Houston Rockets at Charlotte Bobcats 11/11 [Archive]

CaptainCrunch

11-10-2007, 12:04 AM

Houston Rockets (5-1) at Charlotte Bobcats (3-2) 11/09
http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w169/MullikinUSC/pacersclock220by220.jpg at http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w169/MullikinUSC/001bobcats-1.jpg

Game time: 6 p.m. Bobcats Arena
http://www.sportsecyclopedia.com/nba/charlottebob/Bobcatsarena.jpg

Probable Starting Lineups:
PG Rafer Alston 6.7 ppg v.s. Raymond Felton 18.5 ppg
http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w169/MullikinUSC/RaferAlston.jpg v.s. http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w169/MullikinUSC/001ray.jpg
SG Tracy McGrady 27.5 ppg v.s. Jason Richardson 14.0 ppg
http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w169/MullikinUSC/TracyMcGrady.jpg v.s. http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w169/MullikinUSC/jasonrichardson.jpg
SF Shane Battier 9.7 ppg v.s. Gerald Wallace 17.0 ppg
http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w169/MullikinUSC/ShaneBattier.jpg v.s. http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w169/MullikinUSC/0001gerald.jpg
PF Chuck Hayes 4.0 ppg v.s. Emeka Okafor 13.8 ppg
http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w169/MullikinUSC/ChuckHayes.jpg v.s.http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w169/MullikinUSC/001emeka.jpg
C Yao Ming 22.3 ppg v.s. Primoz Brezec 1.6 ppg
http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w169/MullikinUSC/YaoMing.jpg v.s. http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w169/MullikinUSC/0001primoz.jpg

Houston Bench: Bonzi Wells, Mike James, Luther Head, Luis Scola, Steve Francis, Aaron Brooks, and Dikembe Mutombo
http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w169/MullikinUSC/BonziWells.jpghttp://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w169/MullikinUSC/MikeJames-1.jpghttp://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w169/MullikinUSC/LutherHead.jpghttp://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w169/MullikinUSC/LuisScola.jpghttp://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w169/MullikinUSC/SteveFrancis.jpghttp://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w169/MullikinUSC/AaronBrooks.gifhttp://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w169/MullikinUSC/DikembeMutombo.jpg

Charlotte Bench: Jeff McInnis, Walter Herrmann, Matt Carroll, Jermareo Davidson, Derek Anderson, Jared Dudley, and Ryan Hollins
http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w169/MullikinUSC/0001jeff.jpg http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w169/MullikinUSC/0001walt.jpghttp://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w169/MullikinUSC/001carroll.jpghttp://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w169/MullikinUSC/jermareo_davidson.jpghttp://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w169/MullikinUSC/0001derek.jpghttp://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w169/MullikinUSC/dudley.jpghttp://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w169/MullikinUSC/hollins.jpg

Indiana Head Coach: Rick Adelman
http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w169/MullikinUSC/RickAdelman.jpg

Charlotte Head Coach: Sam Vincent

http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w169/MullikinUSC/SamVincent.jpg

Houston last 5 games:
11/01 @UTA 106-95W
11/03 POR 89-90 W
11/05 @Dallas 98-107 L
11/06 SAN 89-81 W
11/09 MIL 104-88 W

Charlotte last 5 games:
11/02 MIL 102-99 W
11/04 @MIA 90-88 W
11/06 PHX 83-115 L
11/07 @PHI 63-94 L
11/09 IND 96-87 W

Houston inactive list: Carl Landry, Steve Novak, and Kirk Synder
http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w169/MullikinUSC/CarlLandry.gifhttp://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w169/MullikinUSC/SteveNovak.jpghttp://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w169/MullikinUSC/KirkSnyder.jpg

Charlotte inactive list: Seam May, Adam Morrison, and Othella Harrington
http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w169/MullikinUSC/001sean.jpghttp://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w169/MullikinUSC/0001morrison.jpghttp://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w169/MullikinUSC/0001harrington.jpg

CaptainCrunch

11-10-2007, 12:05 AM

awesome win tonight..can't wait for sunday's game go cats

Keetch

11-10-2007, 12:17 AM

Won't make this game...gave my tickets to a friend from Beijing...would be awesome to beat a team as good as the Rockets.

dvdbumpus

11-10-2007, 12:23 AM

T-mac vs. J-Rich: If Jason is on his game tonight this will be the game decider....who will be more on fire?

