Hollinger on the series so far..

[jdsingar]

He is on the money with this assessment, IMO.

Charlotte is a couple of guns short against Orlando

Theoretically, Charlotte-Orlando should be a competitive matchup between the league's top two-ranked defenses, and a compelling chess match between arguably the two best coaches in the East, Larry Brown and Stan Van Gundy.

It hasn't been, however, because only one of these two teams can play offense. While the Magic have been able to shrug off bad games from their two key offensive performers -- in Game 1, Dwight Howard (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?playerId=2384) had five points and Vince Carter (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?playerId=136) shot 4-for-19, and they still won easily -- every possession from the Charlotte side has been excruciating.

The Bobcats scored three points in the first 8:26 of Game 2, and one of them came on an illegal defense violation. They finished the first half with just 30 points. Of their first 15 trips, only one produced points, while six ended without a shot attempt. That's what happens when the No. 24 offense plays against the No. 1 defense, and it underscores the big mission for the Bobcats in their soon-to-take-place offseason: finding some scoring help.

Of course, it didn't help when Brown pulled one of his classic self-sabotage moves by pulling leading scorer Stephen Jackson (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?playerId=378) with two fouls and 4:13 left in the half. Brown is paranoid about foul trouble, so he and his disciples (including Atlanta's Mike Woodson) do this a lot, but it's a bit like flooding your house so it doesn't burn down. Sure, Jackson didn't foul out, but he probably wouldn't have anyway. Meanwhile, Stephen Graham (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?playerId=2832) had two missed shots and a turnover on the final three trips of the first half and the Bobcats went into the locker room down 11.

On a positive note, Magic-Bobcats unexpectedly provided the single most entertaining moment of the playoffs: Stephen Jackson with his headband pulled down over his face like he’s Donald from “Fat Albert,” going from ref to ref asking "How does this happen?" after an obvious foul from Matt Barnes (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?playerId=1765) wasn't called in the fourth quarter of Game 2. You won't be getting that in the Blazers-Suns series, I'll tell you that.

[ND22]

I agree with his assessment. We just gotta hope the home court sparks some offense out of this team.

[DwightRapesBobCats]

He is on the money with this assessment, IMO.

So now you hate your coach?

[jdsingar]

So now you hate your coach?

How does that constitute hating a coach? He frequently pulls players with two fouls for extended periods of time, well beyond the point where it is necessary. It is a choice he makes as a coach, and I wouldn't agree with it.

But most of Hollinger's assessment has nothing to do with the coach, so I am not sure how that argument would even work.

[EC123]

He is on the money with this assessment, IMO.

His assessment is idiotic.

It's not the Bobcats' offense that is killing them.

It's the fact that everyone on the team except Gerald Wallace is playing like they accepted before the series began that they are SUPPOSED TO LOSE.

They are thinking too much instead of just playing.

Where is the F_CKING ENERGY???

[BobcatsAllDay]

His assessment is idiotic.

It's not the Bobcats' offense that is killing them.

It's the fact that everyone on the team except Gerald Wallace is playing like they accepted before the series began that they are SUPPOSED TO LOSE.

They are thinking too much instead of just playing.

Where is the F_CKING ENERGY???

C'mon dude are you serious? Our offense looks like shit. There needs to be some give and take w/ our O. This is common w/ LB coached teams, I remember the Detroit team had the same dead periods with their offense. Only difference is they always had at least 4 people on the floor who could get a bucket if necessary. We have 4 too but under very different circumstances.

Jack can and does more often than anyone.
Crash can get to the line if our spacing is good and the ball is moving.
Ray can get his own shot but he will not differ from the game plan under LB.
Boris can but simply wont.

[Marvel]

These 2 games weren't even close IMO.The fact that we pulled it to within 10 in the 4th quarters wasn't so much us playing better, but more of Orlando loosening up defensively when they had a 20 point lead.
You could tell their defense wasn't as tight in the 2nd halves as it was in the 1st halves of games 1 and 2.
I think we're in a predicament starting Theo.I mean if LB starts TC, he will undoubtedly get in early foul trouble.Theo hasn't really helped us as he was doing when he first arrived here and i would like to believe that would change in game 3.
Nazr is starting to come around so hopefully he gets going also.
We need to come out with a lot of energy,FUCK this nervous shit, stay agressive.
Know we can beat them.

[EC123]

C'mon dude are you serious? Our offense looks like shit. There needs to be some give and take w/ our O. This is common w/ LB coached teams, I remember the Detroit team had the same dead periods with their offense. Only difference is they always had at least 4 people on the floor who could get a bucket if necessary. We have 4 too but under very different circumstances.

Jack can and does more often than anyone.
Crash can get to the line if our spacing is good and the ball is moving.
Ray can get his own shot but he will not differ from the game plan under LB.
Boris can but simply wont.

Apparently you are TOO Silly to understand "cause and effect", so I'll just leave it at that.

If you press because you're stressed because you think you're in over your head before you even step on the freaking court, of course your offense will suffer because of that.

IF THEY FELT LIKE THEY BELONGED ON THE COURT, or showed any signs of it, their offense would be a lot better, just like it was the last two times they played Orlando in the regular season, regardless of them losing one of those.

Felton and Augustine aren't aggressive because of it. Diaw is confused because of it. They are all so worried about Dwight Howard being on the court, that they can't run an offense.

Him being there isn't as big of a problem as them BEING CONCERNED about him being there.

[spectre]

Calling someone "stupid" doesn't really help an argument...


IF THEY FELT LIKE THEY BELONGED ON THE COURT, or showed any signs of it, their offense would be a lot better, just like it was the last two times they played Orlando in the regular season, regardless of them losing one of those.

We did play them pretty well the last couple of games, but all season long our offense has struggled against the top defensive teams.

I agree that they're stressed and it's absolutely affecting our offense...but I don't know that that's the "end all/be all" of why we're struggling.

[Counturakt]

Lol at that guy blaming "energy" on the argument.

Orlando's defense basically forces you baseline by clogging the paint and funnels you into Howard either forcing you into a tough shot that is likely to be blocked or contested; or make tough passes which results in turnovers.

It has nothing to do with energy. The offense just sucks. How do you think you lost to them 3-1 during the regular season?

Another big problem is outside shooting. Only threat is DJ Augustin. You aren't going to win a playoff game with DJ Augustin.

[teej]

You aren't going to win a playoff game with DJ Augustin.

Thank God someone sees that, even if you're a Magic fan.

DJ is not an NBA point guard, much less a threat to any good team. His peak is Matt Carroll...

[SWedd523]

Lol at that guy blaming "energy" on the argument.

Orlando's defense basically forces you baseline by clogging the paint and funnels you into Howard either forcing you into a tough shot that is likely to be blocked or contested; or make tough passes which results in turnovers.

It has nothing to do with energy. The offense just sucks. How do you think you lost to them 3-1 during the regular season?

Another big problem is outside shooting. Only threat is DJ Augustin. You aren't going to win a playoff game with DJ Augustin.

Not that i'm disputing your point or anything but just for the sake of curiosity who are you a fan of, the Magic?

[Counturakt]

If I were to be completely honest I love both teams (although I have to like the Magic more). Charlotte is my home team, but I enjoy watching the Magic more.