Moving forward without Wallace

[playoffs...PLAYOFFS?]

This is a big time blow to our team. Also, it's already been a pretty tough year for Wallace considering his father & grandmother passing away. I'm sure he is not feeling good at all about having to sit out all these games. He has been here since Day One and finally we are starting to turn the corner around. That's gotta hurt.

Assuming he is out for 4-5 weeks ( I have no clue how long recovery lasts, I'm just assuming the worst), he wouldn't be back until mid-March.

How do you guys see us performing? What would our lineup look like? Will Sean May be deactivated?

I think that this lineup would make most sense:

PG: RF, DJ (when back), SS
SG: Bell, RF, Brown
SF: Diaw, Brown
PF: Howard, Diaw, May
C: Mek, Diop, Nazr

I can see Diaw playing SF and PF when needed. I can also see Bell moving to SF when DJ is back as well. Brown belongs in the SG/SF position.

I hate to see Wallace out for a long period of time. But, I think we will be fine. His spot can be covered by a rotation of Diaw, Bell, Brown, depending on the matchups.

I also think that May might be deactivated soon. If he can play at the PF, this would give more flexibility for LB and allow Diaw to move to SF for certain matchups. I wonder if LB will stick to his word and only play May when he reaches the 260 lbs.

Right now, the best thing that can happen for the Bobcats if for May to be in shape and ready to go....

[Chef]

we can't deactivate may. we need him until march 31st. we need him to knock down bynum and then sumo splash him and suffocate him as retribution for wallace. you break a rib and puncture a lung, we squish your whole body.

[davcbow]

we can't deactivate may. we need him until march 31st. we need him to knock down bynum and then sumo splash him and suffocate him as retribution for wallace. you break a rib and puncture a lung, we squish your whole body.

Look out Bynum, here comes May... Na na na gonna have a good time, hey hey hey.....:cool:

[TattoodCats4life]

Honestly, I see us filling that empty roster spot with a D-League star of some sort. I know we have a good combo SG/SF on the skyforce... I say cheap something is better than nothing... and if a trade presents itself we can dump the d-leaguer and only lose a few grand if he's still on 10-days.

[davcbow]

This is a big time blow to our team. Also, it's already been a pretty tough year for Wallace considering his father & grandmother passing away. I'm sure he is not feeling good at all about having to sit out all these games. He has been here since Day One and finally we are starting to turn the corner around. That's gotta hurt.

Assuming he is out for 4-5 weeks ( I have no clue how long recovery lasts, I'm just assuming the worst), he wouldn't be back until mid-March.

How do you guys see us performing? What would our lineup look like? Will Sean May be deactivated?

I think that this lineup would make most sense:

PG: RF, DJ (when back), SS
SG: Bell, RF, Brown
SF: Diaw, Brown
PF: Howard, Diaw, May
C: Mek, Diop, Nazr

I can see Diaw playing SF and PF when needed. I can also see Bell moving to SF when DJ is back as well. Brown belongs in the SG/SF position.

I hate to see Wallace out for a long period of time. But, I think we will be fine. His spot can be covered by a rotation of Diaw, Bell, Brown, depending on the matchups.

I also think that May might be deactivated soon. If he can play at the PF, this would give more flexibility for LB and allow Diaw to move to SF for certain matchups. I wonder if LB will stick to his word and only play May when he reaches the 260 lbs.

Right now, the best thing that can happen for the Bobcats if for May to be in shape and ready to go....

Seriously we do need a healthy May to help out but if he isnt in game shape yet he would only slow us down.... Shannon sure stepped up last night when he had to.... Ammo needs to step up 10 fold too.... DJ shouldbe back but he is limited due to his size. We should be alright if we play the same peices we used in OT, but they have got to hit their free throws. I just hope we arent too tired from last nights game... :cool:

[krazyrumpshaker]

i think that the rumors of us making a trade will once again start up big time. we were already looking for wing help before this happened. maybe this forces us to trade felton, make dj our starter and get some Sf help.

