ESPN Predicts Bobcats Finish 13th in the East

[SWedd523]

I apologize if this has been talked about already. ESPN has predicted the standings in next year's Eastern Conference with the Bobcats in 13th place just ahead of the Knicks and the Nets. Predicted W-L is 32-50. With 50% of SportsNation saying that record is "On The Money"

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?page=EastOffseasonPredictions


Which Larry Brown did Michael Jordan hire: The one who has turned around many a young team in his Hall of Fame career, or the one who led the Knicks so badly that many accused him of sabotaging the season? Another question: What does the (nearly) 68-year-old coach have left?

Predictions:
1. Boston
2. Detroit
3. Cleveland
4. Orlando
5. Philadelphia
6. Toronto
7. Washington
8. Miami
9. Chicago
10. Atlanta
11. Milwaukee
12. Indiana
13. Charlotte
14. New York
15. New Jersey


Thoughts? Comments?

[davcbow]

I apologize if this has been talked about already. ESPN has predicted the standings in next year's Eastern Conference with the Bobcats in 13th place just ahead of the Knicks and the Nets. Predicted W-L is 32-50. With 50% of SportsNation saying that record is "On The Money"

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?page=EastOffseasonPredictions



Predictions:
1. Boston
2. Detroit
3. Cleveland
4. Orlando
5. Philadelphia
6. Toronto
7. Washington
8. Miami
9. Chicago
10. Atlanta
11. Milwaukee
12. Indiana
13. Charlotte
14. New York
15. New Jersey


Thoughts? Comments?


They need to smoke some more crack, if they think we aren't going to be no better than that....:cool:

[BIGCatBobcat]

Seriously, they don't have a clue. We'll shed the "lowly, celar dweller" monaker this year. we were 32-50 last year with no offensive scheme at all and a coach that everyone hated. We were 32-50 with Jeff McInnis as our starting PG. I say LB gives us 7-10 wins this year over SV last year. DJ and Felton at PG give us about 3-5 extra wins. I'm saying on the short side we'd be 40-42 putting us 8th. If McMay and Ammo come back heathy and strong that might be another 4-7 wins, making us 44-38, above their guess for Washington. It'd just be nice if they'd put a little research into it. ESPN, you dont know the Bobcats, haters.

[Ghost Kat]

I read that checklist on another site and I'm glad ya'll have the same reaction I did. This was the stupidest thing I've seen this week outside of the Presidential campaign.
The bobcats won 32 games last year with two big names hurt, Other brands names knocked out for multiple games. Horrible coaching,lack of attendance by fans, piss poor team management and sub-par back ups at key roles.
We have controlled the bleeding somewhat, this is the most promising season in our short history. Barring serious injury or a Katrina like event, the team as it is today should win 40+ games and make the playoffs.
In my mind we should make it to atleast the second rnd depanding on how high or low we are ranked.

[Ghost Kat]

Predictions:
1. Boston
2. Cleveland
3. Detriot
4. Orlando
5. Philadelphia
6.Charlotte
7. Toronto
8. Miami
9. Washington
10. Chicago
11. Milwaukee
12. Indiana
13.Atlanta
14. New York
15. New Jersey

[SWedd523]

The thing that freaks me out the most is that Milwaukee, Chicago, and mostly ATLANTA are ahead of us. We're realistically looking for a 6-7-8 spot, but we're still definitely better than 13th and 32 wins?

Nobody gives us any credit. We have 2 (should be) all-stars in Swish and Crash. We have a top 10 point guard in Felts, and we have a pretty solid big man in Okafor.

Boston's big 33 are there. Detroit is there even with their age and roster questions. Cleveland didn't really do much even if they did add Mo but are still there. Toronto... we'll see with O'Neal. Orlando and Philly are there. Washington, if healthy, are there. Thats 7

Leaving us, Miami, and Chicago battling it out for that 8th. We'll be somewhere in one of those 6th, 7th, and 8th spots.

