Gameday Preview Charlotte Bobcats vs. Denver Nuggets
by David A. Arnott on Dec 8, 2009 11:31 AM EST
23 comments
Pump Up Music: Jonathon Coulton -- "I Feel Fantastic"
The Big Picture: The Denver Nuggets are a borderline juggernaut. Carmelo Anthony has always been a scorer, but after his Olympic experience in Beijing, he's picked up his rebounding a notch and suddenly started showing some defensive desire in crunch time, turning it up to 11 when he's feeling it. They still lack a prototypical inside scorer, but that's okay because Nene can score some, everyone (including Kenyon Martin) has accepted that Martin won't be an offensive threat the way he was when he was younger and Jason Kidd was running the show, freeing him to do what he does well without expectation of more, kind of like late-career Horace Grant, only paid way more, and with Chris Andersen in the fold, every front court player they'll send out there has the capacity to be a plus defender.
The good news for the Bobcats is that Denver is on the back half of a back to back, in the middle of a four-game road trip, having defeated the AI/AI2 Sixers last night in Philadelphia. 'Melo struggled mightily against AI2, but Chauncey Billups torched the Sixers' back court to the tune of 31 points on 8-15 from the floor. Billups played 41 minutes, but he was the only one who played more than 34 minutes, so they're going to be reasonably well rested for tonight's game at the Cable Box.
Key to Victory: I swear this isn't because the guy went to UNC and I'm baiting the Tar Heel zealots, but I think Ty Lawson is going to play a big role tonight. Will Bynum has torched the Bobcats' point guards, and Lawson reminds me a lot of him. I suspect George Karl and company are going to test Raymond Felton and Ronald Murray a lot with their super-fast point guard since neither of the guys the Cats have been playing at the position are noted for their foot speed, and that could explain, in part, why Billups played so many minutes last night. Of course, it could also be that everyone just decided he was feeling it and they didn't worry about tonight.
They match up with us. We match up with them. Except for the whole "only D.J. Augustin can keep up with Lawson, so will D.J. play after two straight DNP-CDs?" thing.
Detail That Might Interest .08% of You: Kenyon Martin has a tattoo of a lipstick kiss on his neck. That kiss is from his long time girlfriend Trina, a hip hop singer with a reasonably successful career.
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I hope Lawson doesn't play
I know that is not going to happen, but it’s just depressing whenever a player from the opposing team enters the game and is cheered by our fans (happened when Hansbrough came back with Indiana). On top of that, Henderson was booed when he entered into the same game. Henderson. Booed. On his home court.
What do you expect...
Some fans don’t understand that once they don’t play for their college team anymore…they are an ACC player…
by andrewlail76 on Dec 8, 2009 12:32 PM EST up reply actions
Even May never got booed here.
Remember when the Panthers had a good offensive line? Yeah, me too.
--Darin Gantt
by MichaelProcton on Dec 8, 2009 4:12 PM EST up reply actions
Make me say it won't you...
Carolina fans…
Carolina blue FOREVER…no matter how bad you are in the NBA
So you were on your feet for Jeff McInnis?
Ha. ;)
Remember when the Panthers had a good offensive line? Yeah, me too.
--Darin Gantt
by MichaelProcton on Dec 8, 2009 10:09 PM EST up reply actions
If Raymond plays well, or say, hits the winning shot... can I be happy about it?
Or win or lose, should I just be disgruntled that DJs on the bench? Please help, I’m still trying to figure out what this whole “real” fan thing is about.
on behalf of tha dirty south: soul food, carolina blue, southern hospitality, and tha queen city
Well
Be glad when the team plays good, but be aware that Felton is not worth $10mil per season, unless Bad Felton is dead…and Good Felton is here to stay. Time will only tell with that one.
by andrewlail76 on Dec 8, 2009 12:33 PM EST up reply actions
Can we all agree that bad Jackson showed up against Philly?
Because the guys jumping on my back this week would have you believe the opposite occurred with Jack and RayRay.
on behalf of tha dirty south: soul food, carolina blue, southern hospitality, and tha queen city
"Good Felton" is still only a 14-6 player.
He just does it a little more efficiency and with a few less turnovers than he used to. That’d be a better deal than Kirk Hinrich got when he was playing much better than Felton ever has.
Remember when the Panthers had a good offensive line? Yeah, me too.
--Darin Gantt
by MichaelProcton on Dec 8, 2009 4:14 PM EST up reply actions
Goodness! You are such a hater.
on behalf of tha dirty south: soul food, carolina blue, southern hospitality, and tha queen city
I'm a hater?
I’m showing a better player who didn’t get paid as much as Felton’s demanding. How is that “hating?” Seems pretty factual to me.
Remember when the Panthers had a good offensive line? Yeah, me too.
