April 20, 2012-41.2 Left to Go in the 4th Quarter

[Black]

Mullens and Biyombo were just responsible for the best moment of the season for me. Both picked up technical fouls for standing their ground. Charlotte should have won this game.

I'm glad they haven't quit in a season when I couldn't blame them if they did.

Go Bobcats.

[The Milk]

I was cheering that's for DAMN sure. I feel we got robbed on that Bismack block that was a "foul"

[dnbman]

The end was incredibly disheartening. Guys gave it their all the whole evening. You could tell they were tired and frustrated. And then things just don't go there way. Lots of small mistakes that added up.

Still thought it was a great game. Fantastic effort by the Bobcats. Hated the ending, except Hendo almost pulling off the incredible upset and the squaring off, which was actually nice to see!

Also, at risk of sounding like a homer, I'll take Hendo over Mayo all day.

[cltblkhscoach]

I loved the fight of the guys at the end especially. Little foreshadowing to the future with Bismack showing he's not going to take shit off anyone messing with his teammates. Hendo really stepped up and played like the alpha male we all want him to become tonight. Was really leading the guys throughout the whole game, really encouraging to see....

[Scottley Crue]

I was thrilled to see them both stand up for themselves and each other. Absolutely loved it, actually. No need to take that silly junk from people.

The team had great energy, effort and (literally) fight in them tonight. I loved seeing all of that and was excited that the guys who will have large roles next year (basically, the starting 5) were so invested in a spot that would make it hard for many to do so. It certainly makes me excited about the future of this team knowing effort like that is already here.

[WAM9]

I agree 100% with you guys.

Mully had no choice in his involvement (though he certainly didn't back down) as Speights walked right into his grill but Bismack had every choice available. Not only did he step in for his team mate but then he didn't take anything from Gay. I don't think Gay was really looking to start anything but you know how stars are as far as them feeling like they should be involved in everything that happens. I did think that Gay was completely surprised that Smack pushed him back and told him not to f'ing touch me again!

I also didn't see anyone rushing into Bismack's face. Looks like they already might know better. If they didn't, they are starting to find out. All these little incidents like this are setting a tone for the type of player he is going to become. I am certainly looking forward watching the whole thing! What a stud.

[spectre]

With so much going against us I was thrilled it stayed as close as it did. Props to everyone, and esp. Hendo. Keep it up fella.

UPS is really growing with all these minutes. I'd love for Smack to take note of how he always looks to finish with a slam and be determined to do the same.

[dnbman]

I'd love for Smack to take note of how he always looks to finish with a slam and be determined to do the same.

Yeah, he was pretty hesitant when he got the ball. When he took it strong to the rack, he usually got fouled. We need him to try and score to keep the D honest.

Mullens was attacking fairly hard too. That was great to see.

[WAM9]

UPS is really growing with all these minutes. I'd love for Smack to take note of how he always looks to finish with a slam and be determined to do the same.

I fully agree with both of these points. Brown was frustrating me at times this season but lately, I love what I see from him. If Smack would just decide to dunk everything, we would be a better team short term but him developing an offense, especially at 19 years old, is the way I want things to go. If he can't develop one, then I am all for him dunking everything.

[spectre]

What do you guys think of them lately harping on Smack being a 4? I think this coaching group concerns themselves way too much with position. Work on his strengths first...like the "Hulk Smash" idea being the first thought in his mind when he gets it point blank. Continue to work on that baby hook he has that looks so promising and also focus hard on the FT line.

Lord knows we have a plethora of midrange jump shooters. I don't mind him taking one a time or two (like last night...he has to if the D is sagging so far off him when he's around the FT line), but I want him to develop into a stud where the men are.

[dnbman]

What do you guys think of them lately harping on Smack being a 4? I think this coaching group concerns themselves way too much with position. Work on his strengths first...like the "Hulk Smash" idea being the first thought in his mind when he gets it point blank. Continue to work on that baby hook he has that looks so promising and also focus hard on the FT line.

I think you need to let him "Hulk Smash" just because you want the game to be natural. You don't want a guy like him being tentative and trying to think so much. I think you're right: the kid is young and raw, and we need to slowly bring in major concepts and let him make those an automatic part of his game.

Case in point: the turnover last night where he held the ball too long, put it over his head and got stripped. That should either be a quick pass back or a quick back down. But you could tell on that play and many others that he was trying to think too much. I feel O.K. about it, because I can see that BB is trying to learn and be a better player. However, I don't want to mess up his head or take his edge away.

