Charlotte bobcats @ Denver Nuggets...

[TattoodCats4life]

There will be no pregame show for those who can watch it on FSN (or sport south whichever its on) due to an ACC commitment. This game is going to be better than Portland I hope... We've had a practice without GW, so we are better equipped to know what to do without him there. I can only speculate on the line up either being Bell on the 3 with S. Brown on the 2, or Juwan starting on 4 Diaw on 3, or Diop starting on 5, Mek 4, Diaw 3. All viable options, which we may actually see all of them tested for a few minutes here and there. My biggest question is "Did Cartier Martin make it to Denver for practice...or is he going to catch up with us in Utah?" I've heard more about him meeting us in Utah, but that really just doesn't make sense. Certainly our FO could have gotten him an immediate flight, Denver is one of the biggest airport hubs in the Rockies, so unless he had a bigger commitment (yeah, bigger than playing your first NBA game, that'd be some BIG stuff like) I'd be very confused if he didnt get to play some tonight.

Speaking of Cartier, he actually is only #19 on the call up chart at draftxpress. There are a few other SF/SG combos and true SFs out there, but looking at his stats he is younger, more athletic (above the rim) and a better defender than any of the others, so truely ILBIT, he certainly knew what he was getting.

Also, I'm sure everyone has read that 'Melo will be back in Denver tonight, just our freaking luck. Now this is his first game back, and most times after a long break the first game back is nowheres near a players actual averages, but we'll have to see.

How will our "new" team stack up against one of Larry Brown's best point guards? We'll see all too soon...

[ziggy]

The thought of Adam guarding Melo makes me break out in hives.
Hopefully I won't have to see too much of that tonight.

Despite not having Crash, and not having DJ and the likelihood of Sean May getting yet another DNP-WAYTOOFAT, I think we have a good chance of stealing this game.

With Melo coming back tonight, I'm hoping that he will be rusty and out of sync and maybe his rustiness drags down the Denver offense a little.

[TattoodCats4life]

The thought of Adam guarding Melo makes me break out in hives.
Hopefully I won't have to see too much of that tonight.

Despite not having Crash, and not having DJ and the likelihood of Sean May getting yet another DNP-WAYTOOFAT, I think we have a good chance of stealing this game.

With Melo coming back tonight, I'm hoping that he will be rusty and out of sync and maybe his rustiness drags down the Denver offense a little.


That's what I was thinking too... and like I said we've gotten in a practice with "what we've got" so we know where we're at as a team.

[ammofan]

I think we get a win. We always beat the good teams :D

[ammofan]

The thought of Adam guarding Melo makes me break out in hives.
Hopefully I won't have to see too much of that tonight.


Yeah, I don't think he will be guarding him too much.....put raja on him

[TattoodCats4life]

Wanted to let everyone know who lives "close enough" to Charlotte but doesn't have the game, and those who would rather be out than in, there is a watch party at Buckhead Saloon (its about a block away from the stadium on the backside). 9pm tip obviously, from what I understand they are usually there like 45 min before tip. Lady cats, Rally cats, Rufus, giveaways (I've heard they gave away a pair of "feet on the court" seats last year).

Just thought some of you might be interested ;)

[TattoodCats4life]

Just got an update on Cartier Martin from Kstatesports.com


Martin joined the Bobcats on Thursday and will be available for tonight’s game against the Denver Nuggets at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colo.

I look forward to seeing how he pans out. Nothing like trial by fire...

[G-Force for MVP]

i dont want ammo to even be near carmelo in this ggame cuz that is not going to be pretty

[ohara831]

I'd love to see Cartier get about 15 min and 10 pts. It would lift my spirits and make me feel a whole lot better about the upcoming games without Crash as we try to land a Playoff spot!

[TattoodCats4life]

I'd love to see Cartier get about 15 min and 10 pts. It would lift my spirits and make me feel a whole lot better about the upcoming games without Crash as we try to land a Playoff spot!

