Gameday Preview Charlotte Bobcats vs. San Antonio Spurs

by David A. Arnott on Jan 15, 2010 12:40 PM EST

(Today's preview is brought to us by reader Adam. If you're interested in doing the gameday preview, write it up and send an email to rufusonfireblog@gmail.com following the established format. Music. Big Picture. Keys to Victory. Detail. Include your username for proper credit. Deadline will be roughly 9am the day of the game.)

Pump Up Music: Ft. Minor -- "Remember the Name"

The Big Picture: The San Antonio Spurs are riding a 3 game win streak heading into tonight’s game, the last one coming in an overtime thriller against the Thunder. Against the Thunder the Spurs played without Tim Duncan, who Greg Popovich will occasionally sit just to give him a break. But they didn’t need him thanks to an outstanding performance from rookie DeJuan Blair, who had career highs of 28 points and 21 rebounds. They look like they will give the Bobcats some tough competition.

Our Charlotte Bobcats are riding a 2 game win streak while winning 7 of their last 10 games. Their last game against the Houston Rockets showed again how defense can prevail in the end limiting the Rockets to 34 second half points and overcoming a 10 point halftime deficit. The Bobcats look to continue their home dominance against a tough Spurs team tonight.

Keys to Victory:

1. Win the rebounding battle against Blair and The Big Fundamental. Whoever is playing center needs to pull down his share of the boards. With Diaw’s recent uptick past 5 a game, and Gerald and Captain Jack holding their own, we could do this.

2. Defense, Defense, Defense. Enough said.

3. This game will be a boring game. It won’t be fast paced. It will be about fundamentals and defense, but in the end we will need a big play or out of somebody (Flip Murray from three, maybe) to get us separated.

Detail That Might Interest .08% of You: Richard Jefferson and Luke Walton are such close friends (University of Arizona) that, apparently, Jefferson was at the Walton home the night Walton was drafted.

Tweet Comment 10 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

Thanks David

Thanks for using my preview. Hope all the Fans like it!

by alwalte2 on Jan 15, 2010 12:45 PM EST reply actions

If any of yall would like to check out my blog which talks about everything feel free..
http://awalbreakingitdown.tumblr.com/
http://twitter.com/AMoneyBigMac
Thanks again David!!!

by alwalte2 on Jan 15, 2010 12:59 PM EST up reply actions

What the what?

by and1droid on Jan 15, 2010 4:41 PM EST up reply actions

I like that

and the old school Bobcats inro music. fun fact: before the cheerleaders ran onto the court after “remember the name” they would stand there singing along to the song. I just thought it was funny and silly

Lemonade was a popular drink and it still is.

by Ben Swanson on Jan 15, 2010 1:15 PM EST reply actions

so is that linkin park?

or is it someone else that sounds exactly like them?

Also, Im scared of Dejuan Blair. I dont know who can stop him. If they keep him and Duncan in at the same time, were screwed. Our centers are going to have to step it up tonight. They havent done much the past few games and I dont think we can play small ball tonight.

by MR. MANN on Jan 15, 2010 2:20 PM EST reply actions

Ft. Minor is Linkin Park’s rapper’s side project.

Rufus on Fire -- SB Nation's Charlotte Bobcats Blog

by David A. Arnott on Jan 15, 2010 3:10 PM EST up reply actions

ah, I see, thanks for clearing that up

by MR. MANN on Jan 15, 2010 3:35 PM EST up reply actions

if

the Bobcats really want to be taken seriously by the rest of the basketball world. Winning key home games like the ones this weekend and next week against strong West opponents would be the way to do it. Obviously Sacto isn’t a “strong” West team, but they do have some tough young talent. The tell tale month will be February, though. They only have 4 home games all month. Coming out of that month with a solid number of road wins will be the difference maker for this teams confidence coming into the home stretch. I have faith.

"ANOTHER Iowa running back down!"-any sports caster

by HAWKEYESBABY on Jan 15, 2010 5:17 PM EST reply actions

3 games in 4 days.

That’s not gonna be fun.
I don’t see many options here. If the Spurs start to run away with this one then it’s pointless to burn our starters up completely in the first game. Come the midpoint of the 3rd quarter if we aren’t winning or at least within 15, LB should just sit the Killah Krew and cough up some minutes to the scrubs. At least that way we have something in the tank for the other two games. We have to goad Blair into some rookie mistakes for early foul trouble to keep him and Duncan from ganging on us. I think our squad can handle either one of them, but not both at the same time.

Tonight we’re putting one of the best home records up against one of the elite teams of the Western Conference and every one of us knows that the Fightin’ Felines have a way of reaching deep and stealing some of these away when it’s least expected. If we’re going to lose one at home, this is one that won’t be unexpected or too costly. But if we bring it to them tonight (and we kept it pretty close when we were in Texas last time) it’s going to send another echo through the league that something is finally happening again in the Queen City.

by Ourdaywillcome on Jan 15, 2010 6:16 PM EST reply actions