[TattoodCats4life]

Seriously we do need a healthy May to help out but if he isnt in game shape yet he would only slow us down.... Shannon sure stepped up last night when he had to.... Ammo needs to step up 10 fold too.... DJ shouldbe back but he is limited due to his size. We should be alright if we play the same peices we used in OT, but they have got to hit their free throws. I just hope we arent too tired from last nights game... :cool:

I honestly think brown may try May out there tonight with the second unit to see how he runs in a "real game" I tell you he was running fast the night of the Memphis game...I was shocked... I still think the open roster spot is our best short term solution.

[Slam]

Felts - DJ - Singletary
Bell - Shannon
Diaw - Ammo
Howard - McMay - Lex
EO50 - Diop - Nazzy

[krazyrumpshaker]

Seriously we do need a healthy May to help out but if he isnt in game shape yet he would only slow us down.... Shannon sure stepped up last night when he had to.... Ammo needs to step up 10 fold too.... DJ shouldbe back but he is limited due to his size. We should be alright if we play the same peices we used in OT, but they have got to hit their free throws. I just hope we arent too tired from last nights game... :cool:
Also agree, if there is not going to be a trade made, then these 2 guys need to step it up. Shannon showed last night that he can do that, but can he do it consistently? Adam, well, lets hope he gets his confidence up. There is no time like now to prove that he was worth the pick.

[davcbow]

i think that the rumors of us making a trade will once again start up big time. we were already looking for wing help before this happened. maybe this forces us to trade felton, make dj our starter and get some Sf help.

A trade right now would be disasterous.....:cool:

[TattoodCats4life]

I think we maybe someone like Renaldo Major would be good, he is VERY defensively minded, and would have been a big star already in the NBA save a heart problem that has since been fixed.

Renaldo Major, Dakota - When Major gets called up--and it should be a matter, of when, not if--his story will be a terrific one. Having played briefly for Golden State in 2006-07, Major was headed to camp with Denver in the fall of 2007 when doctors discovered a loose valve that needed to be repaired with open-heart surgery. Having sat out the entire 2007-08 season to recover, Major hasn't missed a beat this season. At the NBA level, Major's defense will be his calling card, and he excels at taking care of the basketball given everything he does for the Wizards.

Gary Forbes would be good too...

I doubt we're going to make a move this direction, I think Larry is a "find me a veteran" kind of guy, not a "grab me a body" kind of guy.

[krazyrumpshaker]

A trade right now would be disasterous.....:cool:
i am not saying that a trade would be a good thing, just that i bet the rumors start up. Especially if wallace will have to be out for a month or so. One of our major problems was depth. We already do not have much of a bench, so this devestates us even more. Hopefully DJ will be back soon to kind of help that out, but we will still be shorthanded at the SF position. I wonder if they will consider this lineup once DJ gets back

DJ
RF
Bell
Diaw
Oak

I dont know if Bell will be effective at the SF. And then i dont know the rotations. Just a thought.

[playoffs...PLAYOFFS?]

I honestly think brown may try May out there tonight with the second unit to see how he runs in a "real game" I tell you he was running fast the night of the Memphis game...I was shocked... I still think the open roster spot is our best short term solution.

the timing is not adequqate for a short term solution such as a D-leaguer...we are turning the corner, we need someone who is a veteran or someone already familiar with the system (May has been training with LB).

Don't think there are too many veterans out there on the FA ready to play.

I just think a D-leaguer learning curver would be too long.. May is our best bet right now to allow for flexibility

[playoffs...PLAYOFFS?]

