Thread: Vincent: 8th seed isn't enough
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Old 09-14-2007, 07:54 AM   #1 (permalink)
nutmeged3
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Vincent: 8th seed isn't enough
Quote:
Ask Bobcats coach Sam Vincent about the challenge of finishing eighth in the Eastern Conference this season, and he turns the question inside-out.

As in, Why settle for the eighth-and-last playoff seed?

"It will be harder to be the eighth seed" this season than it was last season, he said Thursday, "but my goals are much higher; why settle for that last spot?"

The rookie coach of the Bobcats isn't just challenging his team to reach the playoffs for the first time. Wild as this sounds, he's pointing toward home-court advantage.

"I'm telling these guys, we're shooting for the moon," Vincent told the Observer. "I would think it will be impossible to finish in fourth place (clinching home-court in the first round) if you don't believe you belong in fourth place."

Vincent understands this is uncharted territory for the franchise. He understands the East is dramatically better this season with the upgrades the Boston Celtics and Orlando Magic made. And he understands the Bobcats' schedule is back-loaded with a brutal road schedule.

He's dreaming big and perhaps playing psychologist to invigorate his players for a great November and December. Training camp begins Oct. 2 in Wilmington. Vincent isn't intimidated, and he doesn't want his players to be sheepish.

He knows there are issues: The CIAA, ACC and NCAA men's tournaments come to Bobcats Arena in late February and March, sending the team on the road almost continuously for a month. Vincent knows his team has to get a fast start, and that's not been its habit in its first three seasons.

"This team hasn't been .500 at the midpoint and we have to be .500 at the midpoint" to compete for the playoffs, he said. "But that's part of what's fun about this -- the challenge."

With about two weeks left until training camp, Vincent offered thoughts about the roster:

• He thinks the team needs another big man, "a 6-10 banger-type." Vincent suggested two unrestricted free agents -- Michael Ruffin (formerly with the Washington Wizards) and Marc Jackson (most recently a New Orleans Hornet) -- as viable candidates to fill that role.
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Also talks about bringing DA back as our 3rd PG and mentor. This is really overconfident but atleast our coach is looking for something bigger
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