The "Leader" on the Court

[spectre]

To me the undisputed leader and the extension of Larry Brown when we were playing our best last season was definitely Raja Bell. Most on the forum I think realize that...so that really isn't the point of this thread.

Thing is Raja is starting to lose a step or two, and we saw some of that with his injuries end of last season. I expect his age to come into play even more this year, and any optimism has to be tempered with the reality that we could be playing a few games without him.

Who's stepping up? Can Henderson be "that guy"? Was he a leader on his Duke team?

I think Felton can to an extent and he certainly tries...but unless I'm mistaken that's been the knock against him with the two previous idiots who called themselves our coach. Notwithstanding...it IS a legitimate concern.

DJ, with all his positives, also has yet to show any type of "take charge" mentality (and this worries me much more than his defense). We've opined before why he hasn't and this year he might. