Gameday Preview Charlotte Bobcats at Chicago Bulls
Pump Up Music: Under the Influence of Giants -- "Mama's Room"
The Big Picture: The Charlotte Bobcats will play the Chicago Bulls twice more this season, though tonight's game is fraught with much more meaning. Chicago is 1.5 games behind Toronto for the Eastern Conference's final playoff spot (and the right to get demolished by Cleveland), and 4 games behind Charlotte. A Bobcats win in Chicago tonight puts them 5 games up on the Bulls with 6 games to play. Though the playoffs are virtually assured if they Cats don't crap the bed, it would be nice to make the final games a mere formality.
Key to Victory: One of the truly odd players in the NBA plays point guard for Chicago. Derrick Rose, understandably, gets heaps of praise and inspires breathless commentary because of his elite physical gifts and unflappable demeanor. However, he's headed for a crossroads in his career, and Vinny Del Negro probably isn't the coach to shepherd him through.
For this season, Rose is averaging 20.1 points per 36 minutes. However, Kelly Dwyer can explain why Rose's process is troubling for a Bulls fan:
Rose doesn't hit threes, and he only makes three free throws a game (his fault, not the refs). Derrick Rose averages 20.4 points per game, and he needs 17.6 shots per game to get there. People, that's not too sterling, and if the twos aren't falling, he has no ugly game to fall back on...
All that's to say that Rose has to decide who he is, and soon. Chris Paul and Steve Nash can score, but they don't take quite that many shots. Rose's closest physical comparable is probably Rajon Rondo, and he doesn't take nearly that many shots (though, granted, his teammates are far better). If Rose wants to be a score-first PG, that's absolutely fine. It can work. However, his ceiling is going to be limited if that's who he tries to be because those guys don't make their teammates as good as they can be, and teams know it.
As an opponent, I'd let Rose shoot away. He's not efficient enough to warrant extra attention, but he is confident enough to soak up all the offense. Not good for the Bulls.
Detail That May Interest .08% of You: Last season, Jannero Pargo played for Dynamo Moscow and Olympiacos, and for various reasons, wasn't exactly stellar. Yet the Bulls brought him back this year. Huh.
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Cats getting a little coverage.
This game is to be broadcast on NBA TV so there’s a big station covering us. It’s not TNT but I’ll take it. Which also means that they will be doing analysis of the game on every commercial or time out, and I love Steve Smith and Eric Snow (here’s hoping they’re hosting tonight). Anyway, pretty exciting.
damn they probably will black nbatv out here in charlotte
i’d like to watch it on there
did this dude just did this
by OldschoolBlue on Apr 3, 2010 3:09 PM EDT up reply actions
If you're able to get it on FSN they WILL black it out on NBATV.
It’s crap and THIS is what I was talking about when we get to the playoffs. I would hate for them to blackout a TNT covered playoff game.
I got a 1/2 off coupon before the season for NBATV league pass.
I was all excited until I went online to cash it in and then just tore it up. After reading the blackout rules they operate under I discovered that I’d be able to watch less than a dozen Bobcats games because the rest were all blacked out. It just wasn’t worth it because I don’t track any other teams enough to want to watch.
by Ourdaywillcome on Apr 3, 2010 4:12 PM EDT up reply actions
Why are they blacking out the games?
by bogakbridgetaker on Apr 3, 2010 5:19 PM EDT up reply actions
if it's covered locally they will black out nbatv games
i don’t think they would do if for TNT games
did this dude just did this
by OldschoolBlue on Apr 3, 2010 5:21 PM EDT up reply actions
man I wish I had NBA TV
I watch it when I’m over at my brother’s house. That’s the only place they give the Bobcats any love! Anyone enraged by the fact we toughed out a BIG win last night with playoff implications and the ONLY thing on espn about it was “Delfino makes a strong comeback:Bucks Fall”. Really? That’s total bullpuckey!
"Smokey this isn't 'Nam this is bowling. There are rules!"
Also interesting tonight:
Bucks play the Suns. A win by the cats and loss by the Bucks = tied for 6th. Just sayin’ (knocks on wood)
http://sonicsgate.org/movie/index.php?hd=0
F*** Clay Bennett. And Charlotte thinks George Shinn is a douchebag.
Saw you at the game last night chief.
Sad to see Gerald fall apart during crunch time the way he did. But you performed a successful cardboard reattachment in time for overtime.
KG is pissed
http://sonicsgate.org/movie/index.php?hd=0
F*** Clay Bennett. And Charlotte thinks George Shinn is a douchebag.
I'm curious to see the return of Tyrus Thomas to Chicago.
I’m not sure if anyone else noticed but after LB got ejected last night, TT didn’t play anymore. It was frustrating because he could have been a good match-up and he WILL be a good match-up tonight as the Bulls have no real SIZE aside from Noah. Interesting game tonight.