[TheBeagle]

It's time to pull a John Fox and say "it is what it is." Predictions are just that: predictions. Outside of Vegas, the only reason people make them is as a diversion during the off-season.

Now, I think most all of you are right for being upset at being picked 13. Most everyone across the country is ignorant of the Bobcats, ESPN obviously included, so I figure they think this is a safe place to put an unknown like the Bobcats. Depending on diffierent variables, I think they can finish as high as 6 and as low as 12. One thing they HAVE to do is beat the teams they should beat; there can't be anymore losses like last years game at Memphis. Also, they have to win at home, no matter the opponent. Also, and I think this is where coach will help out most, they have to finally learn how to close out games. They showed some signs last year, but still get very shaky holding onto a lead.

If they can do some of these things, they should be able to contend through the last couple weeks, AND be fun to watch, and I'll take that even if they fall short of the playoffs.

[dr aj]

Predictions:
1. Boston
2. Cleveland
3. Detriot
4. Orlando
5. Philadelphia
6.Charlotte
7. Toronto
8. Miami
9. Washington
10. Chicago
11. Milwaukee
12. Indiana
13.Atlanta
14. New York
15. New Jersey

Way off in my opinion. Miami, Toronto and Washington will be above Charlotte. The team i think we can battle with is the Magic and 76ers.

[SWedd523]

......they have to finally learn how to close out games. They showed some signs last year, but still get very shaky holding onto a lead......

Excellent point. Thats the problem with our young team. We're so used to losing that we don't have the confidence to put the stranglehold on teams.

When you get used to losing, you get used to laying down and not giving it all. When you win a few games and start building up that confidence then you really start to get better and learn how to compete day in and day out. (Last years Portland).

If we can get off to a good start and win a couple close ones then we're in for a great season. If we start off shaky then we're going to have to work really hard to expect .500 ball or better

[catsfan]

fans outside of cha. fans are dumb,just like every column you read about predictions on jake dellhomme, although we see him do great in the pre season, they don't,thats y they predict the panthers to suck

just like on hoopshype they say we have hole at SG...........we have a scorer and a shooter there,and one is the most valueble person on the team





until they watch............they'll never know

[SWedd523]

...we have hole at SG...

:confused::confused::confused::confused::confused:

[Ghost Kat]

The Bobcats have never really done that well against the Magic, for whatever reason. The 76ers with Brand could go either way, but they still aren't really that good. Miami right now is questionable...Gotta see how all their new parts plus a healthy Wade mix. (plus a new coach?)
Wizards are getting old just like the pistions. Neither team picked up anybody worthwhile in the off season. I don't see why we couldn't get as high as 6th this year. But we all have our hopes and dreams....

[Keetch]

Other than changing coaches; the Bobcats haven't really done much in the off-season to deserve a meaningful upgrade over last season.

Impressions:

Few people out there are on board or believe that Sean May will contribute. There is hope, but for now that's all it is.

Few people out there believe that Adam Morrison is anything more than a bust. I think most pundits would tell you that he would cause more losses for the Bobcats than wins. We have different hopes but they must still be proven.

Emeka Okafor is still perceived as a Power Forward by many. What he is though is a mildly undersized Center who averages a low double-double. For some mind-blowing reason, he became more and more awkward on offense last season. Hopefully, our new coaches will help him with that, and he must prove he can be reliable scoring anything besides put-backs. He can definitely do it.

If Raymond Felton is a top-ten point guard; its only just barely. Ray hasn't been utilized well by his recent coaches, who for some "mind-blowing reason" confused him for a SG. So now Ray must still prove he is a competent NBA PG. We hope (again) that this is the year he's able to do that. Of course, its also the year that a rookie may start the process of nudging him out the door.

....red alert....we still don't have a Power Forward.....red alert....we still don't have a Power Forward....red alert...we still.......................

I'd really like to see the Bobcats give Davidson the opportunity to earn a starting role at PF, if May can't go immediately (or ever). I think Davidson can play. I don't expect it to happen though.

Gerald Wallace is a Crash away from retirement, and the league knows it.

