Respect

[ohara831]

Marc Stein at ESPN came out with the new weekly rankings. He moved the Cats from 25th up to 16th. Finally, we are going to get some respect from the Sports Press. Finally!

[Wallace15]

That's probably the highest we've ever been ranked on ESPN. Hopefully we'll continue to climb the rankings. :afro:

[Wallace15]

http://www.nba.com/powerrankings/

Even more respect. NBA.com has us ranked 11th.

[bobcatsden]

I wish Stein had lauded Richardson's All-Star caliber start, or highlighted Felton's resurgent play at the point, instead of just criticizing our wins.

Still, I agree that it's a sign of respect nonetheless, and I welcome it.

[Dunk]

It's 2 wins. Let's not start sucking each others *#&*#s just yet, gentlemen.

[davcbow]

Ive been saying we are going to make the so called experts eat their words and so far its happening. Please let us stay healthy....... :g:

[dvdbumpus]

Believe me, I'm stoked, but I'm tempering my excitement until December.

If we beat both Phoenix and Boston though, I may move that timeframe up....

[davcbow]

If we beat both Phoenix and Boston; Coach V for president....and Id stand by that 100%.... :biggrin:

[dav7z]

I see us at about 16th . I think 11th is a little high after just two wins. Time will tell who knows we might gell and make some noise. But you guys stay on this band wagon even if we just a 500 team . One thing for sure we getting better.

[123together]

good to see, but we HAVE to play better in the fourth quarter

[dvdbumpus]

good to see, but we HAVE to play better in the fourth quarter


I'm pretty confident we'll improve this as the season goes on. I'm banking it is just the adjustment to the system and the depth usage (or lack there of)

[davcbow]

Really I think the first team got tired and Maimi started their 4th quarter run at the same time. Coach has to start using the back ups more to rest the starters some.... :g:

[Muttley]

At the beginning of the fourth quarter, our line-up was Jeff, JRich, Matt, Ryan and Jared Dudley, and we actually brought our lead to 16. This line-up lasted about four minutes of game time. Then our starters came in and shot 1 of 11 to finish the game. I can understand them being tired, but the big four were sitting for the break between quarters, and the first four minutes of the fourth quarter.
Now, yes, Vincent should sprinkle some benchers' PT in throughout the game a little bit more. He seems more inclined to go with an entire second string, from what I've seen. However, the starters got a huge break before the last leg of the game. They came in and did not play all that well. We were able to hit key free throws when we weren't hitting from the floor and eked out a win.
My point is, it probably was an issue of being tired. However, I feel it's more of an issue of Vincent spreading out the substitutions and doing it earlier.

[davcbow]

J- Rich 43:53
Felts 42:01
Wallace 40:23
Oka4 38:31

I can see them gettting tired.... :g:

[ohara831]

J- Rich 43:53
Felts 42:01
Wallace 40:23
Oka4 38:31

I can see them gettting tired.... :g:
_______________________________________________

Exactly my point. If they keep it up because we don't use out bench, sure we stay up high in the Division for 2/3 of the year, but the last 1/3 we plummet because the starting big 4 are just exhausted. If we made the Playoffs, they would be too tired to perform well and it's one Series and home. I would rather lose a few of the games along the way, slip into the playoffs, but have a rather strong and somewhat fresh starting big 4 to play a Series. We could win.

Just looking at the big picture. In know we have 80 games to go. Don't scold me too bad.

[spectre]

From Bonnell's latest blog:


Vincent is playing three of his starters -- Raymond Felton, Gerald Wallace and Jason Richardson -- 40 minutes or more per game, and Emeka Okafor is close at 38 per game. Vincent knows that can't last all season -- he'll burn them out -- but he says for now, it's essential to a fast start. The Bobcats must have a productive November and December, because they play 26 of their last 41 on the road this season, due to all the college basketball in the arena in February and March. The only other team in the league with three players averaging 40 or more minutes is Boston (Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen).

If the bench would step it up DEFENSIVELY I think they'd get more burn. By using Touche' to bolster the backcourt defense it looks to me that's Coach V's biggest concern.

[chabber]

Definitely. I think we're getting a grasp of what Coach V wants out of this team. If your not playing decent defense then your probably not going to play much.

With that on our minds, maybe we should have looked more in Charlie Bells direction as FA started instead of Carroll's. I'm all for rewarding a player and Carroll is a great guy but he doesn't bring anything different than what J Rich does. Bell plays decent defense, can shoot and can play a bit of PG. You'd have to think he would have been a better fit on our team than Matt especially with his versatility.

[dav7z]

Didn't we sign Matt befor we signed Coach V, If thats his style of play we need to try to move Fabio if we can. Might even need to move Matt.
Fabio and a 1st or a 2nd might get Frye.
Or a Fabio and a D A. might get it done

[chabber]

Ha, good one Dav I don't even remember.....you've got me questioning this now.

I think he was with the team. Yes he was actually. He was the one running draft workouts with the soon to be rookies and he was also at the Orlando minicamp where some guy at RealGM got to eavesdrop on some of our managements off-season talks over dinner two nights in a row.

So yeah he would have been with the team before we signed back Matt.

If coach is too concerned with Fabio's defense than I can understand moving him. I still like the match up problems he can create on the offensive side of the ball though even if he is a liability on defense. I'd probably move Carroll first if I had a choice. Obviously our biggest hole is PF and even a backup PF/C but after that I think it's probably pretty close between a good perimeter defender and backup PG.

[davcbow]

He had that one good game during the pre season he got all those rebounds and hasnt hardly played since.... I dont get it..... :g: