coach craves: Stephen go out and win it.

For old-timers, this will be tantamount to blasphemy, but Jackson is as good in his way as former Charlotte Hornets Larry Johnson and Alonzo Mourning were in theirs.

Jackson scored 43 points against the Rockets and, importantly, he scored them on only 22 field-goal attempts. He added eight rebounds, three assists and three steals. Pump fakes, forays to the hoop, long shots, short shots - what Charlotte needed, Jackson gave.

It reminded me how I would walk out of the gym mesmerized by the work of Johnson, or of Muggsy Bogues or Dell Curry. (As effective as Mourning was, I was never a fan.)

In those days, no matter where you wound down after the game, you could always find somebody to talk about the Hornets.

The Bobcats have won five straight games at home. It'll be interesting to see what we talk about if they somehow make it seven.

These Charlotte Bobcats are getting hard to ignore - Bobcats/NBA - NewsObserver.com

[wjrwebber]

They need to be able to win on the road before they generate any kind of interest in the league, they only have a handful of W's there so far. None the less, Wallace has been playing damn well and the S-Jaz trade has helped them to get a top tier scorer which they have lacked since they came into the league.

[AndyG50]

The Jackson trade was a great move, wish I could say the same about the Chandler deal....

Good to see teams like the Cats, Clippers and Grizzlies all playing decent bball.

[collectorGALLORE]

Looks like Jordan might be making some good decisions for the bobcats it will be interesting if they can make the finals !

[fastbaja5b]

They need to trade Felton and develop Augustine who could well end up being a better PG. Sometimes 2nd tier PG's can turn into all stars given the chance, Terrell Brandon was stuck behind Mark Price for yrs, but when he got his opportunity he was playing at a level that Sports Illustrated dubbed him the best PG in the league.

[IfIcouldbelikeChauncey]

The Jackson trade has worked out well partly because of Larry Brown's ability to bring the best out in players with a history of being malcontents (see Iverson and Rasheed). Gerald Wallace is a heck of a player and there's a lot of young talent on the roster

[jordan23]

Originally Posted by wjrwebber

They need to be able to win on the road before they generate any kind of interest in the league, they only have a handful of W's there so far. None the less, Wallace has been playing damn well and the S-Jaz trade has helped them to get a top tier scorer which they have lacked since they came into the league.

Must remember up until about the last 8 games of last season the Bobcats were still in the playoff hunt. They have a great coach and a nice young core which have another year of experience under their belt. They must get a true power forward. Boris Diaw is good but he is soft on defense and not a great rebounder. They should look at some free agents and bring a veteran PF in, maybe Joe Smith.

Originally Posted by fastbaja5b

They need to trade Felton and develop Augustine who could well end up being a better PG. Sometimes 2nd tier PG's can turn into all stars given the chance, Terrell Brandon was stuck behind Mark Price for yrs, but when he got his opportunity he was playing at a level that Sports Illustrated dubbed him the best PG in the league.

No way, Augustine has been shown to be a liability even when given the opportunity to shine this season. The guy just is playing badly atm i'm afraid.

Originally Posted by IfIcouldbelikeChauncey

The Jackson trade has worked out well partly because of Larry Brown's ability to bring the best out in players with a history of being malcontents (see Iverson and Rasheed). Gerald Wallace is a heck of a player and there's a lot of young talent on the roster

People would love to look at Jax situation in GSW as him being a team killer and bad guy to be banished from the NBA, he's faulty in his own right, BUT, when Don Nelson is also at the center of this issue then you have to give Jax a little slack, Nellie has too much negative history.

Jackson is a very passionate player and he plays hard.

[Villie88]

Charlotte Bobcats are flying at home, i think the way they are playing at home, they have every chance of doing the same away from home if they keep up to that standard, Gerald Wallace and Stephen Jackson have really developed and have been playing extremly well together.

[jordan23]

Let's hope Chandler can make a impact on this Bobcat's squad.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP)—Tyson Chandler(notes) arrived in Charlotte recovering from ankle and toe surgery. After slogging through the first third of the season with unimpressive results, he was shelved again with a stress reaction in his left foot.

Finally healthy, Chandler is ready to return—and wary of fitting in with a team that hit its stride without him.

Chandler participated in his first full practice Monday since being sidelined just before Christmas. After missing 22 games, Chandler says it’s possible he could play some on Tuesday against Washington.

When he returns, it won’t be as a starter—at least not right away.

“Under normal circumstances I would always start a guy who’s been your starter,” Bobcats coach Larry Brown said. “But I don’t think this is normal circumstances because he hasn’t had a lot of time on the floor. But let’s hope he can come back (Tuesday). It’s a nice problem to have.”

Nazr Mohammed(notes), buried on the bench last season, has been one of the biggest surprises for the Bobcats (24-25), who sit in seventh place in the Eastern Conference as they vie for the franchise’s first playoff berth.

The 32-year-old Mohammed has posted impressive offensive numbers in Chandler’s place. In the last four games, Mohammed has connected on 26 of 37 shots and has had 10 or more rebounds in three of the past five games.

