nutmeged3

In the past two years we may not have won many but we could count on being in almost every game. This year we've already lost 4 games this year by 30 points or more. What's weird about it is this is the most talented squad we've put out amd just havn't produced.

So how much of a step back did we take this year compared to last and what do we need to adjust.

Premier

I think the rest of the teams have improved and the Bobcats, while they have the talent to catch up, they can't seem to excecute. Injuries have also hurt them, but this team is not experienced enough to win. The NBA is still a veteran's league and teams like Boston, Atlanta, Charlotte, etc. have proven that a team comprimised of young players will not win much unless the talent is at a very high level like Chicago.

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shookem

Exactly, the Raps had to bring in Rasho, and two vets from Europe because they where about to be in the same situation as the Cats ... too much young talent.

This team needs a Sam Cassel like addition, not a vet PG but an experienced leader that can help guide the team for a year or two.

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Premier

They have Brevin Knight, but I don't really view him as a leader. He seems to be hurting Felton's development, but I can't really justify that statement, as I have only seen three Bobcats game this season.

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shookem

I've seen parts of half a dozen but I haven't seen much Cats this season either.

The player doesn't have to be a PG or anything, just a player that's been places and done things and is known as a local guy in the lockeroom.

A Cassel-Mourning-Oakley-type of guy.

Either way, as tough as it is to take a step back this year, you've got to imagine the pay-off in the draft is worth it.

However, I understand how Cats fans would at the least see the team appear to be closer to turning a corner and getting blownout doesn't make anyone confident.

In the end though any fan in the league would love to cheer a lineup of young talent like the Cats have. Now through in any of the top five projected picks in the 07 draft plus a very good FA and the Cats are sitting pretty.

It probably means a few more years of bottom feeding though, just prey the team doesn't go all out and do what the Hawks did with JJ.

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Diable

The truth is Bickerstaff is running this team on a scheme that relies completely upon effort because he has only marginal talent.Once everyone else realizes that you have to play hard to beat the bobcats you are in trouble.If the other team plays as hard as we do they will usually have more talent than us and the way the NBA is officiated the team with the stars has a huge advantage.

I'm disappointed in this year's team,but I attribute it to several factors.

Number 1 is that Gerald just hasn't been an impact player like he was last year,at least not until the last 10 games

2)Morrison was not the best player available for this team and he has not fit in well.The fact is that his inability to defend NBA players was a catastrophe early in the season.He needs the ball to be effective,but he hasn't been that good when we give him the ball.You can only conclude that he has taken away shoots from guys like Sean May and Okafor who have been much more efficient.His defense has improved,but he's never going to be any good at defense.However he's probably got a good chance to develop into a good sixth man type player.

3)Primoz just hasn't been effective and that's been a far bigger deal than most people would recognize.For all his flaws Brezec provides this team with a pretty good center relative to most teams we face,but he's just really not gotten it down this year.

4)Lack of depth in the backcourt.I really think this team is one really good shooting guard away from being relative in the East.Our frontcourt is good enough for the East.I think Raymond is a top ten point guard the way he's played recently,but you need a real two guard to do two things for you.a)score b)defend the other team's 2 guard.It's the second part that really kills the Cats.

The bottom line is that ownership has to decide whether or not they intend to pay the price to competitive this offseason.Since it's really not in our best interest to make the playoffs this season I am not overly concerned with this year's failing.We need a good pick next year and we need to put out the money to sign a top free agent.One of those guys needs to be a shooting guard and we need to add quality depth in the backcourt as well.

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