Oh god, Primoz vs. Yao. Please god let Yao be hung over.

davcbow

11-10-2007, 12:28 AM

Primoz, Hollins and Harrington better be on top of their game to play Yao Ming. They will eat us alive in the middle if they dont. Maybe coach will play Davidson some to help out in the middle. The rest of the team Im not that worried about except maybe the SG position McGrady -vs- J-Rich. We wont be able to play small ball against Houston.... :g:

Wallace15

11-10-2007, 12:52 AM

Good Lord, seeing Primoz or Hollins trying to guard Yao is gonna give me nightmares :-\. I've said for the past 2 games that JRich was gonna come out and have a great game and it hasn't happened. He's gotta break out against Houston. For us to have a chance on Sunday, Felts, Crash, JRich, and EO50 are all gonna have to have strong games.

TheBeagle

11-10-2007, 01:17 AM

For some reason, I'm not too worried about this game. I don't know if it's because I'm so numb from the dual-personalities this team has showed in its first 5 games or what, but I think we have as good a chance to win this game as we did tonight. We've had good success against the Rockets in years past. I think we'll be okay in the middle if Mek has the same tenacity he did this evening. Adelman really likes to keep Yao at the high post to help facilitate their offense, so maybe we can stick Mek on him and just hope his midrange jumper is off.

Also, I recommend GW on McGrady and JRich on Battier.

At worst our bench is equal to them, but probably a little bit better, and more productive. I think Walter should get some minutes because he has shown an ability to get rebounds despite his malodorous offense.

That said, since this team is still in the midst of finding its identity, I really have no clue what is going to happen; it could be another 30+ loss, or a brilliant win. I will have to say that I think tonight is more along the lines of what Sam wants and the team wants, in terms of total team cohesion; from starters to the bench. Our core is Mek, GW, and Raymond; these are the guys that operate the machine. JRich, being a jumpshooter and, sadly, not much else, he's too inconsistent to count on on a regular basis. If he has a good game we stand a very good chance of winning (Re: Miami), if he doesn't, we have a good chance of winning; it depends on our core's performance. Don't know if he's suffering a sort of separation anxiety from GS, but his game has been disappointing thus far (not to mention FTs). I think we're best suited if GW and Mek are our first options on offense, and with nice ball movement and Raymond's vision, JRich will be a nice complement to the team, but not the focus he was hyped as; and there's nothing wrong with that, because it is still a significant upgrade over last year's model.

The Pacers game really was a revelation, and will go a long way towards developing some chemistry and identity, which will hopefully continue to grow against the Rockets and beyond.

Dead_Real

11-10-2007, 08:40 AM

This will be a tough one no doubt McGrady has had a damn good season so far and Yao is Yao he'll get his reguardless but I still give us a chance in this game. Like Bumpus said earlier J-Rich HAS to show up Sunday we'll need all of the offense we can get from our starters and our bench.

Keetch

11-10-2007, 10:10 AM

ALong13

11-10-2007, 11:32 AM

I don't see Hollins or Brezec getting much time in this game, I see a fast tempo team coming out

McInnis, Felton, JRich, Crash, Okafor with Dudley, Carroll, Davidson, and maybe Herrmann coming in throughout the game...

WarioVsMooChicken

11-10-2007, 12:52 PM

PRIMO WILL OUTDO YAO JUST YOU WAIT :mad:

123together

11-10-2007, 01:33 PM

this will be a tough game no doubt. the rockets will have to get yao in foul trouble cuz we have no one to match up with him. the bobcats will have to shoot at least 50% to win this one in my mind. its possible tho, wallaces game last night was encouraging as was feltons and okafors. hopefully they'll keep it up AND MAKE THEIR FREE THROWS

davcbow

11-10-2007, 01:59 PM

PRIMO WILL OUTDO YAO JUST YOU WAIT :mad:

Right now Primoz couldnt beat no one out of a wet soggy paper bag....I think Primoz may get a few minutes also Hollins will get a few and then may try speedy ball with our smaller line up but Yao is our "big" issue here. I hope Davidson can play more than a few minutes also. Could this be a Harrington moment? I hope not.... :g:

