Charlotte Bobcats at New Jersey Nets game preview -- Game 81

by Ben Swanson on Apr 11, 2011 8:12 AM EDT

Today's Tunes:

Parliament - Flash light

Game Overview: Well, here we are at the penultimate game of the regular season for our Charlotte Bobcats. What a crazy season it's been. Tonight the Bobcats play the Nets to finish off their last back-to-back of the season.

If you think our starting lineup is unimpressive, take a look at the Nets. With Deron Williams injured, they start Jordan Farmar, Sasha Vujacic, Stephen Graham, Dan Gadzuric and Brook Lopez. Lopez is their first option on offense and scores pretty well from the block. However, he is an extremely poor rebounder. Against Atlanta, he played 31 minutes and grabbed zero boards. From TRB %, he's having a historically awful season as a center. But don't underestimate his offense; he can drop 20+ points easily. Anthony Morrow is also day-to-day with some knee tendinitis. What this means is that Avery Johnson is forced to give Johan Petro and Travis Outlaw significant minutes. And that's never good.

The Bobcats will probably continue the gameplan they've been using for games now: ball movement, having Augustin drive and kick to open midrange shots, trying to get Kwame going, etc. Sasha Vujacic is a pesky defender, so hopefully Gerald Henderson will squish him and his stupid hair. Diaw should be able to control his matchup with ease as well.

Injury Report: Bobcats - Jackson, Livingston, Thomas, Najera; Nets - Deron Williams (wrist), Anthony Morrow (knee), Kris Humphries (ankle)

Key Matchup: Gerald Henderson vs. Sasha Vujacic - Yeah, I hate Sasha Vujacic. Hendo, please dominate him and make Vujacic frustrated and whiny.

Brook Lopez is that big kid who refuses to give up trick or treating on Halloween even though he's way too old

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Hey Ben what do you think?

I would like to know what sports people think about our two free agents pick-up K. Brown and Livigston? Because to me I think was excellent decision by MJ. I think that Miami miss the boat because a starting lineup of Livingston, Wade, LBJ, Bosh and K. Brown is much better that what they have now.

by senero on Apr 11, 2011 9:42 AM EDT via mobile reply actions

They've been great

It took Liv a bit to shake off the rust, but when he got going, he was fantastic. Kwame has been good too, but I seriously doubt he does this anywhere else., especially in Miami. Kwame’s resurgence has been engendered by the coaching of Silas and Oakley, Silas’ “shoot if you’re open” philosophy has given him tons of confidence that he wouldn’t be getting anywhere else, especially in Miami where their offense revolves around the big three.

Lemonade was a popular drink and it still is,
I get more props and stunts than Bruce Willis
- Guru, of Gangstarr

by Ben Swanson on Apr 11, 2011 11:40 AM EDT up reply actions

agreed.

by focuslja on Apr 11, 2011 12:32 PM EDT up reply actions

+1

by senero on Apr 11, 2011 1:29 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

this game looks like a cake walk

Lets hope we don’t play down to our opponents level.

ezrock

by ezrock on Apr 11, 2011 10:07 AM EDT reply actions

This is win-win really

If we win, that’s great. If we lose out and the Clippers win one game, we move up another spot in the draft*. I wouldn’t say we can have our cake and eat it too, more that we can have our cake… or we could have that other cake.

*This logic is from me eyeballing records etc. If I’m wrong, someone figure out if/how we move up to 8th in the draft.

by drapht00 on Apr 11, 2011 12:20 PM EDT up reply actions

Can only tie the Clippers

They only have one game left (against Memphis on Wed.). I’m not sure what the tie-breaker is, but if it’s H2H record, the Clippers swept Charlotte so maybe Charlotte would “win” that tie. I recall the Clippers won a coin flip last year to select ahead of Utah (via the Knicks).

by ClipCat on Apr 11, 2011 4:14 PM EDT up reply actions

hmm...New York swept the Clippers last season.

I thought that H2H record made a difference, too. Maybe not for the draft order.

This space available for rent.

by Newsinz on Apr 11, 2011 4:30 PM EDT up reply actions

It doesn't

Coin flip!

My heart pumps no Kool-Aid

by Bring Back Primoz on Apr 11, 2011 9:02 PM EDT up reply actions

Correct

doesn’t matter that we lost the tiebreaker with the Bucks either. Coin flip. Like when we tied with N.O. in an earlier draft. We lost the coin flip.

by Ft.Mill Bobcat on Apr 12, 2011 12:32 PM EDT up reply actions

That damn coin cost us Paul.

Q. What Do You Tell A Girl With Two Black Eyes?
A. Nothing, You've Already Told Her Twice.

by Charlotte Bobcat on Apr 12, 2011 3:13 PM EDT up reply actions

I heard Rufus ran into that very coin later on that evening, and...well...

This space available for rent.

by Newsinz on Apr 12, 2011 3:30 PM EDT up reply actions

"POW POW"

Shots fired!