....and the coup the grace....a reknowned Hoopsworld reporter recently alerted us all that the Bobcats had a weakness at SG. What more can you say?

I'm not concerned about the prognosticators. I understand the logic.

What I'm looking forward to is a season of positive coaching and positive focus. I'd like to see if DJ or Ray (or either) will be our point guard in 2009. Can Adam play in the NBA? Is Sean May done? Can Emeka take it to an all-star level? Playoffs or not, 32 wins or 42, I hope the team has a season that we can look back on as a transition to respectability and relevance.

I want to enjoy this team, and totally intend to do just that.

[davcbow]

Improvements I see....

1) Coach!!!!!!- No more Ham Biscuit
2) DJ as back up and Shannon Brown - No more McInnis, No more Boykins
3) Mek - resigned
4) Harrington gone
5) Morrison will be back and he will contribute....
6) Duds and Davidson both a year under their belts...

Weaknesses I see....

1) Hollins - I hope he comes to play this year...
2) May - I hope he is able to get off his ass this year...
3) Ajinca - Needs to put on weight and learn learn learn...
4) still need a good PF

I believe that our Improvements far out weight our weaknesses and if we have no major injuries this year it will be apparent how much better we will be....:cool:

[Ghost Kat]

^^^^^^^^^^

I agree with both posts above this.

[SWedd523]

No more Ham Biscuit

Wait, NO MORE HAM BISCUIT?! :mad::mad::mad::mad::mad:

[davcbow]

Wait, NO MORE HAM BISCUIT?! :mad::mad::mad:

Not in the NBA........LOL :biggrin:

[BIGCatBobcat]

I totally agree with the points in both davcbow and Keetch's posts. I think the sum total is more wins than last year. I also agree pundits and prognosticators are usually full of bs but there are numbers to back all of this garbage we've been spewing up:

1) Sam Vincent out +5 wins
Think about it: Late in the season the guys were either winning in spite of him or they were losing because of him. There were about 5-7 games that they would have won if it weren't for bad substitutions, bad attitudes or bad plays. Those all rest with the coach. Think about the Jeff McInnis era. We could have picked up about 4-7 there too. He had that negitive efficiency number that Hollinger comes up with where he actually hurts the team the more time he's on the court. So on the short side I say we pick up 5 close games over last season.

2) Larry Brown is in +5
LB is such a good coach, our guys are good, smart players. The similarities to the Pistons have been made but that is the biggest one, a group of underachieving smart young talented players. Felton will step up big, Okafor will have a right position and will play a little better, hopefully Crash won't have to guard PF's, J-Rich has bought in. Larry brings a winning attitude and a championship resume. I think that's good for at least 5 even if we had a mediocre coach last year. Say it went from Bernie straight to LB...we'd improve 5 or so wins just with LB. The only lift he hasn't shown a team over his career was that horrible POS he inherited in NY. I just looked up all 8 of his NBA stops, whoa 8 different teams over 30 years...he's been around the block as they say. He improved in the first season 5 of the 8 times. Really, you can't count the first one where he coached Denver in the ABA and they moved up while he was coach, they still went 50-32 but you can't count a 10 game swing against a guy from ABA to NBA can you? He's averaged 4.25 wins over the previous year(not counting Denver).

3) May and Morrison are back +2
Hard to give it more than that. Is McMay really back or has he been "rehabing" long enough to say he should probably try to get his fat ass on the floor again? I'm sorry that was mean change that to fat butt. May if he's heathy can really add to the offense at the PF position, but not much at least, not on consecutive nights. Morrison on the other hand has been working hard from all I've seen. Sure he looks skinny but I think part of the injury was the mistake of putting on weight that his frame, specifically knee, couldnt handle. He'll provide a real hot hand a few times, put up some nice numbers. He's a huge improvement over leaving Gerald or J-Rich on the floor for too many minutes in too many consecutive games or throwing Matt out there or Walter or Othella or whoever the hell else was getting minutes in a back-up roll.