I second that... 25 min 20 points 10 reb would be even sweeter ;) If he can pull that 2-3 times he'd be signed and starting while wait for GW :p

[davcbow]

Does anyone have a video link to tonights game?

[WarioVsMooChicken]

Well, Adam is starting.

I have a good feeling about him this game, but when do i not say that?! Martin hopefully will be good.

[TattoodCatswife]

Yeah I'm quite excited to see how Martin will turn out for us tonight

[spectre]

http://www.andromedanet.com/tvtuner_sop_guangdong.html

You have to have IE and sopcast loaded.

[WarioVsMooChicken]

We're doing pretty bad =(

Ammo looks like one of our best players so far >.>

[ohara831]

Denver trying to run away and hide. Looks like we forgot how to play basketball. And Okafor is struggling big time out there.

[ArcandiaS]

Hmm, the game on ILP is not working :/ and the support don't answer...
Let's go Cats!

[docend24]

What a trick by Martin! :D

[ziggy]

and Cartier Martin enters the game

[spectre]

The chinese link is really good and strong.

It's just in chinese!

We're within 1!

The new guy is in.

[ziggy]

5 seconds later Martin picks up a foul

[docend24]

I'm watching on http://www.ppnba.com/en/130.html (there is sopcast adress to copy) and it is hilarious. Not only those chinese comentators sounds like Cahrlotte fans (I can't understand a word really, except some names and "wow") but one of that guys in studio is sporting orange Emeka uniform. Nice change.

[davcbow]

Who is chris anderson #11 trying to look like? Rooster Hair doo :p

[docend24]

Sorry just connected to net and didn't want to comment abojut those chinese without providing link lol

(those shoes from the add looks... just chinese . i mean I spotted Adidas but it reminds me shoes in Soviet block in mid 80's).

[Slam]

I think that "Nice Watch" is a great nickname for the new kid, but I'm thinking that "Bling" tells the same story and is much quicker to type.

Thoughts?

[docend24]

At least Hawks are up by 9 (playing Nets) Other resultzs irrelevantz or bad...

[kickazzz2000]

Who the hell is Chris Andersen?

Is Emeka even on the freaking court?

[spectre]

They're still mentioning "J-Rich" in their ticket ad for a "6 pack" on the Charlotte radio link.

Bigs are killing us.

[docend24]

Well that funny kid Andersen is actually good. But I kinda feel that he is insane in the membrane enough to dunk into own basket. He looks deranged.

[spectre]

^ He must be scaring Mek.

[docend24]

Denver defends? WTF this league is getting strange.

[ohara831]

Nene is dominating the paint. Okafor is being embarrassed.

[G-Force for MVP]

well its looking like this is over early

[davcbow]

Yeah we are blowing it big time.... >:(

[dnbman]

Ammo's new nickname is Ammnot.

[dnbman]

Raja's looked like he has better handles than I thought the last few games.

[dnbman]

Big, athletic guys who can finish strong help so much.

Why are they so hard to find? There's got to be a Chris Anderson in every pool hall in America right now.

[ohara831]

Nene looks like an All-Star against us. At least Singletary gave us a little spark at the end. Maybe they come out in the 3rd firing on all cylinders, cause they are not right now.

[TattoodCats4life]

Denver defends? WTF this league is getting strange.

Denver defends because they have a "larry brown" point guard now... Hows about we give them felton and okafor for Anderson and Billups?

[davcbow]

I dont get it we lose one player and we cant play defense no more.... We cant score no more.... Pitiful...>:(

[TattoodCats4life]

They disallowed Lil Sean's shot, probably was too close and at a bad angle to see the lights and timer, I think he had 0.1 left when the ball left his fingers, but I'm not a ref (thank god).

[ohara831]

I was just about to ask what happened. It was on the scoreboard and then gone! Damn! Cant we catch a break?

[BobcatsAllDay]

Note to Boris: Gerald Wallace is not playing....those 16pts. need to resurface on this roster in order for the Bobcats to be successful. This is not the time to be passive with the rock. You must take good shots when they're available. You're a great passer but you're ability to score means so much to this team right now. Enough with the over passing.

