Revised Expectations?

[ReesieNCPantherCatfan1]

I don't want to be pessimistic, but I am thinking our best case NOW is an 8 seed and a good post player in the middle of the draft (crossing my fingers for Hansbrough or Hibbert to fall to us) Before the injuries to May and Ammo I was optomistic for a 6 seed in the east and making it to the 2nd round of the playoffs. Now I will view the season as a success if we make it to the playoffs at all. Anybody else revising their expectations?

[dnbman]

I'm keeping my expectations in check.

Getting to the playoffs and making a run takes so many things to go your way. It's not simply a matter of getting some talent together.

I think I had marginal expectations of the playoffs when Morrison and May were still options. Now, I think we're a real iffy team.

Consider this: we'll likely be more respected as an opponent and other teams are better. We won't be pulling of many sneaky wins like we did last year. I'm also not sure we'll get any tanked games like the end of last year when teams were losing to get Oden or Durant.

I'm optimistic, but I understand that teams have growing pains. When you change the coaching staff and add a new centerpiece to the equation, you're bound to have some issues along the way.

The good thing is, we'll be a much more exciting team to watch, even if it only translates into minor gains in the win column.

[ALong13]

My expectations have fallen a bit considering the losses we've had, I still think an 8 seed is possibile, but I don't think it is as likely to get it this year. Trust Me, I believe we can do it, but until we get the PF/C positions figured out, I don't think we'll do so well...

[twebb]

I don't think we'll have anything to worry about. Just let Richardson grow in our system and find a good starting 5 and we'll be in the playoffs no problem.

[ziggy]

As long as our big 3 of Emeka / Crash / J-Rich stay healthy then I'll also keep my expectations at the same high level.

It hurts for Ammo to be out for the season but I'm confident that the other wings that will be coming off the bench will step up.

[dav7z]

Nice topic and welcome to Bobcatsplanet . I have more of a concern about the players and this new system and how the players jell. Dean Smith , and Coach K both had losing seasons thair first year . Coach K all most lost his job imagine that. Losing Morrison hurts some what dept wize . But it might help in the long run as Crash and Rich have more court time to jell.Total wins about the same.

[spectre]

Nice timing on K & Smith's 1st years. Look at Smitch in Toronto...this past season's Coach of the Year. He comes in, matches the previous seasons win total (around 33), then has a worse record of around 27...everyone and their Canadian cousin is calling for his head. In rides Colangelo, brings in a couple of bigs to pair with his all star, gets a quality 2 in Parker and voila...the talk of the NBA.

Expecting V to miraculously gel this team without any bigs other than Mek whle implementing a new system is very shortsighted. That being said I think within 10 or 20 games we'll be firing on all cylinders.

I've lowered my expectations from 4th seed to 7th or 8th. I didn't want to, but without getting another big I don't see us consistently winning enough THIS YEAR to quite pull that one off yet.

[123together]

hey if we have another bad year because of injuries i wouldn't be suprised. however, if wallace, okafor and richardson play 65+ games TOGETHER, they should still challenge for a playoff spot. the key is felton, if he takes his game to the next level, we will be in the playoffs.

but if felton remains constant and okafor, wallace, or richardson miss extended time, its back to the lottery for us, which may not necessarily be horrible considering another strong freshman class is supposed to leave early

[Chris#3]

Honestly, I think we are not going to make the playoffs. People might hate me for what i'm about explain but i'm going to break it down(like I always do) and show why: 1. We have a LAME starting center who could barely grab rebounds or play D. *sigh* 2. Ray-Ray is inconsistent and can't find his shots which will lead to poor FG %. The key to winning games is a good RELIABLE PG. 3. No decent backup PG. Mccinis is a bum. What has he done in his career? Seriously? I'd rather have BK. He's decent.

[TheBeagle]

Unfortunately, I don't see many teams worse than us in the east. As of now, I see us last in the southeast with Indiana, New York, and possibly Philly, Atlanta, and Milwaukee finishing with us at the bottom. I actually see us better than more West. conference teams than East. I think we're better than Minnesota, Portland, Seattle, and Clippers, hands-down, and possibly better than Sacramento.

That said, we won't be the only team with injuries, so some of the borderline teams could fall down with us, and we could have a miracle and have no more injuries to our team, and we could sneak in. As of this moment, though, as rosters being what they are, we aren't in the playoffs.

[davcbow]

I just hope for the best. When this team is in pain, so am I. I think if the players we have left play at the top of their games we can do alright this year. If we lose anybody else and I pray we dont, things will be difficult. Please stay healthy guys..... :g:

[qchoops]

I just finished up a team preview on my site - http://www.queencityhoops.com/BobcatsPreview0708.php. I put us in the playoffs...if Emeka, Gerald, Jason, and Ray play at least 60 games together. This team is very similar to the team that finished last season playing good (nearly .500) basketball - no May, less Ammo (a lot less now), and more Walter. Add Jason Richardson to the mix and this team can win. It just remains to be seen if it can be healthy enough to do it.
Michee - Ray can actually get decent shots, getting to the rim fairly well - he just can't make a layup when he gets there - he shot only 45.5% on "close shots" (33% of his shots) last season - compare that to T.J. Ford, who shot 52.5% from close (31% of his attempts). That's a big difference, and I have to think it is something that he can make some improvement on.

