Game Thread: Charlotte Bobcats at Indiana Pacers 12/10

[ziggy]

The Indiana Pacers are an interesting team, they are:

.500 at home
.500 on the road
.500 over their last 10 games
.500 within their division

So, I guess our chances of getting a win tonight are about... .500

Will it happen?

[BlockParty]

Hopefully someone on the Bobcats staff will identify guarding the 3 point shot as a priority. Indiana is 42-100 in the last 4 games from behind the arc. I really don't want to give them an extra 10 points just because of Larry's lack of acceptance that the 3 point line IS part of today's NBA game.

Stat from: http://www.nba.com/pacers/news/notes.pdf

[teej]

Given that this team has a .500 chance of showing up, and that Indy wins .500 of their games no matter what, I'm going to place our odds of winning tonight at 25%.

[ohara831]

Fought bravely, but we were bested. Oh well.

[BlockParty]

LB's post game comments very telling:

"we don't share the ball"
"we don't trust each other"
"Jack is only one that passed the ball tonight"
"we aren't a .500 team"
"we don't set picks for each other"

Hmm Larry...usually it's the coaches role to make all of those things happen. I understand the players execute and the coach isn't on the court, but it's the coaches job to motivate the personalities he has (not just the ones he wants to have).

[ohara831]

LB forgot to mention : We get out coached every damn game!

[Toocool]

Show up one game, get blown away the next. McGuire got 23 minutes...wtf!

[Fred Williamson]

Why THE F*CK is McGuire getting 25minutes?

Fire LB now.

[spectre]

LB's post game comments very telling:

"we don't share the ball"
"we don't trust each other"
"Jack is only one that passed the ball tonight"
"we aren't a .500 team"
"we don't set picks for each other"

Hmm Larry...usually it's the coaches role to make all of those things happen. I understand the players execute and the coach isn't on the court, but it's the coaches job to motivate the personalities he has (not just the ones he wants to have).

It's the coaches' job to motivate them and make all that other happen? This isn't junior high school!

I understand everyone wants LB gone...but these players have at least some responsibility (I'd say more than "some"). They know what they're supposed to do...all the starters were here last year.

Just a few days ago I saw this same team play Denver just like they were the team from last year. Last night they again reverted to the Sam Vincent era. That's the guys on the court...not Larry Brown. They're being lazy and selfish and like LB said they're not trusting each other on defense.

But why are they being this way? Crash & Jax aren't slackers. Crash has never been a stellar perimeter defender...but never THIS bad.

When Livingston was in the game in the 4th and we were making that comeback our D was MUCH better. Without replay I can't really tell...but are they "cheating" when DJ is in from a perception that he's going to get beat thus leaving their guy more open and the fact that we don't have a defensive C to cover it?

For a few sets I made a point of just focusing on Crash on defense and he was continually sagging off his man in order to protect against penetration...and he'd get burned for it.

I think we need a defensive C who can protect the rim for starters. IMO until we get that we're going to continue to look dysfunctional. We also need DJ to be a helluva lot more aggressive than he has been. He does it for 2-3 minute stretches during the game but we need MUCH more from that outta him.

He wanted this team...make it yours dude.

We need to make some changes badly or we need to hit "reset". Jordan set us back with his cost saving moves (LOL!) this offseason. If he wants to save this season then he needs to do something about our lack at C...and I mean yesterday.

[spectre]

http://www.rufusonfire.com/2010/12/10/1869130/bobcats-lose-to-pacers-again-100-92-death-by-three-pointers#comments

Is DJ's poor defense why we're not defending the 3 well? (http://www.rufusonfire.com/2010/12/10/1869130/bobcats-lose-to-pacers-again-100-92-death-by-three-pointers#)

Is it that guys keep coming over to help him, leaving their man open on the perimeter?
on behalf of tha dirty south: soul food, carolina blue, southern hospitality, and tha queen city


by southtunnel (http://www.sbnation.com/users/southtunnel) on Dec 10, 2010 8:52 PM PST (http://www.rufusonfire.com/2010/12/10/1869130/bobcats-lose-to-pacers-again-100-92-death-by-three-pointers#54155637) up (http://www.rufusonfire.com/2010/12/10/1869130/bobcats-lose-to-pacers-again-100-92-death-by-three-pointers#) reply (http://www.rufusonfire.com/2010/12/10/1869130/bobcats-lose-to-pacers-again-100-92-death-by-three-pointers#) actions (http://www.rufusonfire.com/2010/12/10/1869130/bobcats-lose-to-pacers-again-100-92-death-by-three-pointers#)




Bingo (http://www.rufusonfire.com/2010/12/10/1869130/bobcats-lose-to-pacers-again-100-92-death-by-three-pointers#)


by Bring Back Primoz (http://www.sbnation.com/users/Bring%20Back%20Primoz) on Dec 10, 2010 9:00 PM PST (http://www.rufusonfire.com/2010/12/10/1869130/bobcats-lose-to-pacers-again-100-92-death-by-three-pointers#54155963) up (http://www.rufusonfire.com/2010/12/10/1869130/bobcats-lose-to-pacers-again-100-92-death-by-three-pointers#) reply (http://www.rufusonfire.com/2010/12/10/1869130/bobcats-lose-to-pacers-again-100-92-death-by-three-pointers#) actions (http://www.rufusonfire.com/2010/12/10/1869130/bobcats-lose-to-pacers-again-100-92-death-by-three-pointers#)
http://cdn0.sbnation.com/profile_images/269105/Smile_small.jpeg (http://www.sbnation.com/users/Newsinz) I'm not buying that (http://www.rufusonfire.com/2010/12/10/1869130/bobcats-lose-to-pacers-again-100-92-death-by-three-pointers#)

