Bobcats make ESPN.com Most Improved list

[Dead_Real]

http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/insider/columns/story?columnist=hollinger_john&id=2940622&action=login&appRedirect=http%3a%2f%2finsider.espn.go.com%2fnba %2finsider%2fcolumns%2fstory%3fcolumnist%3dholling er_john%26id%3d2940622

2. Charlotte Bobcats
(added Jason Richardson and Jared Dudley; lost Brevin Knight; replaced Bernie Bickerstaff with Sam Vincent)

While cynics will claim that frugal Bobcats owner Robert Johnson only signed off on the Richardson deal because he had to get over the minimum salary floor, there's no question that the deal addressed a huge weakness that has plagued the Cats throughout their existence.

Richardson is a reliable scorer and rebounder -- one that will help push rookie bust Adam Morrison out of the rotation if he struggles again -- and gives the Bobcats a much-needed go-to guy late in games. It also allows sharpshooter Matt Carroll to shift to a more suitable sixth man role, where his defensive shortcomings won't be so glaring. As a late first-rounder, Dudley could be surprisingly effective too -- don't be shocked if he's earning important minutes by season's end. Add it up and a playoff run doesn't seem far-fetched at all.
Good to finally see us get some recognition from the media I just wish we would stop hearing about how "cheap" Johnson is after the moves he's made so far this offseason other then that good read though.

[Mustachio]

that bob johnson being cheap will stick with us forever. but in reality it would be stupid to spend tons of
money in the first few years of a franchise... so whatever.

[123together]

nice to see the cats get some press especially positive. stephen a. smith is stupid and his brain is the size of a pea. his alma mater is probably ashamed of him haha

[Bobcat Matt]

It's definitely a tired gripe on Johnson...When did he act cheap? When he paid 300 million for the team? He was smart and didn't overpay for someone who couldn't help us in years 1,2,3. He waited until the right opportunity came along to spend. The "cheap" label was unfair from the get go. Nice work by Michael, Bernie, Rod, etc. this off-season, I love all the moves made. It instantly puts us in the playoff hunt. Stephen A. Idiot should be fired if we make the playoffs. Golden State took a step back trading away J-Rich for brace-face Wright, who could possibly become a bust.

[ALong13]

I'm a bit tired, but is my eyes right when I see the Bobcats getting postive publicity? Nice to see for once...

[Alex]

I mean it's nice and all that we're getting positive publicity but after all it is coming from Hollinger who is absolutely brain dead.

[timang]

we may not care much about it, but we're now actually being watched out for...
and that's good to hear.

we knew this was coming. (or at least i suppose :biggrin:)

[ziggy]

It's definitely a tired gripe on Johnson...When did he act cheap? When he paid 300 million for the team? He was smart and didn't overpay for someone who couldn't help us in years 1,2,3. He waited until the right opportunity came along to spend. The "cheap" label was unfair from the get go. Nice work by Michael, Bernie, Rod, etc. this off-season, I love all the moves made. It instantly puts us in the playoff hunt. Stephen A. Idiot should be fired if we make the playoffs. Golden State took a step back trading away J-Rich for brace-face Wright, who could possibly become a bust.


Good Post and Welcome to the board.
Big Money Bob proved to people that he wasn't a cheapskate with the money that he spent this offseason. Unfortunately it'll take some time for the media to realize that fact.

[Slam]

Maybe I'm a little single minded, but I would consider adding Jrich, Duds, Davidson and resigning Crash and the Hammer to long term, reasonable deals while not really giving anything up (we lost BK and Jake I guess) should put us at the top of the pile.

Above the Rockets that's for sure

[Mustachio]

your right Bigslam...

say your a new york knicks fan, with our lineup going into this offseason....

then you add a potential Allstar in Jrich, a great ACC player in dudley, resign a great sixth man shooter in Carroll and lock up Crash... it would be number one on that list by a long shot.

[TheBeagle]

I agree. The entirety of ESPN proclaimed the Knicks as having the greatest draft outside of Portland, and this is basically what they did:

1. Get rid of Francis's ridiculous contract, which is a very good thing.

2. Acquire Zach Randolph and a couple other throw-ins, while having to give up Channing Frye. I understand you have to give up something to get something, but getting a highly-questionable player in terms of character and motivation with a hefty price tag to boot almost nullifies the casting away of Francis. Plus, I'm skeptical on how he and Curry will work together.

3. Drafted a fellow from DePaul. Nothing exceptional here.


Compare this to our draft and, to anyone with basketball common sense, there is no question we had the better draft. Not even close.

It's simply that we will never get the respect or the attention of any of the bigger market teams. Thankfully, respect or attention never won a basketball game: effort, teamwork, and talent do that, and we've added to those components considerably this off-season. I'm happy with our status; if ESPN or The Sporting News don't like it, they only come off looking all the more ignorant.

[Slam]

I honeslty can't wait until we start crushing teams this coming season and really putting on a show playing some fun basketball (some where between the style of the Suns and the Raps) so jack arses like SAS can eat crow.

We are about to announce ourselves to the NBA!!

WHAT A FREAKING SEASON WE ARE ABOUT TO HAVE!!