Felts - DJ - Singletary
Bell - Shannon
Diaw - Ammo
Howard - McMay - Lex
EO50 - Diop - Nazzy

I don't think Ammo is a reliable solution for a SF..he could get a few minutes, but he just can't do it, too slow on defense

[davcbow]

i am not saying that a trade would be a good thing, just that i bet the rumors start up. Especially if wallace will have to be out for a month or so. One of our major problems was depth. We already do not have much of a bench, so this devestates us even more. Hopefully DJ will be back soon to kind of help that out, but we will still be shorthanded at the SF position. I wonder if they will consider this lineup once DJ gets back

DJ
RF
Bell
Diaw
Oak

I dont know if Bell will be effective at the SF. And then i dont know the rotations. Just a thought.


Im leaning towards letting May play, I just hope that he and Ammo step it up and that Shannon keeps playing the way he has. If this occurs then we should survive being without GW..... Everbody is going to have to do their part....:cool:

[Weezy21]

i think that the rumors of us making a trade will once again start up big time. we were already looking for wing help before this happened. maybe this forces us to trade felton, make dj our starter and get some Sf help.

With the NBA trade deadline quickly approaching, rumors are starting to fly about who is going where ... and the Blazers (http://www.fannation.com/tags/show_tag/4562) are definitely in the mix. According to a report via 1080 The Fan and the Sacramento Bee, the Blazers (http://www.fannation.com/tags/show_tag/4562) have offered a draft pick and Raef LaFrentz (http://www.fannation.com/tags/show_tag/4191)'s expiring contract for John Salmons (http://www.fannation.com/tags/show_tag/4340). Salmons contract goes through the 2010-11 season before he would be a free agent.
The Oregonian (http://blog.oregonlive.com/blazers/2009/01/rumor_salmons_for_lafrentz_and.html)


i would love to get this guy!! he would be a nice fill in for wallace and a GREAT 6th man...im not sure how to make this work tho

[GoBobs]

I wanna see May I think he can help us even if he is just very close to 260. Ammo could also be more productive then we might guess given the minutes he did hit a huge three last night, think it was at the end of the third quater.

[WarioVsMooChicken]

Man, wouldn't it be something if May starts producing and Ammo starts averaging 13 points a game.

[davcbow]

Man, wouldn't it be something if May starts producing and Ammo starts averaging 13 points a game.

Id be happy as hell if it happened but would think someone was high if I was only told that....:cool:

[MattD]

From what I have read, Wallace's injury very well could be season if not career ending
the real problem is the random risk of re-collapse he faces, which could literally kill him.

but that was said about his horrific concussion, so we will see

[TattoodCatswife]

From what I have read, Wallace's injury very well could be season if not career ending
the real problem is the random risk of re-collapse he faces, which could literally kill him.

but that was said about his horrific concussion, so we will see

Hopefully that's not the case here

[BETCATS]

i do not feel comfortable with Juwan Howard starting. He is great for the bench, great veteran presence, but i dont see him logging 20-30 minutes a night. Rod Benson (favorite D-Leaguer of all time) could come and play Power Forward for us while Diaw mans the Small Forward spot until Gerald returns (if he returns)

[bing!]

Rod Benson, really ?? He played for Nancy in Euroleague and ate nuts, he's no good.

[polarcat]

i hate to be a knee-jerk reaction kinda person, but if there is any truth to the josh howard - ray ray rumors, i would explore it. if wallace is out for any more than a month, i'd see what it takes to snag him and look for a vet pg a la steve francis. within 2 months we will have gone from uber-young to a veteran team, but we are so close to that 8th seed. this team needs a playoff push to put butts in the seats and establish ourselves as a viable nba city again. even when wallace came back late in the season, we could play josh howard at the 2. i don't know..... maybe we see what the new d-leaguer, ammo and may bring to the table. diaw is flexible enough to slide to the 3. i just don't want to lose his production and chemistry since he got here by moving him to a different position.