Muttley

11-10-2007, 08:22 PM

I notice that Harrington is not among the starters, bench, coaching staff or injured list. If this is his moment, then is he gonna come out of the crowd or something or perhaps descend on a zip-line from the rafter like something out of professional wrestling?

davcbow

11-10-2007, 08:37 PM

I figure he isnt as healthy as he wants everyone to think he is so he is hidden up in the 2nd tier where no one else sits..... :biggrin:

dav7z

11-10-2007, 09:26 PM

This one looks all most inpossable on paper to win.
We will have to play great to get this win. As we should get killed on the boards. Scoring starters are close with thair offence has more experiance. Beanches we are at a big disadvantage. As thair beanch could beat half the teams in the NBA. From top to bottom this might be the best team in the NBA.

If we have great effort and our big four have great nights we might have a shot . Boards to me are a big concern. I don't think a small line up will get it done. Speed AND size is our best chance. So i hope we look to Davidson and Hollins as that fifth player most of the game.
With only Dudley and Carroll and Herrmann as the only other subs as i don't see Mcinnis as matching up well in this one. Primoz could be key to if he could hit a consistant jumper.
Good luck Cats

Crunch thanks for another great game thread.+1

WarioVsMooChicken

11-10-2007, 10:33 PM

15 POINTS 9 REBOUNDS 4 ASSISTS FOR PRIMO

OH AND HE'LL DUNK :o

davcbow

11-10-2007, 11:11 PM

LOL "Dream Big" I always say...... :biggrin:

TheBeagle

11-11-2007, 12:51 AM

This one looks all most inpossable on paper to win.
We will have to play great to get this win. As we should get killed on the boards. Scoring starters are close with thair offence has more experiance. Beanches we are at a big disadvantage. As thair beanch could beat half the teams in the NBA...

Really? I'm not seeing it that way at all. I think we have the bench advantage. Bonzi Wells? Luther Head? Mutombo? Scola? Mike James? This team would be head for the OJ Mayo lottery if they were starters in this league, no doubt. Also, check out their PPG and FG% http://www.nba.com/rockets/stats/ As I've said earlier in this thread, I got no clue what'll happen tomorrow because of the Jeckyll/Hyde nature of our team as they are learning, but I think we have a pretty good shot at this one. :-\

TheBeagle

11-11-2007, 12:59 AM

Rockets match-ups are tough. Yao will get his stats; the hope is that Okafor can get his too; leaving Yao huffing at mid-court.

I agree Beagle, Wallace has to guard McGrady or we're in trouble, but the key may be the point guards. If we control the ball and disrupt their ball movement, that may be enough.

I like what you said about JRich, but one further thought. On another team or on another night, JRich MIGHT have found his shot last night and played great if he wasn't sitting on the bench. It's a very brave coach that leaves his GO-TO guy on his butt for the entire (?) 4th quarter. It was a good move though to stay with the hot hands and chemistry-of-the-moment. I figured that 5 would fatigue late in the quarter and if the Pacers responded then JRich would come in and be the dagger. It just didn't happen though and JRich wasn't needed.
Good point, Keetch. I didn't make it nor did I see the game at all, I was just going by the stats and didn't realize Rich didn't play at all in the 4th! Damn, Sam is hardcore!!! Very proud of him for doing that, and like you say, that takes massive ones to do that to the unfairly-lableled "savior" of the 'Cats. Also, I agree, he could have easily found his touch in the 4th and his numbers would've looked much better.

ohara831

11-11-2007, 07:38 AM

I see this as us having some advantages, already addressed above. however, there are a couple matchups for which we are in NBA hell.
McGrady is a SG, but he's 6'8''. AVg 27.5 and 5.5. Do we put J-Rich on him at 6'6''? McGrady gets the calls as a bona fide star in this league. Do we try Crash on him at 6'7''? Risky with potential foul trouble for Crash and J-Rich, so what to do? How about trying Herrmann at 6'9'' and say "Do your best." Cannot try Dudley b/c he's a Rookie and will get schooled and Foul Out in 1st qtr. I really worry about getting J-Rich or Crash in foul trouble early in this one. For that reason, I was really liking trying Herrmann. However, if we go samll, then that means Okafor guarding 7'6'' Yao. He cannot guard someone 7-8 inches taller and be effective at all. If we try Primoz and Hollins combinations, that eliminates using Herrmann to try and guard McGrady.

