Welcome to this season's New Jersey Nets!

Will the last one out of the Cable Box please turn out the lights?

I really wanted to see this game. My favorite team against the team I grew up watching and adoring. But I had a very rough night with little sleep (less than 2 hrs) Friday and I crashed badly at around 6 pm. When my wife finally managed to rouse me to take my meds, we were midway through the 3rd quarter. Sadly, I awoke well before the Bobcats did. I'll say one thing before the jump, after which I'm gonna get into some stuff.

I hate, hate, hate, the Boston Celtics now. The score tonight was low but the Cats were hanging in tough until roughly the midpoint of the 4th. After that, Boston ripped us apart and treated us like we were something that they stepped in. There was no cause or reason for them to run up the score the way they did. They had a comfortable lead when they hit the mid 70's, the game was well in hand. The Bobcats were demoralized and the only part of the crowd still in the game were the people wearing green jerseys. Running the lead up over 30 points at the end was just a classless and garbage move. I won't forget that. I now have 2 favorite teams. The Bobcats and whoever is playing Boston. I'll even root for (gulp) the Lakers! (People get shot for saying things like that in the joints I used to gig and hang out in.)

The post-game press conference spoke volumes and at times Larry looked on the verge of tears.

He specifically peed all over Gerald Wallace and Stephen Jackson. Oh, not by name. He just said that he was going to stop using players more concerned about being an All-Star or wanting to be an All-Star than they are about winning. Who else could he have meant? He may have meant Tyrus Thomas, but he hasn't exactly "used" Tyrusaurus lately, has he? Then he said that the only person on the team that was playing right was Boris Diaw. Before you start scratching your heads over that comment, I think I know what he meant. Diaw doesn't crave the highlight reel. He's a pass first (even when wide open for an easy layup) player that (apparently) cares little about his own statline. That makes alone earns him a spot on the "Larry Brown Bestest Players" All-Star Squad as a starter.

Twice LB mentioned that Jordan wants to meet with him on Monday. Each time Brown mentioned it, he got visibly rattled and nervous, following it up by saying that the entire problem with the team was his (LB's) fault. He said that when Jordan talks with him, they are both on the same page about that as well as what needs to change regarding the attitudes of the players. We've all heard enough of Brown's cryptic way of speaking to the press over the years to be able to read between the lines. Larry fully expects to get the axe at the Monday meeting. I've been saying since the first 2 games of the season that this was coming and more than a few people have been quick to point out the many reasons it couldn't possibly happen. I don't know whether I should hope they're right or hope that I'm right. SOMETHING must be done - and it's very likely too late to salvage this season even if Brown is replaced or some other cleansing by blood occurs through trades etc.

The one thing that could always be said in favor of the Bobcats - even when they were at their very worst in the first couple of seasons - was that they never gave up. From their first night on the court, the Charlotte Bobcats= HEART. Not anymore. As has been pointed out in the Gameday Thread, we began last season against the Celtics with a ghastly loss and scored only 59 points. Tonight we at least managed to cross the 60-point threshold, although the margin of loss was almost identical. My point? The first blowout was before we got Jax. We had him tonight.

Does anyone really still believe the problem with this team is the loss of Raymond Felton and Tyson Chandler?

We have made a complete reversalback to what we were before we grew into a playoff team. Even worse, we've achieved this 180 degree descent almost 25 games later in the season and we still have the man that many, including myself, believe was the catalyst that ignited this team last season. We have the same coach too, at least THIS weekend.

I clearly recall last winter that everyone was saying the record of the New Jersey Nets was inexplicable. They were so much better on paper than the L & Ws would ever indicate. They weren't destined for greatness with their roster, but should have at least been in shouting distance of a .500 record. Do I need to point out that if I removed the Nets name out of that description many of you would think I was talking about our Bobcats this season?

What I've seen the past 2 Bobcats games is something I've seen before but thankfully never experienced as a player myself. The Cats are listless, lethargic, and disconnected with one another and the game itself. Why?

1. Pro Athletes are no different than anyone else. If they look around and see their coworkers aren't trying the first thought they have is, "well if they don't give a crap, why should I?"

2. Right after that thought comes The Decision. No, not THAT decision. I'm talking about the decision to make sure that when management decides to start swinging the axe you want to have your own butt covered. From that point forward you make sure your own performance is solid enough that you either keep your job or you make bloody well sure that you look attractive to the next companies you apply to should your plan not work.

3. No matter how much of a "pro" you are in a competitive situation, there is a point where the losses mount up to a tipping point where you approach each new challenge with a defeatist, "we're just gonna lose anyway" depression before things even start. It's a different number of losses for each player, but I think it's pretty safe to say that every one of the guys has passed that point by now. So is their coach, who as much as said so in the press conference. BTW, the team website is currently streaming the entire conference and it's linked on Facebook if you missed it after the game.

4. It's hard to be motivated when your own coach tells the media and fans that he himself is giving up and is just out of ideas. Even worse, he's also telling the world that his team is filled with selfish Prima Donnas that care about nothing but themselves. Now THERE'S a confidence builder.

It happened last season with the Nets. Eventually the infighting and finger pointing  got to the point that even the most devout fans were sick, disgusted, and tired to death of hearing about it. Again, all you need to do is pick up a newspaper or log in to one online to see that all of that has begun in earnest on Trade Street already. The past 7 days of Bobcats press releases, interviews, and oped pieces have contained little else. There is a little seen masterpiece of a movie called "Greedy" in which the late-great master of sarchasm Phil Hartman finds out he's just lost millions and the person giving him the news says, "I know this comes as a shock." His response, slightly paraphrased, is to say, "No, crapping a sailboat - that's a shock. This is an effing catastrophe!" I couldn't have said it better Phil.

Michael Jordan can yell and scream all he wants but it won't change the fact that nothing will change without some action. He has no choice but to make some unpopular, hard, and downright ugly decisions before things can even begin to improve and it's much likely to get even worse before it gets better no matter which way he handles it. I think he's aware of it and Monday is going be a very busy and dark day for anyone summoned to stand in front of the Big Boss. The fecal evacuate is about to hit the industrial-sized oscillating air redistribution equipment.

Fellow fans? We're not going to be too thrilled with the news coming out of Bobcats HQ either. Let us pray.