[diawdotcom]

you know, diaw's true position is at SF.

watching him play in last year's playoffs, the suns won it's only playoff game in game 4 when we played diaw at SF and went exclusively to him in the low post (to amare's chagrin) against ginobili, brent barry, michael finley, and ime udoka.

and almost won game 5 too funnelling the ball to diaw.

larry brown's lineup last night was all wrong. morrison at starting SF? psh...

he should move diaw to SF and start diop at center.

[TattoodCats4life]

I think in denver larry is going to try the "big" lineup putting Diop in at C and bumping the front court over a notch... I've been telling my wife, Meka is playing a better game now than ever more than a few feet from the rim...He hit a jumper last night that had power foward written all over it, like 12 foot baseline jumper I think it was... I think Larry/Lasalle have been working with Emeka to make him more versitile so we could put in a true center next to him when he need arises.

[davcbow]

I saw Mek take a shot last night from the wing that if he would have been a step back from where he was it would have been a 3reee instead of a 2... I wish we had a big starting C so that Mek could play the PF position.... :cool:

[TattoodCats4life]

I saw Mek take a shot last night from the wing that if he would have been a step back from where he was it would have been a 3reee instead of a 2... I wish we had a big starting C so that Mek could play the PF position.... :cool:

We do, just Diop isnt QUITE deep enough in the system to start. I'd say he could start after a full practice today, if they really focus on working him and meka together hard... We do have a GREAT asst coach for our bigs and its showing in all of their play.

[davcbow]

We do, just Diop isnt QUITE deep enough in the system to start. I'd say he could start after a full practice today, if they really focus on working him and meka together hard... We do have a GREAT asst coach for our bigs and its showing in all of their play.

For now that will have to do but Id love to have 1 more big vet C because I do like Diop coming off the bench to help the 2nd team....:cool:

[TattoodCats4life]

For now that will have to do but Id love to have 1 more big vet C because I do like Diop coming off the bench to help the 2nd team....:cool:

If we get another C we'll have 3 Cs and a PF/C (meka). That would leave us even more in the hole on 2/3. I also see glimmers of "great" play in Diop.

[TattoodCatswife]

I saw Mek take a shot last night from the wing that if he would have been a step back from where he was it would have been a 3reee instead of a 2... I wish we had a big starting C so that Mek could play the PF position.... :cool:

OMG I was so shocked when I saw that cuz I am so used to seeing him dunk ALL the time

[110oldeast]

I respectfully disagree with much in this thread. If Mek was at the 4, he would have been crowded on that jumper more than at the 5. Aldridge is a lot more comfortable away from the basket than Oden. Similarly, Boris at the 4 gives him an advantage in quickness and space to get off his shot in pick and pop situations that he does not have against 3s. His quickness is not overwhelming vs. 3s, but it is against 4s. Posting him up a lot at the 3 with Mek at the 4 and another big at the 5 will clog the lane and lead to the guards penetrating less and being forced into long jumpers. His presence at the 4 is a large reason why Felton has been able to penetrate and make plays as the floor is finally spaced. Putting him at the 3 will be like the days of having Gerald, Mek, and Nazr at the 3,4,5, clogging the lane and ending with last second desperation shots and blocked shots and charges in the lane, limiting Felton's penetration and playmaking.

Why the starters have been successful is b/c of the versatility they have at their respective positions. Move them all down a position and they become slower and less versatile relative to their competition. There are a handful of teams where you can put out the old school 80s lineup that puts Mek at the 4 and Boris at the 3. The only reason Gerald could post as a 3 was b/c Boris could stretch the floor as a 4. This is much different than Boris at the 3 and Mek at the 4. There is a reason the Lakers don't start Odom, Gasol, and Bynum. It clogs the lane and makes help defense easy.

Furthermore, trading Felton now for a SF would be disastrous unless you are just tossing this season aside. You would have NO pg, let alone pg depth. DJ has not shown himself to be ready to consistently start and play heavy minutes at pg and Sean is still finding his way. It's amazing how easily people just believe that a DJ/Singletary pg situation is ready for primetime. That said, Bobcats folks seem to live in a world where durability has no value, which is why the brand was more afraid about shipping out May and him producing than shipping out Felton who actually has produced (prior to this year). I have never seen a franchise so wrapped up in what "could be" while ignoring what is.