This is a match up hell with those 2 guys. We have different advantages, but we lose them if we try to stop 1 of their big 2. Our only real hope I think is to basically let their big 2 do what they will, and try to out score them with the rest of the player match ups that favor the Bobcats. That will not be easy tho. The Rockets are 4-1,and the only team to beat the Spurs so far.
My solution: Play McGrady straigh up with Crash and roll the dice. I send Okafor to the bucket EVERY play early. Send Crash and J-Rich right at Yao early on EVERY play when they get the chance. Yao has a bolcker's instinct. He cannot help himself. WE can get him in Foul trouble early if we try. I see that as our best hope.
That, or buy out a Contact and bring in Eric Montross! (Just kidding. Really.)

Dunk

11-11-2007, 08:32 AM

If you bring Carroll off the bench and hope he and JRich establish themselves at 18ft+, you bring the game out of the paint turning it into a more favorable game for us. That's pretty much the only way I see us winning this one. Come out and start draining triples and have Houston try and match us. McGrady's gonna get 30 on us no matter who we put on him but we may be able to take Yao out of it with that strategy.

It can be done. It's the pro's after all. Just the percentages of it happening change.

ALong13

11-11-2007, 09:05 AM

Update on Harrington

Turns out power forward Othella Harrington is another week or so away from playing. Coach Sam Vincent intended to activate Harrington against the Pacers, but Harrington said his surgically repaired left knee isn't ready for game action.

Vincent said Harrington might be activated against Miami on Tuesday or in Atlanta on Wednesday. Observations | Rick Bonnell

This is from Charloote Observer on the Observation section for the last game.

I'm not expecting Harrington to do much, but hopefully he'll do more than what Primoz and Brezec are doing, which isn't much....

davcbow

11-11-2007, 02:50 PM

They are about to find Harrington? He is up in the stands (upper level) hanging with Mr. Cooper. ::)

Dead_Real

11-11-2007, 02:55 PM

Panthers playing great against the Falcunts good start to Carolina sports today.

timang

11-11-2007, 03:58 PM

bonzi wells fits well in adelman's(?) system. i'm sure to check out on him. as to yao and primo... well, primo just might need some spanking to get his game back IMO. we'll win this! go bobcats! 8)

CaptainCrunch

11-11-2007, 03:59 PM

Panthers playing great against the Falcunts good start to Carolina sports today.

they are losing 20-13 in the 4th with 20 seconds left. i wouldnt call losing to the falcons playing great

Dead_Real

11-11-2007, 04:11 PM

Panthers playing great against the Falcunts good start to Carolina sports today.

they are losing 20-13 in the 4th with 20 seconds left. i wouldnt call losing to the falcons playing great

Check the time that was before half time but yea shitty play calling in the 4th killed this game we pretty much dominated up until they tied it up.

ohara831

11-11-2007, 04:35 PM

Got a little help today. Hawks went down to defeat. Just a little brething room. Now. if we can win tonight, we are within 1/2 game of the Division lead. It may be early, but we'ver never been able to say that before. **Looks like Wade may miss out game coming up as well. Is luck on our side?

davcbow

11-11-2007, 04:49 PM

Dead_Real

11-11-2007, 06:03 PM

Glad this is on TV.

aznjustice14

11-11-2007, 06:04 PM

anybody find the nba league pass link like last time straight to the media player? it doesnt work when i try opening from the league pass homesite. i need the media player direct link...or at least it worked that way for the indiana game

Dead_Real

11-11-2007, 06:07 PM

http://broadband.nba.com/cc/playa.php?content=lpintl&url=http://boss.streamos.com/wmedia-live/nba/9909/500_nba-league_pass_charlotte_051201.asx&gid=067

Open this up in you're web browser it's playing the News channel 14 feed enjoy.

davcbow

11-11-2007, 06:07 PM

I cant find it on TV.... :mad:

Dead_Real

11-11-2007, 06:09 PM

Are you in Raleigh Davcbow?

davcbow

11-11-2007, 06:09 PM

davcbow

11-11-2007, 06:10 PM

Are you in Raleigh Davcbow?

