spectre
10-26-2007, 10:53 AM
By: Eric Pincus (http://www.hoopsworld.com/Story.asp?STORY_ID=5776)
With the season opener not until November 2nd, misfortune struck the Charlotte Bobcats very early.  First came news forward Sean May (13th pick in the 2005 draft) needed microfracture knee surgery.  Next Adam Morrison (3rd pick in the 2006 draft) went down with a torn ACL playing in Los Angeles against the Lakers. 
Just like that the team would have two lottery picks go down for the entire season.
Taking the reins as a first-time coach was not going to be easy for Sam Vincent, but the journey just got a lot more complicated. 
Last season the Charlotte Bobcats finished with a 33-49 record under the experienced coaching of Bernie Bickerstaff.  On paper the roster has since improved with the addition of Jason Richardson, acquired on a draft-day trade from the Golden State Warriors.
Unfortunately Vincent suddenly has a very thin front-court as the veteran Othella Harrington also struggles to fully recover from knee problems coming off summer surgery.
Of Harrington, Vincent told the Charlotte Observer, "I anticipate that his body has just gotten to the point where he just can't physically do it anymore."
If it proves that Harrington, too, is done for the year (which may be presumptive at this point) the Bobcats would be able to petition the league for a special exemption to add a 16th player to the roster.  For now it would appear the team is locked in with 15 guaranteed contracts despite the need for size.
Prior to Morrison's injury, Vincent was optimistic as he spoke to HOOPSWORLD in Los Angeles.
"We're continuing to evaluate our team.  We feel like we've made some pretty good steps from the beginning of preseason to this point.  We're still trying to improve defensively," said Vincent.  "We're kind of still in that identification process of getting a feel for what different guys can do in different situations."
Just as the returning players work to add in the newcomers (Jermareo Davidson, Jared Dudley and Richardson), a brand new coaching staff is intently focused on getting the team prepared for the coming season.
"It's been great," said Vincent.  "Obviously it is challenging working with new guys; working with new coaches; putting in new systems; dealing with the speed and the pace at which things happen at the NBA level.  All in all it's why you work hard . . . coaching at the highest level with the best players in the world."
In adding Richardson, the Bobcats boast two explosive wing players (Wallace) who excel at a fast-paced game.
"I'm adjusting pretty well," said Richardson.  "The style of play is pretty much the same.  We're a running team just like it was up in Golden State."
The Bobcats may have no choice but to play a fast style with Emeka Okafor as the only true inside presence.  Still, it's been difficult for the Okafor to find his way this preseason.
"We haven't been able to get Emeka going yet," said Vincent.  "But we're still confident that at some point Emeka will kick in.  He'll give us more scoring and give us more rebounding in the post."
Although the Bobcats (2-5) lost their last game to the Phoenix Suns, Okafor finally broke out with a double-double (17 points, 12 rebounds).
Despite the injuries, Richardson shares Vincent's positive outlook.
"I'm very optimistic.  The guys are working hard and whenever you've got a group that's talented that also works hard – you have a chance to win games," said Richardson.  "We'll go out and we'll be a team that competes and competes hard.  As we improve our execution we'll become better - but we'll always be a team that plays hard."
Both Wallace and Richardson have been strong throughout the preseason but with Morrison going down Matt Carroll is the only other Bobcat averaging double figures (10.3 ppg).  Along with Okafor, Raymond Felton has not had a strong showing yet.
In addition, neither Jeff McInnis nor even Derek Anderson has been able to fill the shoes of the departed Brevin Knight, one of the better backup point guards in the league.
"We've got to continue to improve.  Defensively we're not quite where we want to be yet," admitted Vincent.  "I think we've gotten better from our first preseason game to this point but we haven't shown the consistency that we need to show.  Offensively we're still getting a feel for different guys in different situations."
To date the Bobcats have never made the postseason.  The roster as it stands depleted could use another big man and another young point to develop behind Felton.
"We have a little ways to go but we're further than we expected," said Richardson.  "We've struggled a little bit getting to know each other and what Coach Vincent wants us to do – but I think we're pretty much ahead of schedule."
As Vincent learns on the fly, the team won't necessarily have the firm, experienced leadership they had in Bickerstaff. 
"Right now, because there's so much newness with the staff and players, we're using this time to get a feel for each other," said Vincent.  "Offensively some of the things that we're doing are different systems so we have to get our guys accustomed to that.  Defensively this team has always played hard but we're trying to look at some deferent things there as well."
Long-term there is a lot to be excited about in Charlotte.  They have some athletic, talented pieces and they have a confident, respected coach in Sam Vincent.
Unfortunately, with the natural adjustment period coupled with a number of serious injuries, the coming season may be a setback for the Bobcats.
Then again, the players might not see it that way.
"We have a great young team," said Richardson.  "We have a good opportunity to make the playoffs this year, surprise a lot of people and do a lot great things for the City of Charlotte."
Not anything new really, but this a nice compilation of what Coach V and Jason Richardson are thinking thru the preseason.
With the season opener not until November 2nd, misfortune struck the Charlotte Bobcats very early.  First came news forward Sean May (13th pick in the 2005 draft) needed microfracture knee surgery.  Next Adam Morrison (3rd pick in the 2006 draft) went down with a torn ACL playing in Los Angeles against the Lakers. 
Just like that the team would have two lottery picks go down for the entire season.
Taking the reins as a first-time coach was not going to be easy for Sam Vincent, but the journey just got a lot more complicated. 
Last season the Charlotte Bobcats finished with a 33-49 record under the experienced coaching of Bernie Bickerstaff.  On paper the roster has since improved with the addition of Jason Richardson, acquired on a draft-day trade from the Golden State Warriors.
Unfortunately Vincent suddenly has a very thin front-court as the veteran Othella Harrington also struggles to fully recover from knee problems coming off summer surgery.
Of Harrington, Vincent told the Charlotte Observer, "I anticipate that his body has just gotten to the point where he just can't physically do it anymore."
If it proves that Harrington, too, is done for the year (which may be presumptive at this point) the Bobcats would be able to petition the league for a special exemption to add a 16th player to the roster.  For now it would appear the team is locked in with 15 guaranteed contracts despite the need for size.
Prior to Morrison's injury, Vincent was optimistic as he spoke to HOOPSWORLD in Los Angeles.
"We're continuing to evaluate our team.  We feel like we've made some pretty good steps from the beginning of preseason to this point.  We're still trying to improve defensively," said Vincent.  "We're kind of still in that identification process of getting a feel for what different guys can do in different situations."
Just as the returning players work to add in the newcomers (Jermareo Davidson, Jared Dudley and Richardson), a brand new coaching staff is intently focused on getting the team prepared for the coming season.
"It's been great," said Vincent.  "Obviously it is challenging working with new guys; working with new coaches; putting in new systems; dealing with the speed and the pace at which things happen at the NBA level.  All in all it's why you work hard . . . coaching at the highest level with the best players in the world."
In adding Richardson, the Bobcats boast two explosive wing players (Wallace) who excel at a fast-paced game.
"I'm adjusting pretty well," said Richardson.  "The style of play is pretty much the same.  We're a running team just like it was up in Golden State."
The Bobcats may have no choice but to play a fast style with Emeka Okafor as the only true inside presence.  Still, it's been difficult for the Okafor to find his way this preseason.
"We haven't been able to get Emeka going yet," said Vincent.  "But we're still confident that at some point Emeka will kick in.  He'll give us more scoring and give us more rebounding in the post."
Although the Bobcats (2-5) lost their last game to the Phoenix Suns, Okafor finally broke out with a double-double (17 points, 12 rebounds).
Despite the injuries, Richardson shares Vincent's positive outlook.
"I'm very optimistic.  The guys are working hard and whenever you've got a group that's talented that also works hard – you have a chance to win games," said Richardson.  "We'll go out and we'll be a team that competes and competes hard.  As we improve our execution we'll become better - but we'll always be a team that plays hard."
Both Wallace and Richardson have been strong throughout the preseason but with Morrison going down Matt Carroll is the only other Bobcat averaging double figures (10.3 ppg).  Along with Okafor, Raymond Felton has not had a strong showing yet.
In addition, neither Jeff McInnis nor even Derek Anderson has been able to fill the shoes of the departed Brevin Knight, one of the better backup point guards in the league.
"We've got to continue to improve.  Defensively we're not quite where we want to be yet," admitted Vincent.  "I think we've gotten better from our first preseason game to this point but we haven't shown the consistency that we need to show.  Offensively we're still getting a feel for different guys in different situations."
To date the Bobcats have never made the postseason.  The roster as it stands depleted could use another big man and another young point to develop behind Felton.
"We have a little ways to go but we're further than we expected," said Richardson.  "We've struggled a little bit getting to know each other and what Coach Vincent wants us to do – but I think we're pretty much ahead of schedule."
As Vincent learns on the fly, the team won't necessarily have the firm, experienced leadership they had in Bickerstaff. 
"Right now, because there's so much newness with the staff and players, we're using this time to get a feel for each other," said Vincent.  "Offensively some of the things that we're doing are different systems so we have to get our guys accustomed to that.  Defensively this team has always played hard but we're trying to look at some deferent things there as well."
Long-term there is a lot to be excited about in Charlotte.  They have some athletic, talented pieces and they have a confident, respected coach in Sam Vincent.
Unfortunately, with the natural adjustment period coupled with a number of serious injuries, the coming season may be a setback for the Bobcats.
Then again, the players might not see it that way.
"We have a great young team," said Richardson.  "We have a good opportunity to make the playoffs this year, surprise a lot of people and do a lot great things for the City of Charlotte."
Not anything new really, but this a nice compilation of what Coach V and Jason Richardson are thinking thru the preseason.