[dnbman]

I think they're just not in sync. We just have a lot of line-up problems right now with two key contributors being on the mend. Ammo can provide some offense, but he's getting killed on the defensive end. (Well, most of the team is.)

We're trying to force things instead of playing within a flow.

[spectre]

We replaced one of our better defenders with one who can't defend a chair. Before we really had no weaknesses; now we have to try and cover playing 4 vs. 5.

[davcbow]

The key to get back into this game is to play big time D force denver to have to shoot from the perimeter because they havent hit anything from there yet.... :cool:

[BobcatsAllDay]

There is no way this would happen but I think a short stint in the D-League would help Adam. His confidence is on the IR right now. If he could go to the D-League and get a couple of 30 point games under his belt (which I think he would easily do) I think it could do wonders for his confidence. If Jordan Farmar can play in the D-League Adam can too.

[Shrimpy_Jackson]

It's all gravy guys, if we can catch a second wind, watch out! Goddammit why can't Morrison score anymore? How'd he not at least draw a foul when he caught the pass square under the basket? Whoever said it above was right as well, Diaw needs to cut down on the passing just a smidge and go smash some nuts in their faces.

[ammofan]

There is no way this would happen but I think a short stint in the D-League would help Adam. His confidence is on the IR right now. If he could go to the D-League and get a couple of 30 point games under his belt (which I think he would easily do) I think it could do wonders for his confidence. If Jordan Farmar can play in the D-League Adam can too.

I really don't like that idea personally. But I think it would work.

[docend24]

Nene getting superstar calls against us? That's sick.

[docend24]

Denver defends because they have a "larry brown" point guard now... Hows about we give them felton and okafor for Anderson and Billups?
Bythis argumenting all teams in NBA plays defense because of Larry Brown...

[BobcatsAllDay]

I'm turning into a Boris hater and I don't like it. But everything he does is soft and its killing me. One nasty dunk or dunk attempt could change my mind completely.

[TattoodCats4life]

Bythis argumenting all teams in NBA plays defense because of Larry Brown...

I guess you've got a good point, but when I think of a player that Larry MADE i think of Chauncy, he was on his way out but larry rebuilt him and WOW since then...but yeah larry's touched in one way or another just about everyone in the NBA

[Chef]

with gerald out, mek needs to tap into a mean streak. we need him to be nasty, defend the basket and score more. boris's game is soft. it works well with gerald and mek on the floor as a compliment. mek has to pick up the aggressiveness.

[Shrimpy_Jackson]

Is it just me or are the cats getting called for a foul every time denver has the fucking ball? You figure after a couple of big wins the refs would start swinging a few our way. Motherfucker I hope we win this!

[ohara831]

At least Raja showed up tonight. Cant say that for the others.

[ohara831]

LB must get Ammo out of the game. He's making me sick with his play. It is beginning to affect me physically.

[docend24]

No it is not just you. I care more about out of bounds calls and our offensive fouls (Diop wasn't charging, Nene was just under the basket - on time but oat wrong place and Gana realized that, ref didn't).

Yes we have to have one Toodles on roster otherwise it wouldn't be us. This year it is going to be Boris. He still do many little things but we need him energetic.

Raja Bell is our best player tonight (not bashing Felton, but Raja's experience shows several times every game).

[TattoodCats4life]

I really was hoping to see more of Martin especially as how well he was playing. I just hope they teach him that Wallace never camped in the corner...

[docend24]

I have to say Denver Nuggets play great basketball. Hopefully they will face Lakers soon in play off s and knock those bastards off.

[docend24]

Emeka toodling :(

[BobcatsAllDay]

I have to say Denver Nuggets play great basketball. Hopefully they will face Lakers soon in play off s and knock those bastards off.