Nope Im near the NC Zoo in randolph co.... :)

Dead_Real

11-11-2007, 06:10 PM

oh ok you all probably don't get News Channel 14 which is the Bobcats home station.

Dead_Real

11-11-2007, 06:14 PM

Good start.

RichardsonX

11-11-2007, 06:20 PM

The Cats not looking bad at a ll.

x2pacalypse

11-11-2007, 06:39 PM

oh man why is the feed working on nba.com? i thought it wasn't free anymore? either way im glad, we are up by 3! dudley just jump balled yao haha love it

RichardsonX

11-11-2007, 06:42 PM

Up by 5 now. Did you see the dunk by Richardson?

Dead_Real

11-11-2007, 06:42 PM

Surprised thats our first ally of the season I expect to see more :D

To Tupac: That's the league pass for the International viewers the free thing was for people in the US.

jjbobcat

11-11-2007, 06:54 PM

thank you very much 4 this link ...much appreciated..lets go bobcats baby!!!!!

Dead_Real

11-11-2007, 07:03 PM

Damn good first half by the Cats the refs need to wake the hell up though I've seen a few no calls that should have been fouls on the Rockets.

rallydurham

11-11-2007, 07:24 PM

Wait what is it that Primoz brings to the table again? By my count he just gave up 6 points in two possessions by not being able to rotate at all defensively

ALong13

11-11-2007, 07:36 PM

I know not many people are a fan of Hollins, and he hasn't done to hot lately, and he's not having an outstanding game tonight, but he's not doing too bad tonight...

5 pts 4 rebounds, 1 block, and 1 steal...

EDIT: Jared Dudley just shook the dude so bad, breaking ankles baby lol...

Dead_Real

11-11-2007, 07:48 PM

Lets get a strong 4th quarter and this game is ours.

Also Hollins might be our most intense player dude looked so pissed when he didn't get the dunk on Wells.

ALong13

11-11-2007, 08:01 PM

Man Matt Carroll is doing very well tonight with 17 points, for all those who said we overpaid, he's definitely showing them the last few games that he deserved it...

RichardsonX

11-11-2007, 08:08 PM

Definitely, We need to watch it though, we might lose. COME ON BOBCATS!

Dead_Real

11-11-2007, 08:15 PM

Man fuck these refs.

CaptainCrunch

11-11-2007, 08:19 PM

Come on cats!! lets win this game

RichardsonX

11-11-2007, 08:21 PM

Man, these refs have been TERRIBLE!!!! It's ruining our chances to win. Come on, call a smart play and win this game!

RichardsonX

11-11-2007, 08:24 PM

WTF???? Come on!

Dead_Real

11-11-2007, 08:24 PM

Seriously fuck these refs BS calls on Emeka and Wallace late cost us one.

Alex

11-11-2007, 08:29 PM

NBA REFS CAN SUCK MY F*CKING BALLS!

That was the worst call I've ever seen and it cost us a 4-2 record. God awful NBA refs, F*CK 'EM!

CaptainCrunch

11-11-2007, 08:31 PM

what a horrible call.

Dunk

11-11-2007, 08:40 PM

Dammit it all.

ohara831

11-11-2007, 08:50 PM

Guys, the replay did show that Gerald threw his left arm out and did clear out on McGrady. But, it wasn't much and it could have been let go by the refs. Anyway, it makes me sick to my stomach to be so damn close and let it slip away. We lead for 46 of the first 47 minutes, and let it slip away in the final minute.
Face it, Yao is just dominant! He shoots 87% from the line and 13-15 from the floor. Alters shots, terrifies our interior shooters -hell, he probably fathered a couple kids tonight during the damn game.
God, I feel so down. so close to 4-2. We could have been within 1/2 game of Orlando for the Division lead, and put space between us & the rest of the Division. Now, we are still in 2nd, but closer to everyone else and further behind Orlando. We just cannot lose these close ones.
J-Rich scored 16, but it took 7-21 from the field to do it. I know he had that drive in the final minute to briefly put us up 1, but it seemed to me that late in the 4th, Ray and Gerald dished him the ball a few times and expected him to fire from the outside, and he hesitated and passed. I'm wondering if he is starting to get gunshy? I hope not. For $11 mil a year, he better be ready to shoot the ball late in the 4th. Hell, that's why we brought him here.
I'm just sick! Ray kept us going in the 3rd. Pretty good game, but only 2 assists to 3 TO's. But overall, he and Carroll really kept us in this in the 2nd half, and I am happy with their efforts.
I applaud Dudley for his effort tonight. I also have to give a hand to Hollins. 7 pts in a tough game was 6 more than I expected, and he showed some hustle out there.
OK, I'm going to go throw up and go to bed now.