--Darin Gantt
by MichaelProcton on Dec 8, 2009 4:54 PM EST up reply actions
This sounds just like when you were arguing for Delhomme
Twisting logic around saying was just as good as Joe Namath, or some hall of famer. That sounded pretty factual to you too, huh?
Why can’t you just be easier to disagree with like, say James is?
on behalf of tha dirty south: soul food, carolina blue, southern hospitality, and tha queen city
I'm glad when anyone on our team hits a game winning shot
A win is always something to be happy about.
Lemonade was a popular drink and it still is.
by WhatAboutBob_cats on Dec 8, 2009 12:42 PM EST up reply actions
If Raymond hits the game winning shot and DJ doesn’t play at all, I’d be both. Good Felton is good. Winning in spite of Bad Felton is good with a helping of not good. You’re allowed to be whatever you want, but I’d hope the folks here are discerning of a complicated world in which good results can be acknowledged at the same time as bad process.
by David A. Arnott on Dec 8, 2009 3:50 PM EST up reply actions
Consider this with the whole DJ/RayRay saga
LB in his last press conference said something like, Raymond makes a mistake… LBs correcting him as he’s running down court… Raymond nods his head, keeps playing. Then takes the ball back down court, does exactly what LB says and makes a big play. Streaky… but coachable, and can handle big shots under pressure.
DJ on the other hand, gets under a little fire from coach, and totally cracks… Can’t even hit his bread and butter free throws anymore. Are we really confident he can lead this team?
on behalf of tha dirty south: soul food, carolina blue, southern hospitality, and tha queen city
Felton is a 5 year pro and 25 years old.
Augustin is in his second season and 22 years old.
3 years makes a lot of difference in a players development.
Furthermore, people need to look back at Ray. He only shot 0.384 from the field for his ENTIRE sophmore season. DJ is shooting worse at 0.352, but the year is still young.
I just think it’s a little early to question Augustin’s future ability based on an early sophmore slump. The situation is exacerbated by the fact Felton has caught fire, nothing more, nothing less.
Cat Scratch Reader's resident optimist.
by James The Aussie on Dec 9, 2009 12:23 AM EST up reply actions
Deej needs to
take a day off, throw on some old sneaks and a dirty tee, head to the Y in say, Statesville or somewhere, and get into a pickup game just for the hell of it. He might just remember that it’s a fun game to play. As it is now, he’s a 22 year old youngster carrying the fears and pressures of his entire future on his shoulders in a very public venue. Some weeks ago I spoke of DJ’s “quiet desperation” and was rewarded with some pretty heavy sarcasm. I still see it as his biggest problem. The only difference now is that instead of looking like he has butterflies in his stomach every time he touches the ball it appears that buzzards have moved in.
by Ourdaywillcome on Dec 9, 2009 12:52 AM EST up reply actions
Felton was also allowed to lead the team in minutes his second season in the NBA.
Raise your hand if you think Augustin’s got a chance at that.
Remember when the Panthers had a good offensive line? Yeah, me too.
--Darin Gantt
by MichaelProcton on Dec 9, 2009 2:46 AM EST up reply actions
I'm gonna raise my hand
If the team you’re talking about is the Maine Red Claws.
His current level of play is D league and it could do him some serious good. When he finds his game again I’ll welcome him back to the Cable Box with open arms. His problems are all in his head. He’s letting the stress of his slump govern everything he does on the court and sooner or later he’s going to get it back together. But this is the NBA and no team has the luxury of carrying a player along for weeks on end while he works out his inner demons. There is only so much room on the squad. If I were the coach (something that should send a shudder down the spines of Cats fans everywhere) I’d give him until the end of the week. Once we get back home to Charlotte I would DNP him and give Acie Law 10-12 minutes a game against the weaker opposition we’ll be facing. If Law delivers anything at all for us we split DJ’s time between Law and Henderson and let DJ play cribbage with Diop for a few weeks. Acie should get at least a couple of chances to prove he belongs in the league.
As for Henderson – right now on those occasions where he’s been allowed to stay on the court for more than a couple of minutes at a time he’s played just like a rookie. There are flashes of true talent along with some hesitation. His numbers are no worse than what Augustin has been posting. If I had to make a decision between seeing what our “unknown” guards can offer us and continuing to go with the memory of what DJ “used to do,” that’s the direction I’d move in.
by Ourdaywillcome on Dec 9, 2009 9:29 AM EST up reply actions
As outlined in our epic "rookie playing time" thread earlier this week....
I’ll be happy if everyone gets consistent minutes and we keep it close with the Nuggs.
Blogging at Ridiculous Upside, where my terrible writing meets people's eyes.
BTW David, I love that song you posted....
but I’m still waiting for he day when you use “Sex on Fire” by Kings of Leon, and then edit the track to add a monotone “Rufus” in the place of “Sex” in the chorus. You should so it. It could be the new theme song.
Blogging at Ridiculous Upside, where my terrible writing meets people's eyes.
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