4) DJ in McInnis Out(Thus Ray as the starter at PG) +4
I think this one may be huge. Ray will have confidence, swagger and better decisions this year. I think DJ will be barely any fall off from Ray and some might say he'll be better in no time. I don't know for sure but I have a feeling this tandem will be seriously strong. They play on the court at the same time and you have 2 uber fast guys that can get anywhere they want on the court. McInnis, as we all saw when he was released last year was addition by subtraction. He started, he played significant minutes and held us back big time. Screw McInnis, Screw Hammy Biscuits for playing him.

So that's how we'll be better than last year, but you might say "BIGCat, you're an idiot. That is easy to say and you're just looking at last year vs. this year" True, true my fellow Bobcats fans. On to my next post......

[lancer]

yeah, too bad because they don't address what they need PF..

[BIGCatBobcat]

But seriously, have you looked at the teams above us and what they've done? Who has improved? Who has stayed the same and who has actually probably gotten worse?
I put in parenthesis where I would probably rank these teams.

1. Boston (1)
What have they done except gotten older, lost a contributor in Posey and, have we or more specificly the damn Boston fans forgotten, they have a terrible coach. Doc was awful, or maybe he is just really good at tanking. One more year together, Bill Walker, Patrick O'Bryant and Darius Miles do not make up for what they have lost in age and Posey, IMO.

2. Detroit (4)
Another aging team. I think Affallo will play pretty well for them. Signing Kwame and keeping Ol' Banana Hands Herrman doesn't get me thinking they will be as great as last year. Oh and PS, who is their coach?

3. Cleveland (2)
Big trade at the end of last year, but what did it get them? Wally won't relieve double teams on Lebron. Boobie isnt really there(yet?). They traded away Joe Smith and Damon Jones and brought in Mo Williams...ok? I'm not impressed. Not to mention Lebron is coming off an Olympic summer. He's still in the top 2 best basketball player argument right now.


4. Orlando (5)
I hate Orlando. They signed Rashard Lewis to a giant contract, almost making him last years version Bogut to Okafor for Crash, and he underperformed. This season what did they add? Mickael Pietrus? Alright. That's fine. Wasn't Arroyo pretty good for them? He went to Europe or Israel I think. I hate them, Superman and all.

5. Philadelphia (3)
In my best Frank Calliendo doing and impression of John Madden voice: Here's a team that did some improving. Brand is the biggest FA move of the off season. He's going to make them way better. Maurice Cheeks is a pretty good coach. Iguodalla is a nice player in the vein of Crash that will contribute, go off for a bunch of points and give you some nice dunks. Plus they added Kareem Rush who we all know is going to work his ass off.

6. Toronto (7)
Jermaine Oneal? Jermaine Oneal? Really Collangello? Really? That's your answer? Put a skinny injury prone C beside a skinny "PF" in Bosh, really? Hope Callderon can play and play big because you know TJ Ford is going to get hurt, you know Oneal is going to get hurt. What else do they have Kopono?

7. Washington (#8 )
Gilbert and Twan are back, but they're old. I don't see it going great in Washington, although I didn't see it going well with Agent Zero out most of last season either but they played well so who knows.

8. Miami (9)
Who knows here. Beasley is going to be a beast, probably. DWade was hurt last year but really he should be called crash too, he just gets nicked up and I think Reily saw an opportunity to rest him and get a good draft pick. Like Lebron, Howard, Kobe and the rest he's coming off a long summer, going into a long season. Marion doesn't do much for me really, not an equal trade for Shaq, he's younger but he's not Shaq, not special.

9. Chicago (12)
Rose and a bunch of youth. Whoopie! Good luck first time head coach Vinny "the mullet" Delnegro! they won't make waves this year.

10. Atlanta (11)
They are the definition of staying the same. Actually, I don't recognize any of the names they "added" other than Josh Smith on this ESPN list, and they lost Childress to Greece, so I say they go down a bit.

11. Milwaukee (10)
Richard Jefferson doesn't do a lot for ya, huh, ESPN? Joe Alexander? Damon Jones? Luc Ridenour? Nah, me either.