Opposing teams are hitting 3s from all over the court, from many different players. Are ALL five opponents on the court D.J.‘s responsibility? And what about when he’s on the bench? The 3s don’t stop falling when D.J. takes a breather.
I’m not saying that Augustin’s biggest weakness by far isn’t his defense; it’s definitely public enemy #1, followed by his tendency to not look for his shot (I think any game where he takes less than 10 shots is a tragedy). However, to suggest that the reason our opponents light up the box score from beyond the arc night after night is because he alone doesn’t guard well enough would be throwing him under the bus…again.
Thank you, San Francisco!


by Newsinz (http://www.sbnation.com/users/Newsinz) on Dec 10, 2010 9:15 PM PST (http://www.rufusonfire.com/2010/12/10/1869130/bobcats-lose-to-pacers-again-100-92-death-by-three-pointers#54156627) up (http://www.rufusonfire.com/2010/12/10/1869130/bobcats-lose-to-pacers-again-100-92-death-by-three-pointers#) reply (http://www.rufusonfire.com/2010/12/10/1869130/bobcats-lose-to-pacers-again-100-92-death-by-three-pointers#) actions (http://www.rufusonfire.com/2010/12/10/1869130/bobcats-lose-to-pacers-again-100-92-death-by-three-pointers#) 1 recs


It's more the fact that our other defenders are hanging back in the paint per LB's orders. (http://www.rufusonfire.com/2010/12/10/1869130/bobcats-lose-to-pacers-again-100-92-death-by-three-pointers#)

If you watch the games you will see DJ’s man pass to someone wide open (translation, more than 1 zone coverage assignment away from the person supposedly covering him) and then watch a Bobcats defender come tearing out of the paint in a (usually failed) sudden effort to get out to the line before the guy can release the shot. Keep count for a couple of games. If it happens less than a dozen times per game on average I promise to not mention David Stern’s name for an entire month unless it’s to praise him for the outstanding work he’s doing for the NBA. I’m that certain of it. (Just don’t hold me to the promise. I’m pretty sure an entire month of praising Stern is listed under the “cruel and unusual punishment” restrictions in the documents of the Geneva Convention.)
Proud member of the creative team bringing you the Trade Street Post, the latest member of the Bobcats blog family.


by Ourdaywillcome (http://www.sbnation.com/users/Ourdaywillcome) on Dec 10, 2010 10:49 PM PST (http://www.rufusonfire.com/2010/12/10/1869130/bobcats-lose-to-pacers-again-100-92-death-by-three-pointers#54160331) up (http://www.rufusonfire.com/2010/12/10/1869130/bobcats-lose-to-pacers-again-100-92-death-by-three-pointers#) reply (http://www.rufusonfire.com/2010/12/10/1869130/bobcats-lose-to-pacers-again-100-92-death-by-three-pointers#) actions (http://www.rufusonfire.com/2010/12/10/1869130/bobcats-lose-to-pacers-again-100-92-death-by-three-pointers#)



The bold is exactly what I was seeing last night.

[SWedd523]

I've seen it night in and night out spectre. Both Pacers games, Milwaukee, etc. DJ will be on his man (like he should) and the guy dribbles to either side and dishes to a wide open man on the wing. EVERY time. It's like the wings are packing the paint trying to help the Center (go figure) but forget that their man dropped 5 three pointers in a row. Oh hai Jodie Meeks.

[BlockParty]

It's the coaches' job to motivate them and make all that other happen? This isn't junior high school!


My point is, at the elite NBA level, even in college, the best coaches are the ones that develop a strategy and sell that strategy to the group of athletes to maximize their efficiency. Many times this season LB almost seems to be pouting, and his attitude and approach seems to have rubbed off on our team leaders.

Should the multi-million dollar athletes show up and give 100% effort every second they are on the court? YES, do they? no (and that's not just a Charlotte thing)...but the coaches obligation is to create an environment where the everyone knows their personal expectations and the team's goal. I just don't get how they can be 'out of synch' all night and it not get corrected during timeouts and halftime.

I've never been in LB's lockerroom, but he just seems to have so much negativity so far this season, I'd be shocked if it hasn't spread into the team's mojo. Much of last season we had Nazr as our only reliable Center, I agree we need something more there, and it makes GW and other over compensate, but I just think Larry could have a better approach. We are getting embarrased by teams with our lackluster 3 point defense and it's the coach's job to have a plan to counter balance that.

[spectre]

My point is, at the elite NBA level, even in college, the best coaches are the ones that develop a strategy and sell that strategy to the group of athletes to maximize their efficiency. Many times this season LB almost seems to be pouting, and his attitude and approach seems to have rubbed off on our team leaders.

Should the multi-million dollar athletes show up and give 100% effort every second they are on the court? YES, do they? no (and that's not just a Charlotte thing)...but the coaches obligation is to create an environment where the everyone knows their personal expectations and the team's goal. I just don't get how they can be 'out of synch' all night and it not get corrected during timeouts and halftime.

I've never been in LB's lockerroom, but he just seems to have so much negativity so far this season, I'd be shocked if it hasn't spread into the team's mojo. Much of last season we had Nazr as our only reliable Center, I agree we need something more there, and it makes GW and other over compensate, but I just think Larry could have a better approach. We are getting embarrased by teams with our lackluster 3 point defense and it's the coach's job to have a plan to counter balance that.

A big part of me commiserates with him. We all know LB isn't the coach when you go thru regression, and he wanted out when the FO let him know that was what we were doing this season. MJ should have just let him go.

That being said, I do agree the coach plays a part...but why is it this team can get up and play such good ball against a semi contending team in Denver but look like a JV squad against the Pacers, Knicks & and ever other team that isn't as good?

That's what I want to know (I have my opinion...). If they can "get up" for Denver they can sure as hell get up for the lesser teams, coach or no.