Keetch

11-11-2007, 08:51 PM

Dammit Brezac SUCKS. I almost cried when Sam put him back in for Hollins in the first half. What a homer.

123together

11-11-2007, 08:55 PM

Keetch

11-11-2007, 08:56 PM

That was incidental contact. Hollins got the rebound and put it back for the Bobcats win IMHO. Hollins triple-jumps back down court waving his arms and yelling....

Hey we played with the Rockets. That'll have to be good enough. There were obvious flaws in coaching and playmaking tonite that cost us big time. Hopefully, the skill of this team will continue to grow. Felton and McInnis must keep working the ball inside and out, instead of around the deep perimeter.

CaptainCrunch

11-11-2007, 08:59 PM

what a tough loss

Dunk

11-11-2007, 09:19 PM

Any semblance of a good center and we win that game.

I'm still pissed. Well, we've got a young team. Hopefully we chalk it up to experience and start winning more of those.

ziggy

11-11-2007, 09:25 PM

That was a tough way to lose a game that was really fun to watch. Unfortunately Gerald didn't get the superstar call, If that was T-Mac driving to the basket at the end of the game the ref would have swallowed his whistle.
A couple of positive moments that I took from this game were:
* That monster block that Emeka had on T-Mac in the first half. That was outright nasty.
* Ryan Hollins enthusiasm and effectiveness. He didn't seem intimidated by Yao whatsoever.
* That completely old-school ankle breaking spin move that Jared Dudley used to get an easy basket. He reminds me quite a bit of Corliss Williamson in his style of play.

MattD

11-11-2007, 09:48 PM

ryan hollins played a great game, I am a big fan of his and have been since day 1 when we drafted him no matter what people say, he will be pretty good... I can say that i think we got robbed on the call, wallace extended his arm on the way DOWN not up so it makes no difference and he was bracing for one of his many falls. Quiet disheartening to be a bobcats fan... This kinda stuff helps make people hate the nba and say the refs are being paid. This year I have yet to see a game that was called in the bobcats favor, (I did stop watching the phila game because it was so horrible) but its frustrating for those who care about the bobcats as a franchise within this city. O well, it would have been great to down the rockets :( now weve got to win these next couple games they are important, miami, seattle atlanta all winable lets do it

timang

11-11-2007, 11:14 PM

oh primoz you make me want to jump off a cliff... :banghead: and may i ask why davidson didn't play this game? ???

TheBeagle

11-11-2007, 11:47 PM

Tonight is a good example of why the NBA may not succeed in Charlotte; half-assed officiating. There were two plays that ultimately decided the game:

1. Excellent defense by our guys with a 1 pt. lead. Forced a contested shot from wing. Okafor boxes out Yao, gets pushed in the back, loses position, and is called for foul. I don't know how the refs don't call this a foul. Two arms extended in the back of a player isn't a foul?!?!?! Okay, fine. It's the end of the game, let's let the players decide the outcome, which leads to play 2.

2. GW takes TMac to the hoop, is bumped, and holds his arm up so as to brace himself against the contact HE IS RECEIVING from the defender!!!!! yet he is called for the OFFENSIVE FOUL?!?!?!?!?!?!??!?!?!?! What happened to letting the players decide the outcome of the game? If you don't blow the whistle on Yao on their end, why blow it on GW on ours? So fucking unfair. Fuck that.

We don't have a chance, guys, if we continue to get bent over and violated by the NBA like we have over the course of the previous 3 years. The logic seems to be something like this:

Charlotte= no stars, mid-level market
Team X= major market team with star(s)

Team X is more popular; Team X has a better chance of impacting the NBA on a national scale; Team X's stars help sell our product. Therefore: Team X gets benefit of doubt on all calls when the game is being decided.