12. Indiana (13)
I don't even know what or who they have. Wasn't Dunleavy their best player last year? I kind of like what they have done now that I look at the list. Brandon Rush and Hibbert plus their pretty good and young free agent tallent they picked up is pretty nice additions. Who even coaches these guys? I don't know if what they have gels into a good winning team.

13. Charlotte (6)
See post above, summary: best coach trade out, nice draft picks, young talent, good FA signings and health we didn't have a year ago.

14. New York (14)
Poor NY. Donnie Walsh is an older guy, D'Antoni caught lightning in a bottle in Phoenix, I don't see this going well for them. It's nice to see Patrick Ewing Jr playing there I guess. Isn't that like a legacy? They have to have him there like you have to be let into a frat if your bro or dad was in it?

15. New Jersey (15)
Brook Lopez, Yi, CDR, Bobby Simmons, Najera? Adding a lot without losing much. Oh, I forgot except everyone but the laziest most talented player in the NBA. Here's hoping there's a team to move to Brooklyn and some people to put in a starting 5 around Lebron if he actually goes there.

So there it is. I've typed way too much but I have looked at numbers and I feel good about my analysis. Is it so ridiculous for the Bobcats to finish in 6th place in the East?

[Keetch]

Very interesting BigCatBobcat; I agree with a lot of what you've said.....

Boston (1) ugh...you know individually I really like and admire Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen. But put them together and you've got the Celtics and I hate the Celtics. I don't remember watching any of last year's finals. None.

Detroit (4)...I hate the Pistons; but Stuckey and Amir Johnson will give them new energy. They need a coach really bad. These guys are still hanging on to LB's memory, but its fading.

Cleveland (2)....it'll be interesting to see what Mo adds to this team. Boobie is injured I think. LeBron was so impressive in the Olympics...that alone makes them formidable.

Orlando (5).... I've mostly been a fan over the years; but other than Superman and Turkoglu, I really don't like their roster much. Lewis is a soft overpaid player. The rest? meh....

Sixers (3)....I hate Philadelphia...Sixers are fine...but I hate Philadelphia :) nice team tho.

Toronto (7)....I don't think O'Neal is skinny anymore, but he's definitely soft and injury-prone. With Bosh and Calderon, they'll be tough though.

Washington (9)... I think with LB at the helm; we can beat this team. We'll have to if we want to play in the post-season.

Miami (6)....frightens me. Wade is back; Beasley is in the house; a new up-and-coming coach....actually tho I think the Marion - Shaq trade was a steal for Miami. Shaq is toast; and Marion's elite. I think they may have gotten a steal in Mario Chalmers too.

Chicago (12)... needs time to discover than Vinny Del Negro can't coach in the NBA.

Atlanta (11)....had a nice year last year. Can't happen twice in a row in Atlanta.

Milwaukee (14)...kudos for dumping Yi, but lack a point guard and Bogut seems primed for an injury-year.

Indiana (10)....every year I figure no way this team is better than us; and I'll run with that again. Lots of mediocre Centers....but T.J. Ford helps them a lot if he can stay healthy, which is always doubtful. What they lack in high-end talent they make up for in depth and grit.

Charlotte #8....too many question marks; but by midseason may emerge under Larry Brown. Highly athletic team desperate for coaching. Solid role players Dudley, Carroll and Mohammed complement JRich, Wallace and Okafor. New found depth at PG should be a great boost. Hey, I'm trying to be optimistic here :P

NY (15) lol lol lol lol years away. I can't wait to see D'Antoni coaching Curry and Randolph. Really this team is very very bad. The one guy they have with any heart, David Lee; the new coach doesn't even like. I really get a kick out of pundits who diss LB for failing this team. The only bad judgement Brown used was agreeing to coach this monstrosity in the first place.

NJ (13) Agree that this team needs time, but I think there's some pieces there; lots of little pieces...In the NBA that means lots of losses.

As always, thanks for reading my crap! :) if you made it this far.