That's really pissing me off tonight. I don't think they're as good as advertised. Nothing changed from last year. They are a perimeter driven team (although Billups makes them more efficient than Iverson) and that will not change in the playoffs. They might go down in the 1st round 4-2 unless they face Dallas who ironically is a mirror image of the Nuggets, IMO.

[BobcatsAllDay]

That damn whistle is on fire tonight

[ziggy]

in 16 minutes, Adam has one more rebound than me tonight.

[BobcatsAllDay]

Thank you Andrew Bynum....Thank you

[docend24]

Hack-an-Alexis! Wow!:)

[JamieMcNeill]

Couldnt watch the game tonight but i watched the gamecast.
Cartier had 6 points in 9 mins. sounds good but i didnt watch it.
how did you guys think he looked?

[docend24]

As you couldn't see it, Lex looked really good too, the most important thing was that he actually got the ball in paint (resulted in fouls, missed/blocked semi-dunk and nasty dunk from an offensive rebound). And didn't foul at all. Utilizing his nearly 3 minutes really well.

[TattoodCats4life]

Post game they asked brown about missing wallace, he said we miss him but its no excuse, same with DJ. The FHB last year was all like "We're down 40 points without Tubby and Ammo" Cant help but laugh at that still...

[davcbow]

He did ok but he didnt have any rebounds only 1 asst

[JamieMcNeill]

As you couldn't see it, Lex looked really good too, the most important thing was that he actually got the ball in paint (resulted in fouls, missed/blocked semi-dunk and nasty dunk from an offensive rebound). And didn't foul at all. Utilizing his nearly 3 minutes really well.
Ha docend,
i was actually gonna ask about Lexy based on his stats. Thanks man. Usually Lexy is confused enough to think hes a SG and hangs out on the three point line so im happy to hear he was playing like the 7 footer he is

[davcbow]

Looks to me right now if we cant get this thing turned around without GW playing we are gonna be a lottery team again...Dammit

[TattoodCats4life]

Couldnt watch the game tonight but i watched the gamecast.
Cartier had 6 points in 9 mins. sounds good but i didnt watch it.
how did you guys think he looked?

Hit 2 three's, he passed off a few times more than I'd like, but I think he knows LB likes passing so he's just trying to please. He was above the rim plenty in Iowa, so I'm waiting to see that...but overall I like him...oh in the last few min he pushed his D a bit harder and was really good, almost got a steal off whatever PG denver had out there at the end.

[ohara831]

With the way we are playing without Crash, I am feeling more and more confident that we will have our 1st round draft pick come next year. Sadly.

[JamieMcNeill]

He did ok but he didnt have any rebounds only 1 asst

But not too shabby for his first NBA game though?
Also i read somewhere LB liked his D how did he do defensively?

[TattoodCats4life]

Ha docend,
i was actually gonna ask about Lexy based on his stats. Thanks man. Usually Lexy is confused enough to think hes a SG and hangs out on the three point line so im happy to hear he was playing like the 7 footer he is

Lexy is listed as a C due to size, but his style of play is more like a 3... they grow weird players out there in France, look at the 1-2-3-4-Diaw :)

[davcbow]

But not too shabby for his first NBA game though?
Also i read somewhere LB liked his D how did he do defensively?

He did better than Ammo (DUD)

[TattoodCats4life]

But not too shabby for his first NBA game though?
Also i read somewhere LB liked his D how did he do defensively?

He passed instead of shot a few times...he had what looked to be to be some good looks, but he deferred to Juwan and Lexy. I think he was more like 'take less but better shots' instead of clanging 10 shots of 12... Remember he's on an "audition" like american idol in the NBA...we've basically got to love him to keep him here....and so far I'm not ready to order roses ;)

[TattoodCats4life]

He did better than Ammo (DUD)

Lexy did better than Ammo (per minute) 1 less point in 14 less minutes.

[JamieMcNeill]

He did better than Ammo (DUD)
So what are the odds hes sees more of Ammos minutes next game?

[110oldeast]

dnb,

You pretty much summed up the game here. The difference in physical ability was AMAZING.