Seriously, this was such a heist it's incredible, and it will receive zero attention from the league office because of the basic logic I laid out in the above. Thank god I wasn't at the game because I'd have thrown a water bottle on the court just as a reflex at such a travesty, not to mention the filthy language spewing from my mouth. And yes, we could have (and should have) been more efficient on offense down the stretch, but the guys put themselves in a position to win the game, which is all anyone can ask, and we don't get a fair shot at winning; that's the reason behind this post.

If this game is any indication, nothing's changed from previous years. It's our 5 against their 8, and 3 of their 8 can decide the outcome. It doesn't get any worse than this for a fan. Thankfully, our players and coaches have a shorter memory (maybe) than we fans do, but this one is going to sit with me a while because of the injustice.

Oh, David Stern, the double standard in officiating is alive and well, my friend!

davcbow

11-12-2007, 12:07 AM

I think our time is coming, we looked good tonight but if it wernt for a couple key calls at the end of the game we would have maybe won it. We are young and getting better and the rest of the league is beginning to notice it. I bet Houston is glad it wont have to play us here in Charlotte again this year. If we would have had an answer for Yao then we would have won it, if we would have shot a better FG % tonight we would have won it. I still think we are able to make the playoffs this year and maybe 2 players from a championship team which we can get take care of during the off season. The guys seem to be understanding what V wants and V is starting to get his line ups like he wants them. I still cant figure whats up between V and Herrmann, why dont he ever get but a minute or 2? and why not let Davidson play some more too. Well we are now 3-3 which we have never been before and we have Maimi 1-5 coming up next.... :g:

davcbow

11-12-2007, 12:15 AM

Tonight is a good example of why the NBA may not succeed in Charlotte; half-assed officiating. There were two plays that ultimately decided the game:
Oh, David Stern, the double standard in officiating is alive and well, my friend!

Maybe the NBA needs instant replay and flags for the coach to throw out on the floor, two total for the game you can call and you get a 3rd if you win one of the 1st two.
Works for the NFL why not the NBA? :g:

Mustachio

11-12-2007, 12:26 AM

worst call ive ever seen. T-mac jumps... he freakin jumps. how in gods name is that not a defensive foul.... he jumped up with Crash and Crash gets the call. I taught some Chinese children some new cusswords tonight.

Wallace15

11-12-2007, 02:22 AM

Just saw the highlights on NBA.com. Block by Okafor was NASTY!

I agree with what some of you are saying.

Charlotte-small marketing team therefore we get no calls.
Houston-Major team with "stars" therefore they get calls.

Damn, if we would have won tonight we'd all feel great right now, but of course we get fucked by the refs. :mad:

Grandmama

11-12-2007, 08:55 AM

There is no reason to call that foul. The ref has to swallow the whistle there. If i see Joe Forte (the ref not the former Carolina bust) on the street, I will make sure his ass will be swallowing my foot.

Muttley

11-12-2007, 10:22 AM

I really don't know what to say about this. It's pretty absurd. I think the Oak call at the other end may have been worse than the Gerald call, but not by much. So disheartening, but what can you do besides suck it up (the players better, why not the fans?) and look towards next game? Maybe a letter-writing campaign to our Representatives...

Grandmama

11-12-2007, 10:33 AM

I agree Muttly the Oak no-call was much more egregious, either way those last two possesions were bousch.

JSS

11-12-2007, 10:51 AM

An Okafor rebound or a call on the other end from a win...

I thought the Bocats played very well. The Rockets are a very solid team and the Bocats lead the entire game, but could not put them away. There are a couple lessons to be taken away from the game.

1. Most importantly, we have no one who can really match up against a center like Yao Ming. Yao won the game for Houston. Primo is absolutely useless. He is incredibly passive and if you watch him, he actively tries to stay away from the ball. He has no basketball IQ, maybe no IQ at all, I'm not sure. He also makes no sense in an up-tempo system because watching him try to get up and down the court makes me want to cry. No scoring, no rebounding, no defensive presence. Even Carroll tried to be aggressive with Yao when he was stuck with a mismatch. Hollins at least is quick and tries to be aggressive, which I love. He just needs to put on some muscle and work on a few things, but should still be the starting center. They need a go to center now and it is not fair to make Okafor guard a guy (or rebound against) who has 6 inches on him and is so good in the post. He is going to have to foul him too often (and Yao will apparently make every single one of the foul shots) and then Okafor will foul out as he did.

