ESPN Live Mock Draft - Simmons and Ford

[Mustachio]

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/draft2008/columns/story?page=DraftDebate-080624


Wow... just wow. both of these guys can kiss my ass.

I hope Bill Simmons can sleep at night with his manufactured bogus championship.

[ReesieNCPantherCatfan1]

I agree, the lack of respect for the small market rises again. Simmons doesn't surprise me, he has been hating on the bobcats for a while now. I count the days til Boston sports are back down in the dumps again, just so smug asses like Simmons get a piece of humble pie. I can't wait til we can knock his beloved celtics out of the playoffs.

I was kind of surprised Ford ripped us bobcats fans though. I would love it if someone could quiz either one of those guys to name 4 players from our team off the top of their head in 30 seconds. I would put money on it that they couldn't. Its just regurgitated "journalism" that won't change until we shove some respect down their throats in the playoffs next year.

[Spartan09]

Ford: But will anyone care? Is there any team in the league that people are more indifferent about? Michael Jordan can't sell this team. Larry Brown can't. At best, with this pick, they're a potential 8th seed. Maybe. Where's Adam Morrison when you need him? I know the organization as a whole has its problems (Low television exposure, attendance problems, an indifferent owner who only cares when he is losing money), but come on! Charlotte hasn't done that bad for a recent expansion team! Are Ford and Simmons forgetting how well we played against both Boston and the Lakers this year? We have some good pieces in place, we just need to add on with a smart first round draft choice(s?) and make the push to the playoffs

[ohara831]

Yeah. When I got to the Bobcats pick and they started trashing us, I just slapped my computer and pretended it was Ford's face. Jacka$$!

[kidk612]

Seems to me like most of their shots are directed more so at the franchise than fans. The reality is the Bobcats just aren't going to get much respect or recognition at the national level until they earn it on the hardwood. Management isn't helping the cause, staying tight lipped and keeping a low profile. The team spent their first few seasons hovering around the cap minimum, maybe not a bad thing long run but not a great way to get any notice. They got some nice young talent early, but no star thats going to command any national attention. Then we spend money on JRich and Nazr... I'd say Richardson helped our case but he's still not a star.

Say what you will about Ford and Simmons, but they both know the league. They know what pieces we have. Obviously they aren't impressed. I was a little surprised by Ford downplaying us possibly competing for the 8th spot, but it makes sense. Whether we like it or not, national media and NBA fans just aren't going to notice or care at all until the Bobcats have some success in the win column. Amare's comments last offseason are a part of this, you could call it disrespectful, and a lot of it is, but its all the result of being the most anonymous team in the league. And coming from a small market with the front office we have, Larry Brown is another step, but its going to take success on the court for people to think he wasn't crazy to come here.

Luckily, this team has enough assets in my opinion and it seems like most of the people on this board agree. If the suits play our cards right, the team could do a lot more than compete for the 8th spot, and that would go a long way in getting some national focus.

[MattD]

yeah but constantly reminding everyone that no one gives a shit about the bobcats makes them continue not to give a shit about the bobcats. Such Bullshit, I am tired of the disrespect we get everywhere. The fact that they just were like, eh charlotte will be ok, lets move on to more important things like thegoddamn new jersey nets really pisses me off.

and then they decide to kill on our coach and management. No one is exactly happy with all the franchises decisions, but damn man

whatever. we will see what is going on next year

[ammofan]

God that makes me mad. I mean come on.......Morrison isn't gonna cry because of Larry Brown in practice!

[fatlever]

i was expecting a lot worse the way you guys were talking....

yeah, it sucks being the butt of jokes, but can you blame them? we havent done anything, our front office is awful and our owners act like they could care less, except when it comes to losing money.

blame mj for hiding in his suite (the 5 games he's here). mj could make the franchise relevant if he wanted to.

this team will only get respect after they have continued success in the playoffs (not just a one year fluke run either)... until then, we are the new clippers.

[fatlever]

as for the ammo dis... morrison is such an easy target. them crapping on ammo just shows a lack of creative writing and comedic laziness. its like making britney spears jokes.... it was funny 3 years ago, now its just lame.

[Keetch]

Chad Ford:

"But will anyone care? Is there any team in the league that people are more indifferent about?"

and...