Big, athletic guys who can finish strong help so much.

Why are they so hard to find? There's got to be a Chris Anderson in every pool hall in America right now.

[TheBeagle]

Looks to me right now if we cant get this thing turned around without GW playing we are gonna be a lottery team again...Dammit I'm so close to falling into the same line of thought, but I'll give the guys the benefit of the doubt and consider the level of competition and the fact we're playing them on the road with 4 games in 6 nights. Raja is busting his ass to make up for the point production loss, but everybody else just looks lost out there without GW

Anyhow, tonight's game....

Two words: This sucks. Consecutive games in which the game's over after the first six minutes. WTF is going on in the 1st quarter? Sloppy play pretty much to the point of apparent lack of focus. Like I said above, except for Raja, the starters look clueless. If it was anybody but Larry in charge, I'd be worried because new roles will need to be adopted by the guys while GW is out. Not to mention if DJ could ever come back that would be helpful.

Highlights were a great slam by Shannon, a block by Mek on a KMart dunk attempt, Raj keeping the score respectable with 27 (and getting into the head of Dahntay Jones), Juwan doing his usual yeoman's work in the paint, and Lexy getting some productive PT!

Not nearly enough activity in the paint for us. Yes, that's due in part to GW not being here, but they have to find a way to work the ball inside for some easy baskets.

I could also whine about the "iffy" officiating, but that's just part of the night to night life in the NBA...but it was bad ;)

Upward over mountain to Utah for a win to close out this horrific road trip!

[TattoodCats4life]

Reviewing the game, if Martin doesn get a start in Utah after 2 more days practice I'd be downright amazed...I think we have another case of Larry knowing what he wanted... Only thing I was looking for (and he almost did but passed instead) is some above the rim play...He can and does do it.

[docend24]

Just to make it clear - Lexy was on court as a four - with Diop All the time. Went in to join Felton-Bell-Diaw-Diop and all those except Diop were substituted by Singletary-Brown-Martin and the latter lineup was +6 and finish the 8-0 run. You can't get more from http://popcornmachine.net/cgi-bin/gameflow.cgi?date=20090130&game=CHADEN

[dnbman]

Just to make it clear - Lexy was on court as a four - with Diop All the time. Went in to join Felton-Bell-Diaw-Diop and all those except Diop were substituted by Singletary-Brown-Martin and the latter lineup was +6 and finish the 8-0 run. You can't get more from http://popcornmachine.net/cgi-bin/gameflow.cgi?date=20090130&game=CHADEN

To qualify that, our back-ups were playing against their back-ups.

When I look at that link, it basically looks like we came out flat (down 12 early) and then it was a back and forth contest the rest of the way, with Denver having the advantage of that early lead.

I thought our biggest two problems were giving up easy baskets inside and not hitting shots we should have hit early. We had a lot of missed layups early on that didn't help. Also, we had some terrible passes trying to force the issue, most notably by Diaw. There were a couple of plays where it literally looked like he tried to throw the ball through the defender.

I thought Bell and Felton played well in the first half, with Bell providing our only real scoring. Felton was definitely trying to get people involved for the first half, with guys missing a lot of shots they should have made.

At one point, they were hitting 70% of their shots and we were hitting 30%. That's hard to overcome. Of course, we responded by trying to force the issue rather than play our game. Although, at least through the first three quarters, I thought Felton was trying to play the way we should be playing. We just weren't finishing.

Early foul trouble by Okafor on tic-tac fouls hurt. I think our struggles on the defensive end compounded our problems on the offensive end, leaving us out of focus.

It was just a bad game. But, then, we were playing against one of the better teams in the league down two of our main contributors and featuring a few guys that typically don't play much. On paper, we shouldn't have been in that game. Not to make excuses, but I don't feel terribly bad about the win considering the past week of events. Even with 5 minutes left, Larry Brown was encouraging his team rather than riding them like he normally he does. I think Larry Brown sensed they were trying to compete with a lot working against them.