I think his lack of PT
may have had more to deal with his ankle injury than LB. That’s my 2cents. He’s going to HAVE to show up BIG TIME in order for us to do anything in the playoffs. Stephen Graham is where he needs to be. Larry Hughes was fine till last night when he looked worse than Acie Law guarding Dwight Howard. This offseason is going to be a really big deal for the Cats. Getting these players ALL healthy and into LB’s system.
I miss Flip and Naz. Please come back NAZ!
"Smokey this isn't 'Nam this is bowling. There are rules!"
My problem with his ankle injury is that...
If it really IS giving him so much trouble, why deactivate Hendo and not him? Makes no sense although I know Hendo’s position is filled up, but still those few minutes could have gone to Graham or something.
The absolute BUZZ this place has right now.
Is freakin AMAZING! I’m practically giddy about the Cats gettin into the playoffs, and seeing the MASSIVE crowd on tv makin tons of noise and getting behind the team is just awesome. Jordan out there yellin at the refs, pattin Ray on the back after the game. It is a great time to be a Bobcats fan. It’s a proud feeling that’s for sure. You guys are all awesome as well. There are so many people on this blog that have valid and intelligent opinions, and make great conversation. Sorry if that’s kinda gushy, but I love me some Rufus on Fire!
"Smokey this isn't 'Nam this is bowling. There are rules!"
Hell yeah.
A few months ago, I would’ve never imagined the fans showing up like they are now. Games against the Bucks and Thunder were absolutely ROCKING!!! It’s great to see the city of Charlotte finally being able to embrace an NBA franchise, because we are really very lucky to have one.
by Charlotte Bobcat on Apr 3, 2010 4:23 PM EDT up reply actions
So what if it's gushy?
Look, those of us that have been here all season paid some dues and took some ridicule. Although some have been here since kickoff 3 years ago, the rest of us have been fans from the beginning and just didn’t know about ROF. As the bandwagon starts to fill up with new believers and they start finding their way here it’s a bit more active and that’s a good thing. But we’ve been the lonely soldiers holding down the fort. We’ve spent more than half a year together and even though many of us haven’t meant face to face, we’re all as friendly as if we were coworkers. When Andrewlail and I hooked up for the game a week ago there was no awkwardness. We fell in and started talking like we were old friends even though we’d never been in a room together before. We “met” a week ago, but we’ve been buds for quite a while now. There is a major coolness factor in that.
I suggested a couple of times that we put together some kind of a ROF night at a sports bar or even at a game. Others have as well. Thus far, nobody’s stepped up. Each time I’ve attended a game I’ve let the folks here at ROF know where to find me. As of yet, nobody’s come by and introduced themselves to me. I’ll continue to do so because I do consider y’all to be my friends. I’m stuck in the house 7 days a week most of the time. If anyone ever wants to hook up and hang out at a game or just hang out for a while in general, I’m all in favor of it. I think it would be a blast. If that’s too gushy, too bad. I too love me some Rufus on Fire.
by Ourdaywillcome on Apr 3, 2010 4:26 PM EDT up reply actions
It's weird to me to see fans of a team
actually embrace the bandwagon fans. Normally they look down on them like, “Bah… bandwagon fans aren’t real fans. Leave the team to those of us who stick by the team thick and thin.” Maybe it’s because they realize that without the bandwagon fans, the team will fail and have to leave Charlotte pretty quickly.
But, I’m not sure if it’s just Bobcat fans being awesome or just the RoF group, but it IS nice. I have always considered myself a Bobcats fan, but I can count on one hand the number of games I’ve seen since their inception. I have always kept up with whether they won or lost and frequently read the news about how they did… but that’s certainly not much to get excited about.
Now? I’m excited. I’ve still not seen more than half a game this year, but damn it, I’m actually putting forth an effort. I actually WANT to watch some games and that’s a hell of a lot more than I’ve ever felt before.
Come on Bobcats, keep the magic alive. You’ve given us something to look forward to and something to hope for! Let’s get some favorable matchups cough Cleveland cough and play the Lakers for the NBA championship. haha. Can you imagine that? I bet LA would wet themselves in fear if they had to play Charlotte for the championship.
by bogakbridgetaker on Apr 3, 2010 5:27 PM EDT up reply actions
Welcome aboard boga.
Do yourself a favor. Tune in to the game tonight – it’s a biggun. And then log on in to the game thread here. There are usually a bunch of us (especially for a road game) and we raise some serious hell and ruckus. Join the party or just lurk, you’re welcome either way.
We don’t welcome bandwagon jumpers here because the team will leave town without them. We welcome bandwagon jumpers here because every single one of us is no more than 6 seasons removed from the day we jumped on the bandwagon ourselves. This is still the NBA’s brand new baby team and there’s no such thing as a lifetime fan yet. The oldest Bobcats junkie is still a comparative toddler in fan years. The oldest ROF members are still in their third full season too. So the door is still open and the welcome mat isn’t worn out. You got in just in time. I imagine we’ll vote at some point in the next year or two and decide to get mean with everyone else. lol
by Ourdaywillcome on Apr 3, 2010 6:43 PM EDT up reply actions

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