2. J-Rich was brought in to be the guy that gets the ball with the Bobcats down by 1 with 20 seconds left, but instead Wallace got it. That is dismaying. I know that J-Rich has not been automatic as the go-to scorer. Does Vincent not trust J-Rich? I think you have to put the ball in his hands, show him that you have confidence in him, and let him try to win the game.

walkerl

11-12-2007, 12:18 PM

Cats got robbed last night. I was fuming after the game, The non call on Yao was huge, He fouled Oak, and got away with it.

dav7z

11-12-2007, 08:29 PM

dvdbumpus

11-12-2007, 11:05 PM

J, welcome to the board and excellent post! +1 Rep. You basically summed it up, I just wish it was easy to get a Center to be able to guard a Yao :-\

TheBeagle

11-13-2007, 12:05 AM

mcgrady definitely fouled wallace at the end of the game. that was clearly a foul or a no call (which would have resulted in hollins with a tip in). only cuz its mcgrady, thats why the nba sucks or the refs were trying to cover the spread hehe

123 , I think your statment is why the atendance in all the NBA is falling off. We had three bullshit calls at the end of that game ALL for Mcgrady. If we had like two chanages like football i think the atendance would go up. It all started with the Jordon call now all stars get the call. In my openion it just screws the game up and determins the out come.
Dude, that's what my longwinded post on page 5 is all about: the NBA will fail in Charlotte if this continues to happen. At this point, pulling for the 'Cats is a lost cause, because we won't have a fair chance to win if we go up against a "star" or "star team" in a close game.

As for what Muttley says about a letter-writing campaign, I'm going to send an email or snailmail to the NBA about this game. It will do ABSOLUTELY NO GOOD, but this shit can't be allowed to happen without them knowing that we don't see what's going on. We may have one of the least-recognizeable, least-popular teams in the NBA, but that doesn't make us Bobcats fans naive or ignorant either.

Keetch

11-13-2007, 01:21 PM

GO BEAGLE !!

Muttley

11-13-2007, 03:49 PM

Beags, part of me was joking around with the letter-writing campaign, but the other half of me wasn't. If Stern's office - there's no way that the man himself would actually receive the email/letter, let alone read it - starts getting a bunch of letters from pissed off Bobcats fans with legitimately argued detractions on the actions of his referees, then there's a small chance that they might take notice. Especially in light of the recent Ref episode. (The NBA can be contacted via the email form at the following website: http://www.nba.com/webAction?actionId=surveyInitialize&target=/email_us/email_form_041027.jsp&surveyId=1152)

In fact, if anyone has or is planning on writing the NBA on this issue, why not CC it to the ESPN ombudsman Le Anne Schreiber. I wish I still had her email address. It may just be ombudsman-at-ESPN.com. After all, it's a story that maybe they should cover. They probably won't because they benefit from big-name stars getting bigger, but you never know. (Schreiber can be contacted via the email form at the following website:
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/columns/story?id=2826900)

In the end, I doubt it will do anything unless you can cite instances in a plethora of games reffed by a specific crew who consistently threw calls the way of the "jersey/ticket-selling all-star" against small market franchises that include the Charlotte Bobcats. I mean, really, this is a larger issue than just the Houston-Charlotte game. Perhaps once Brett gets his database of all the games built to a nice enough size can try to do some analysis on the All-star vs. Small Market foul calls. I think that most people listen to numbers more than anything, even if they don't know what they mean. However, what his analysis is probably not going to be able to show, unfortunately, is when bad calls were made at crucial points in the game that swung the outcome in a certain direction.

I know that this post has turned into a stream-of-consciousness styled rant. Sorry about that. My point, however, is really that despite how low one thinks that the NBA would esteem a letter from a fan, the truth is that WE are the consumers that drive the League. WE should be able to make a difference. And at the very least, it couldn't hurt.

Now about that putting my money where my mouth is...