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**nutmeged3** · 10-22-2006, 12:26 PM

Quote:

They're not as bad as they look, but they're bad.

We're talking about the Charlotte Bobcats, a team that claims to have playoff expectations. The group I've watched go 0-5 this preseason is more likely to finish last in the East than eighth. That is, unless things change dramatically over the next two weeks.

What must change for the Bobcats to chase the playoffs this season:

Make a shot...any shot: Entering Thursday's exhibition in Indianapolis, the Bobcats were 29th among 30 teams in field-goal percentage. That means either they're choosing shots they can't make or missing shots they should make. Or some of both.

Coach Bernie Bickerstaff is convinced it's more missing good attempts. I'd agree to the extent that I've seen a lot of open shots clang off the rim. But I also know this team's offense won't improve enough until it starts playing inside-out, instead of outside-in.

The ball has to get to Emeka Okafor, Sean May and Melvin Ely in the post. Too often, the first option is chucking up a three-pointer and no long-range shooter on this roster scared anyone.

I'd love to see Raymond Felton drive more and settle less for a 20-footer. The guy is so quick and so skilled off the dribble, he forces teams to converge on him in the lane. That either means open teammates or trips to the foul line. Either option generates points.

Get a stop...any stop: At least they're consistent. The same team that was 29th in field-goal percentage offense was 29th in field-goal percentage defense. That means the Bobcats were shooting 39 percent and allowing opponents to shoot 47 percent.

That's such a huge gap, a team would have to grab every rebound and make every free throw just to stay in a game.

Okafor and Gerald Wallace are essential to stopping anybody. Wallace is a great help defender capable of six steals or six blocks in any single game. Okafor is the one big man quick and strong enough to protect the basket when the perimeter defense breaks down.

That perimeter defense will break down. Brevin Knight will always be 5-foot-10 and Adam Morrison's feet won't suddenly move like Wallace's. They drafted Morrison for his shot, not his quickness.

But collectively, this team must improve to unburden the offense.

Adam -- keep shooting: Morrison shot 50 percent from the field in his college career, and is shooting 32 percent this preseason (19-of-60). The natural reaction is to back off and shoot less.

That's exactly what Bickerstaff doesn't want. He told Morrison never to pass an open shot, that Morrison isn't of much use if he's not a constant threat to score.

That's a subtlety about the NBA that Morrison is still absorbing: Under the 24-second shot clock, a team can't afford its prime scorer passing open shots because he's gun-shy. Morrison kept shooting Thursday against the Pacers, and though he was 3-of-16, he drew Indiana's attention. That opened up the game for Okafor, Alan Anderson and Matt Carroll, and the Bobcats shot 52 percent in the first half.

If Morrison must have a cold streak, let this run its course before the games count.

Clean up the rotation: Season three is the first time this team has real depth and Bickerstaff needed to experiment with what he had early this preseason. That meant mix-and-match rotations and sporadic playing time.

Lab time is over. Bickerstaff must tighten the rotation and make sure the 10 guys who will actually play are comfortable with each other. Okafor and May, hurt most of last season, need steady minutes the last three exhibitions to knock the rust off their bumpers.

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**endora60** · 10-22-2006, 06:38 PM

0-5. God, this is bad. Adam's going to be doing a lot more crying if this keeps up. I can't imagine what Bickerstaff's thinking right now.

**nutmeged3** · 10-22-2006, 06:51 PM

It hasn't really been that bad, the record does look horrible but we've been pretty close in all the games up intill the 4th quarter which has always been our problem.

On top of that Brevin Knight, Raymond Felton, Gerald Wallace, Primoz Brezec and Walter Hermann have all already missed time due to injury.

**endora60** · 10-22-2006, 08:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nutmeged3

It hasn't really been that bad, the record does look horrible but we've been pretty close in all the games up intill the 4th quarter which has always been our problem..

But this season was supposed to be different from the get-go, wasn't it? The fourth quarter wasn't supposed to be a time for the Bobcats to fall to pieces--but they're sure doing it so far.

Quote:

On top of that Brevin Knight, Raymond Felton, Gerald Wallace, Primoz Brezec and Walter Hermann have all already missed time due to injury.

Another thing that wasn't supposed to happen this year: constant injuries. But, hell, we're still in pre-season, and the injury bug is spreading poison all over the team. This does not bode well.

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