"I'm fine with Lopez here.....Let's move on"

Remember a few mocks ago when Ford started showing Lopez at 9 and some of us thought it seemed too much like an afterthought, that he really didn't seem to be thinking about the Bobcats much?

This confirms that he knows little about the Bobcats, and admits that he simply doesn't care. Ergo...they get the player left over in the draft whomever he may be; likewise we must be wanting to move Okafor to PF because well...because that's the only thing he remembers even thinking about the Bobcats oh about 2 years ago.

I'm really dissappointed. They even question how Brown must be upset that he didn't wait for the Mavs or Suns job. Jeez that's just ignorant and defaming.

[Keetch]

The Bobcats have GOT to find a way through this disrespect, they've just got too if they're going to survive. It's up to MJ.

[qchoops]

Let Simmons know we do not appreciate the disrespect towards our Bobcats. Send him feedback at
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=feedback/sportsguy. I am personally sick of it too - glad that not all of the ESPN guys are like that, as David Thorpe recently mentioned Charlotte as the squad he expected to be most improved next season.

[TheBeagle]

What those morons say about the franchise bothers me less than them keep linking us with frickin' Brook "Disneyland' Lopez. I mean, really, we Bobcats fans have been suffering the slings and arrows of the media almost since day one, so I'm really starting to develop a tough hide to the slandering and off-color jokes about the team, and it just furthers my disrespect for contemporary sports media, especially via the www; these douchebags are relegated to the web for a reason, and it clearly shows in their analysis and writing skills....

....BUT us drafting Brook Lopez?!?!?! Now that's pissing me off. The fairy who thinks he shits roses and is too good to work out for us?!?! There is not a worse complement for Mek in the draft than this waste of space, and if I really thought we'd draft him, I'd be worried, but I know MJ/LB are smarter than that, but still, having the raging Michael Jackson fan being drafted by us every time on this guy's mock is trying my patience >:(

[Mustachio]

i was expecting a lot worse the way you guys were talking....

yeah, it sucks being the butt of jokes, but can you blame them? we havent done anything, our front office is awful and our owners act like they could care less, except when it comes to losing money.

blame mj for hiding in his suite (the 5 games he's here). mj could make the franchise relevant if he wanted to.

this team will only get respect after they have continued success in the playoffs (not just a one year fluke run either)... until then, we are the new clippers.


I agree to a certain extent. Its not like we are a championship caliber team... we havent even had a winning season yet. So were a super easy target.

however... how can you say our front office sucks? we are in year 4 of our franchise and have potential to be making the playoffs with a young core of players and its not like we have the worst cap situation in the NBA. Its not like we have an average age of 35 and have absolutely no upside or future.

Our roster looks like a college fantasy team with guys that have a proven winning pedigree. We havent had any serious run ins with the law, the players and management haven't done anything for the fans to get upset about. The players dont quit on the team or complain in the media. The management fires the worst coach in the history fully accounting for its mistake by hiring a hall of fame coach. We have a member of the front office on this very forum reaching out to us for ideas and requests to make this franchise better for gosh sakes.

I understand the constant berating we take in the media, because its easy. We havent won, we have a small apathetic fan base, a small market, and money troubles. If they make fun of the Knicks they get emails and calls and pissed off fans booing their name. They make fun of us, they get nothing. But it has nothing to do with the team or management in my opinion. Its because we havent won, and we shouldn't have won honestly because its only our 3rd full year of competition. We are an expansion franchise that still hasnt got its feet set in a tumultuous NBA.

Its like making fun or crapping on Adam Morrison... Easy. But its impossible to judge a player or a draft class for the first three years. Theres just to many variables. Ammo is only in his second year, and I whole heartedly admit that he is headed for bust town and hard.... but that doesnt mean he won't turn around. I've seen enough from Ammo to stick with him and hope it gets better. and thats exactly how i feel about the Bobcats.


Just because the Bobcats didn't win Rookie of the year or make the Sophmore All-star team doesnt mean their isn't Championship on the horizon.

[countryboi]

man did he say 8th seed in a weak east...man thats BS....with a better coach and a blue collar roster man we should at least be a 5...fuck that....man that pisses me off....50 wins 50 wins....its not out of the question

wait wait i had to had to edit this cause...if the bobcats pass on jerryd bayless for brook lopez...i am going to be pissed...i may have to flip over a table or punch rufus in the kneecaps...something