[Alex]

well i think it's safe to say that we'll have to wait for our playoff run for yet another season. who knows how long wallace will be out and without him i just don't see how we can even sniff the 8th spot.

[JamieMcNeill]

I respectfully disagree with much in this thread. If Mek was at the 4, he would have been crowded on that jumper more than at the 5. Aldridge is a lot more comfortable away from the basket than Oden. Similarly, Boris at the 4 gives him an advantage in quickness and space to get off his shot in pick and pop situations that he does not have against 3s. His quickness is not overwhelming vs. 3s, but it is against 4s. Posting him up a lot at the 3 with Mek at the 4 and another big at the 5 will clog the lane and lead to the guards penetrating less and being forced into long jumpers. His presence at the 4 is a large reason why Felton has been able to penetrate and make plays as the floor is finally spaced. Putting him at the 3 will be like the days of having Gerald, Mek, and Nazr at the 3,4,5, clogging the lane and ending with last second desperation shots and blocked shots and charges in the lane, limiting Felton's penetration and playmaking.

Why the starters have been successful is b/c of the versatility they have at their respective positions. Move them all down a position and they become slower and less versatile relative to their competition. There are a handful of teams where you can put out the old school 80s lineup that puts Mek at the 4 and Boris at the 3. The only reason Gerald could post as a 3 was b/c Boris could stretch the floor as a 4. This is much different than Boris at the 3 and Mek at the 4. There is a reason the Lakers don't start Odom, Gasol, and Bynum. It clogs the lane and makes help defense easy.

Furthermore, trading Felton now for a SF would be disastrous unless you are just tossing this season aside. You would have NO pg, let alone pg depth. DJ has not shown himself to be ready to consistently start and play heavy minutes at pg and Sean is still finding his way. It's amazing how easily people just believe that a DJ/Singletary pg situation is ready for primetime. That said, Bobcats folks seem to live in a world where durability has no value, which is why the brand was more afraid about shipping out May and him producing than shipping out Felton who actually has produced (prior to this year). I have never seen a franchise so wrapped up in what "could be" while ignoring what is.

I agree. Mek is definitely a center and not a PF. Everyone says hes undersized for the 5 but its not all about size. a la a certain man named Jeffries in new york. dudes taller than Mek but is he a center?

[playoffs...PLAYOFFS?]

Well, I made this post thinking that we would be OK without Wallace.

Somehow I thought that Diaw at SF could help with Juwan at PF..or even Ammo suddenly lighting it up at SF.

Today I realized..no, that's not going to happen. I'm really pissed off right now.

On a bright side, we finished the month of January with a respectable 8-7, we had losing records all other months.

Basically my only hope is that DJ returns maybe allowing for Raja to move SF. Or Sean May comes back and becomes some ridiculous player overnight

[110oldeast]

I'd rather see Martin get more opportunities at the 3. He has good size, can shoot the ball, and is not afraid.

Boris is best served to us as a 4. He spreads the floor more this way. He has more opportunities to get easy play for Mek this way, either off high/low or off of a drive and dish when his man flies at him off the pick and pop.

Like I said in another thread, our team is more handicapped when Crash is hurt now than in the past due to not having a Dudley/Carroll combo to fill in. It's also why I would like to see more of what Martin can do. It's not about trying to replicate what Crash does (Dudley/Carroll) didn't do this. It's about using what other guys do well and see if we can compensate. If Martin can knock down the corner shot and give us 2 shooters on the wing while playing defense, then that is a positive.

I think that DJ's boost to the bench could mean more than even time in the main rotation. Felton has played excessive minutes. It's apparent that Singletary has not earned LB's confidence and that likely affects Sean's as well.