[spectre]

I just finished up a team preview on my site - http://www.queencityhoops.com/BobcatsPreview0708.php. I put us in the playoffs...if Emeka, Gerald, Jason, and Ray play at least 60 games together. This team is very similar to the team that finished last season playing good (nearly .500) basketball - no May, less Ammo (a lot less now), and more Walter. Add Jason Richardson to the mix and this team can win. It just remains to be seen if it can be healthy enough to do it.


Brett continued props dude...I really like your site.

This is what everyone seems to keep forgetting...even with the two injuries WE ARE BETTER THAN LAST YEAR. We've added a potential 23/5/3 player at our weakest position and lost Jake Voskuhl. We've added a new coach, yet everyone feels he should come in and rival Avery Johnson's 1st year...only we ain't the Mavericks.

Of course there's going to be adjustment, but there was last year right? Anyone remember how we started out last year in preseason/1st month? Would anyone rather have Bernie's masterful touch at the controls again?

Give 'em a chance.

[Wallace15]

I still think we can make the playoffs. Yeah, we've lost May and Morrison for the year, but think about it. May having surgery is a good thing. Next season he might finally be able to come back and actually make a difference on the team.(If we keep him.) And I feel sorry for Morrison. He didn't deserve an injury like this. He worked so hard in the off-season. Came into TC and Pre-season with a great work ethic and new attitude. I hope he comes back next season and proves everyone wrong that has doubted him, but with losing Morrison's 11 ppg we're gaining J-Rich's anywhere from 16-23 ppg. Even without May and Morrison I still think we're just as good if not better than last year.
In my opinion I think a lot of our success will depend on the play of Felton. If he can finally be consistent with his jump shot and shoot a good % and run the new offense efficently with Crash and JRich beside him then I think we'll be a good team, but if he shoots a bad % and can't run the new offense well then I think we'll stumble at the beginning of the season and we'll never be able to catch back up.
All we need this that one guy, and it's the guy we say we need. It's that 6-9, 6-10 banger that can get boards and play defense. If we just go ahead and release Harrington, and add a big, even if that big is Marc Jackson then I think it'll help our team.

[qchoops]

Marc Jackson is playing on the other side of the Atlantic this coming season - http://sports.aol.com/fanhouse/2007/10/08/europe-takes-marc-jackson-away/

[Wallace15]

Marc Jackson is playing on the other side of the Atlantic this coming season - http://sports.aol.com/fanhouse/2007/10/08/europe-takes-marc-jackson-away/


I wasn't aware of that. My bad.

[Chris#3]

We need a decent starting center. I'd rather have Primoz starting(even though he's not as good as he was back when this franshise started. As for Coach Vincent....I don't know, there's not much to say. We'll see what he does when the season starts. As for Ray~ Ray, he just attempts so many shots and usually have a low FG%. He's looking like Bibby( my fav. PG). Look back at the stats. Don't get me wrong, I like Ray-Ray. If he's shonting 33% inside, then he should find a way to get to the line more.

[ohara831]

I am kind of agreeing with several of the posts, in part. I agree that the 2 KEYS are: A. Oak, Crash and J-Rich have to stay healthy. and B. Ray has to step it up and improve from last season. So far, he seems to have regressed, but that could just be having to learn a new system. Either way, he better find his shot and reduce is TO's or we will not fare as well as expected. IF both A and B occur, I do believe we can still get an 7th - 8th seed. I do think we made a mistake a month ago not being pro-active and seeking a Big by trade to help Oak up front. Now, we do longer have any tradeable expendable assets, so we play the cards in our hand. Finally, unless we are much worse than I expect, I see no chance at Hibbert in the upcoming draft. He will be gone in the top 5. As for Hansbrough, I like his game OK, but absolutely would not take him. There is so much talk and smell of Michael and chronyism that we simply cannot keep drafting Carolina guys. I like them, let me say that up front, but this is not UNC #2. This is the NBA Bobcat team. He has to quit trying to color the team powder blue or he will start to aggravate the fan base with all the Sports talk continuing to discuss his so called "chronyism" . This is so despite his draft and trade of Wright this past draft.

[spectre]

Charlotte Bobcats 2007-08 Season Preview (http://www.miamiherald.com/859/story/281286.html)

OUTLOOK

The Bobcats will be playing meaningful basketball in April. The Eastern Conference is improved and the playoff race should be packed with teams fighting for the seventh and eighth spot. The injury to May hurts, but Charlotte can overcome it.

Richardson and Okafor have to stay healthy, and if that happens the Bobcats could reach the 40-win plateau which may earn them the final berth in the East playoffs.

:rock:

[Wallace15]

Nice preview on us. Good find.

[dav7z]

Very nice read Spectre good find [Rep it up]