Q. What Do You Tell A Girl With Two Black Eyes?
A. Nothing, You've Already Told Her Twice.

by Charlotte Bobcat on Apr 12, 2011 4:40 PM EDT up reply actions

I dont see any positions where we are outmatched

Brook Lopez is an elite center in this league. If Kwame can continue to use his body paired with his confidence, he should be able to outrebound Lopez who really isnt a big time rebounder. Idk if he will be able to score on Lopez length but I think if he uses his strength he will have a few monster jams tonite. Humphries and Diaw will be an interesting match. One that I will watch closely. I think if we can get the ball to Diaw at halfcourt much like we did last nite, we can stretch the offense a lil more bc Humphries can more around a litttle bit better than most PF. Hendo should have no trouble driving on Morrow and Sasha. But they are both icewater shooter but will have to show other dimensions of their game if they are to be a factor. Something I dont expect to see. DJ will probably be facing Gaines/Farmar. Farmar will probably be the one who causes more trouble. But I cant see either of those guys staying in front of DJ. I think DJ will put on a shooting clinic being that neither of those guys are great perimeter defenders. Unless they decide to put Sasha in front of DJ which will cause problems for DJ bc Sasha is an underrated PERIMETER defender. Which leads to Cunningham and Outlaw. They pretty much have the same skillset with Outlaw being the better shooter. I look for their stats to be pretty much even tonite.

by focuslja on Apr 11, 2011 12:41 PM EDT reply actions

+1 on Sasha being an underrated perimeter defender.

For all of the toughness and physicality he lacks, he is known to be a very pesky defender.

Q. What Do You Tell A Girl With Two Black Eyes?
A. Nothing, You've Already Told Her Twice.

by Charlotte Bobcat on Apr 11, 2011 1:14 PM EDT up reply actions

Humphries is out

Sorry, I forgot to include the usual injury report

Lemonade was a popular drink and it still is,
I get more props and stunts than Bruce Willis
- Guru, of Gangstarr

by Ben Swanson on Apr 11, 2011 2:05 PM EDT up reply actions

good so Diaw should perform a little better. But i think he should have a few opportunities to facilitate past halfcourt (like the Pistons game)

by focuslja on Apr 11, 2011 2:09 PM EDT up reply actions

Correction. Idk if Gaines is still with the Nets or is he a Raptor now?

by focuslja on Apr 11, 2011 4:34 PM EDT up reply actions

Man, the season is reaching its end

went by fast, huh? We’ve had a very interesting season, to say the least.

by Roger, Roger on Apr 11, 2011 1:36 PM EDT reply actions

yeah its pretty much over but...

being that we lacked wins and a chance to make the postseason, we do have one thing. NEWS ARTICLES. Sounds crazy but this is the time of the year when we get those “MJ Seems to be Interested In __” and " (random team) May Have a Interest in Bobcat’s (pos) (player name)". Plus all the FAs running around looking for teams and vice versa. Plus we have the Playoffs to hold us until the draft and then even more Articles. Before you know it its summer league and preseason…and for us, It will be a pretty interesting offseason

by focuslja on Apr 11, 2011 1:50 PM EDT up reply actions

Not to be downer, but what's coming after the draft are lots of articles about CBA negotiations

More NBA teams are losing money than are NFL teams, and negotiations could break down quickly if the owners insist on rolling back player salaries and imposing strict cap rules.

by ClipCat on Apr 11, 2011 4:18 PM EDT up reply actions

Yeah True....

by focuslja on Apr 11, 2011 4:33 PM EDT up reply actions

These CBA talks are going to be awful

by drapht00 on Apr 11, 2011 4:36 PM EDT up reply actions

CBA battle

I’m sure both sides know it’s political suicide to lose any part of the upcoming season. The NBA has far more haters waiting to spew their hate if they can’t come to terms. I want a positive out come for the small market teams like ours, to level the playing field in acquiring and retaining talent. Once that happens I don’t care what they argue about, but we all know it’s all about the money just like the NFL.

ezrock

by ezrock on Apr 11, 2011 4:36 PM EDT up reply actions

Im hoping for another 20 pt. game from Hendo

I wanna see more then just screen shots which he is a murderer at but he did well last night at shooting overall I wanna see him show he can be a good all around scorer these last 2 games.

by TS BOBCAT on Apr 11, 2011 4:35 PM EDT reply actions

Chances are he does well...

I just looked at the Injury report and it pretty much negates my predictions. Morrow isnt playing either. Graham isnt good at anything. He isnt terrible (missed that by a hair) but I dont see him causing a problem at all. With that being said. I apologize to whoever I disagreed with about this game being a gauge of talent. Because NJ’s just as bad off as us with the talent. This should be a squash match. I expect nothing less than a victory. Or we are in BAAADDDDD shape.

by focuslja on Apr 11, 2011 4:40 PM EDT up reply actions