Chandler was averaging just 6.6 points and 7.0 rebounds. Since he was hurt, the Bobcats matched a franchise record with six straight wins, set a team mark with nine straight home wins, and went 13-9, counting their current three-game losing streak.

“Right now we’re playing so well I don’t want to disrupt chemistry at all,” Chandler said. “I’m pretty sure I’m not going to be playing starter’s minutes when I first come back. But I also think it’s how I perform out there.”

Acquiring Chandler was managing partner Michael Jordan’s big offseason move. Jordan signed off on a trade that sent steady if unspectacular big man Emeka Okafor(notes) to New Orleans for Chandler. The 7-foot-1 Chandler is bigger, more athletic, can play some power forward, too, and is a better fit for Brown’s coaching style.

But the 27-year-old Chandler was coming off a season in which he was limited to 45 games. His trade to Oklahoma City last year was voided when he failed a physical with the Thunder.

Chandler missed the preseason with the Bobcats, then struggled to adjust once the regular season began. He did have one of his better games—13 points and 14 rebounds against New York on Dec. 20—before getting hurt two days later.

“I knew the beginning of the season was going to be tough,” Chandler said. “I spent the whole summer rehabbing and I was coming off surgery. I wasn’t able to do any basketball or any strength training.

“Unfortunately, I was just starting to come on, starting to feel better, starting to feel my legs and I got hurt.”

Chandler said he was able to do strength training while he was sidelined, which he feels will help as he gets back on the court.

While many wonder what Brown will do with Chandler, Mohammed expects to be coming off the bench again soon.

“You don’t lose your starting spot because you get hurt. If I got hurt I wouldn’t want to lose my starting spot that way,” Mohammed said. “So I don’t expect to continue starting. Maybe a game or two while he gets his legs under him. But once he gets going I expect him to start.”

Brown said he envisions stretches where Mohammed and Chandler play together. And while Mohammed is better offensively, the Bobcats have struggled with their interior defense of late, something the long-armed Chandler can help with.

“His presence alone, just his shot blocking and ability to protect the basket, will hopefully get our defense kicking,” forward Gerald Wallace(notes) said. “Hopefully, he’ll adjust to the way we’re playing so we don’t have to wait on him.”

NOTES: G Raymond Felton(notes) twisted his ankle in practice and left the workout early to get treatment. Brown was uncertain if it would keep him out of Tuesday’s game. … Browns said several players, including Felton, Stephen Jackson(notes) and Flip Murray(notes), were ill in Saturday’s loss to New Orleans. “As frustrated as I was, I know this team tries,” Brown said. “So that’s a blip.” … Murray will be Wallace’s partner in one round of Saturday’s All-Star dunk competition.

[jordan23]

the Lakers "suck" now because they lost to Charlotte what about the Cavs almost getting season swept by them? Having Larry Brown for a coach doesnt hurt either....i say if the Bobcats make the playoffs and face Cleveland, LeBRICK will be in trouble again.

PS:3-0 against the Cavs since making the trade for Stephen Jackson.Way to go!!!!

[wjrwebber]

They can't win on the road, hence why they are 9th in the east still.

[buyingstuffformikelee]

I can't believe how well they are playing now, cost me plenty on going against them thats for sure

[jordan23]

Good win by the Cat's again! Now it's 6 zip, we're on fire!!

Congratulation to MJ and team. Go Bobcats !!!

[Magicman]

Originally Posted by jordan23

Good win by the Cat's again! Now it's 6 zip, we're on fire!!

Congratulation to MJ and team. Go Bobcats !!!

Meh probably the worst display of refereeing i have seen this season. 2 terrible calls on Dwight in the last were disgraceful, but hey the NBA will make more money if the Cats are in the playoffs and MJ is 'Guiding' them...

[jordan23]

Jordan is OFFICALLY the owner of the Cat's. Well done!!!!

Jordan seals Bobcats purchase
(AFP) – 8 hours ago
CHARLOTTE, North Carolina — The NBA board of governors approved the sale of the Charlotte Bobcats to Michael Jordan, making the former Chicago Bull star the first ex-player to be a majority owner in the league.

The 275-million-dollar bid by the five-time NBA MVP was approved on Wednesday elevating the 47-year-old from a minority investor to a majority owner.

Jordan, who led North Carolina's college basketball team to a NCAA title in 1982, was fired from his management position with the Washington Wizards in 2003. He then took a minority stake in the Bobcats' franchise.

Wednesday's board approval gave Jordan the green light after he initially struck a provisional deal to buy the club last month.
Charlotte is in sixth place in the Eastern Conference with 34 wins and 32 losses.

Jordan declined to comment on Wednesday.

[jordan23]

HOORRRAYYYY!!!!!!!The cat's have finally made the play-off's, and what a time to do so with new owner Michael Jordan at the helm!

I would hope the Cat's intentionally lose the rest of the games to have the 8th seed to face off with the Cavs becuase i dont see them beating Orlando or the Celtics.