Bobcats Lose to Magic 97-91; Murray and Jackson Are Bright Spots

by David A. Arnott on Nov 16, 2009 9:48 PM EST Comment 19 comments

Tonight's game inspired a lot of confidence in the Bobcats' prospects this season. While Stephen Jackson is no superstar, he certainly has the capacity to make Charlotte's offense respectable. So, even though the Bobcats lost to the Magic, 97-91, the future is brighter than it was yesterday. Flip Murray's 31 points and Jackson's solid all around showing were a treat to see.

We'll have a more fleshed-out recap and reflection in the morning, but for now, what is your prediction for how the Bobcats finish the season? Do you see a rationale for trying to keep Jackson moving forward? In short, what's next?

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My idea for Jackson is pretty simple

1) Even if he’s not scoring directly he has to be accounted for by opposing defense. Something has to be said that he took a cross country flight, arrived for a new team and still managed to almost have a double-double. Everyone else got more looks because Jackson was on the floor.

2) Jackson is prime trade material next season if he proves he can be a good citizen. Like I mentioned in another thread there are going to be winners and going to be losers in the summer of 2010. The losers who’ve cleared alot of cap space are going to need to bring talent in to fill holes and justify their cap dumping moved to the fanbase.

Prior to the trade I thought the Bobcats would end up 35-47 and miss the playoffs in 10th.

I now think we can surge from here and possibly end 44-38 and nab 8th or possibly 7th

Cat Scratch Reader's resident optimist.

by James The Aussie on Nov 16, 2009 10:23 PM EST reply actions

Bobcats finish

I personally like the acquisition. He brings an edge to this team that is filled up with “good guys.” I think Jackson will command respect with his offensive game but also with his mouth; in a good way. Now it won’t only be Larry Brown’s voice in an officials ear after Raymond or Gerald gets molested going to the basket, Jackson will be there too.

ItsFELDER

by MichaelFelder on Nov 16, 2009 10:23 PM EST reply actions

Heh..

Jax will be all too happy to get in the refs ear while the 9 other guys on the court continue playing basketball. I’m not sure you really want that.

by FunkyFresh on Nov 16, 2009 11:36 PM EST up reply actions

I think...

what he means is that Jackson is adding some much-needed attitude to this team. Its like with Ron Artest, you never know when he might go off on somebody and that keeps people on their toes. Jackson is now our resident badass.

by bravesfan91 on Nov 17, 2009 2:09 AM EST up reply actions

Bobcats finish

This will, barring heavy injuries, be our first year in the playoffs. We’ll also be within a game or two either side of the 500 mark. Just for the hell of it I’ll say 41-41 although I think that’s just a sniff on the optimistic side since we already have significant ground to make up to get there – especially with another 2 games on the road to worry about before Brown can really get to working with Jackson on our offensive sets. It’s still going to take a bit of time before he gets accustomed to the system, although playing in the Eastern Conference should make it a bit easier to adjust to the competition. But I’ll be very surprised if we come back to Charlotte next weekend without having won at least one on the road.

by Ourdaywillcome on Nov 16, 2009 11:33 PM EST reply actions

I am not sure if JAX was a bright spot, he shot under 30% and was 50% from the line. That is not to say that he isn’t a nice player.

by Richie923 on Nov 17, 2009 11:26 AM EST reply actions

... 4 turnovers over 2 assist,

by Redhorse on Nov 17, 2009 11:53 AM EST up reply actions

It isn't always the individual stats

Sometimes the difference is in other areas. Despite a couple of bad passes to players that weren’t where Jackson is used to seeing them, our overall ball movement showed marked improvement and our penetration was already working better. (It couldn’t have gotten much worse)

Superstition is a funny thing. If a player BELIEVES something to be true he’ll often times make it true. There were players on the team that were obviously thrilled to have Jackson on the court and people like Diaw and Murray responded. Was it all because of Jackson’s skills? Probably not. It’s just as likely it was because other guys believed it would be better and unconsciously picked up their own game to a higher level. Personally, I don’t care what causes an overall improvement in play. I’ll just enjoy it when it shows up.

by Ourdaywillcome on Nov 17, 2009 12:16 PM EST reply actions

+1

Furthermore, can people realize that he had to fly from Oakland to Orlando to play in last night’s game?

I don’t know about anyone else, but I’m pretty wiped out after a 5+ hour flight. It’s a testament to him already that he made the trip then played 45 minutes and almost had a double-double.

Cat Scratch Reader's resident optimist.

by James The Aussie on Nov 17, 2009 1:09 PM EST up reply actions

If you were paid eight figures to make that flight and play a game...

I would be pretty sad for you if you couldn’t do it.

Remember when the Panthers had a good offensive line? Yeah, me too.
--Darin Gantt

by MichaelProcton on Nov 17, 2009 7:36 PM EST up reply actions

I understand that

but what percentage of traded players play the same night for their new team?

Cat Scratch Reader's resident optimist.

by James The Aussie on Nov 17, 2009 11:14 PM EST up reply actions

All of them that can catch flights to make it, I guess...

Remember when the Panthers had a good offensive line? Yeah, me too.
--Darin Gantt

by MichaelProcton on Nov 18, 2009 4:03 AM EST up reply actions

I guess I’m thinking of Raja and Boris sitting in the executive box with MJ watching the game their first day in Charlotte. They didn’t suit up the same night.

Cat Scratch Reader's resident optimist.

by James The Aussie on Nov 18, 2009 8:35 AM EST up reply actions

I believe this is the first time Ive seen a trade done and the player traded participating in the same day. I always thought they couldnt play until they passed a physical and that it took a day or two. Also, he is used to traveling, he is the Captain.

by MR. MANN on Nov 18, 2009 11:45 AM EST up reply actions

Exactly

From what I remember last year, it took forever for Diop to get on the court. In fact, I think he still hasn’t made it there yet…

by WhatAboutBob_cats on Nov 18, 2009 2:41 PM EST up reply actions

http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_MLB_player_played_for_two_professional_teams_in_the_same_day

On August 4, 1982 Joel Youngblood got a single in a day game for the New York Mets against the Chicago Cubs in Chicago. He was traded after the game to the Montreal Expos, who happened to have a game scheduled that night against the Philadelphia Phillies in Philadelphia. Youngblood flew to Philadelphia and arrived during the game. He was inserted into the lineup and got a single.

Remember when the Panthers had a good offensive line? Yeah, me too.
--Darin Gantt

by MichaelProcton on Nov 18, 2009 3:15 PM EST up reply actions

ha ha ha

That’s awesome.

Cat Scratch Reader's resident optimist.

by James The Aussie on Nov 18, 2009 9:54 PM EST up reply actions

i think he flew from Cleveland to Orlando , the warriors play cavs and i wouldn’t doubt the warriors waited until they arrived in Cleveland to trade him just to stick it to him. He definitely opens holes in the defense that weren’t there when Raja played and can put the ball in his hand and run Iso , something Raja cannot do.

by OldschoolBlue on Nov 17, 2009 3:25 PM EST reply actions