[WAM9]

I just see no need to really box him into being one position or another but I personally consider him a 5 all the way.

[QC Thundercats]

This little dust up was one of the few highlights of the year. Although nothing happened, it at least showed me that we've got guys that won't get punked and aren't gonna back down (No Carmelo Anthony-like backtracking going on here)
http://img324.imageshack.us/img324/2158/run8ww2.jpg

Its good to know that even though Byron isn't that strong yet, he at least isn't a softy.

http://media.charlotteobserver.com/smedia/2012/04/20/22/42/ETIqg.St.138.jpg

Rudy's lucky he had a whole bunch of people keep him away from Bismack. He would've balled Rudy up like Papa Silas on Tyrus.

[TheBeagle]

What do you guys think of them lately harping on Smack being a 4? I think this coaching group concerns themselves way too much with position. Work on his strengths first...like the "Hulk Smash" idea being the first thought in his mind when he gets it point blank. Continue to work on that baby hook he has that looks so promising and also focus hard on the FT line.

Lord knows we have a plethora of midrange jump shooters. I don't mind him taking one a time or two (like last night...he has to if the D is sagging so far off him when he's around the FT line), but I want him to develop into a stud where the men are.
Yeah, I don't know where this focusing on position is coming from with Silas. Depending on who they play, 4 and 5 are interchangeable based on matchups, so I don't see the reason for classification. If I thought this staff would be here long-term, I'd be a little concerned but they won't be so I don't really give it any credence.

I'd love nothing more than for him to live and breathe in the paint on offense and dominate. I'd like for him to have a 8-10 footer to keep defenders honest but like all great big men, I want him living in the paint.

[Proudiddy]

I love Silas but it has really irked me from day one that they've said Smack should be a 4... I think he will fully capable of playing the 5. Look what he did to Dwight. And as some of you have said, why does he need to be assigned a designated position? Just put him out there and let him matchup.

[SWedd523]

He hasn't said Bismack is a 4 from day one.

"I was playing him at the power forward spot and I had so many guys there," Silas said. "But now he's going to be my backup center. He's going to play there from here on in. He and Byron will share that spot and Byron will start and Bismack will come off the bench."

[Proudiddy]

My point was that he was playing him at 4, then, after the statement you posted, IIRC, he said he will be a 4 in the future. I remember the statement you posted, as we were all excited after he said it. But, IIRC, after that, he said he would put him back at 4, but we were still overloaded at the 4 and there were no real 5s on the team at this point. It seemed he was insinuating that Mullens was the closest to being a 5 and said something about what he had to work on next year, but as it stands, he is a 4.

[SWedd523]

I guess all I'm really trying to say is that whatever Silas says "now" isn't definitive. As of "now" Bismack is a 4, but that could change depending on how he develops. He's still too young to be put into a certain position and I think Silas knows that. He's been playing much better these past few games "at the 4" than he was a week or so ago "at the 5".


In other words, don't worry about it

[Plowright]

This is simple guys. Biz is 19 and has just come over internationally, Nobody knows what position he is yet, and hats not a bad thing! Lets just wait and see how he develops, it doesnt really matter right now. Either way he is playing really well.

On a side note...

Apparantly Biz said to Rudy "get out of my house"
Rudy then replied with " You have 7 wins... this is everyones house"

Love Biz but I find that quite funny by Rudy, but good for you for trying to give bizSMACK talk

[Black]

This is simple guys. Biz is 19 and has just come over internationally, Nobody knows what position he is yet, and hats not a bad thing! Lets just wait and see how he develops, it doesnt really matter right now. Either way he is playing really well.

On a side note...

Apparantly Biz said to Rudy "get out of my house"
Rudy then replied with " You have 7 wins... this is everyones house"

Love Biz but I find that quite funny by Rudy, but good for you for trying to give bizSMACK talk

Honestly pretty funny if true. Bismack needs to learn the proper context in which to say "get out of my house". He'll learn....he'll learn...

[teej]

Better to be overzealous on defending yourself than to be a pussy, like our previous power forward.

Loved seeing that from both of them, the four future guys (Biz, Kemba, Byron and Hendo) and maybe UPS too seem to have a chemistry no one else on the team does.

[Black]

Better to be overzealous on defending yourself than to be a pussy, like our previous power forward.

Loved seeing that from both of them, the four future guys (Biz, Kemba, Byron and Hendo) and maybe UPS too seem to have a chemistry no one else on the team does.

I agree with all five. DJ seems distant for some reason.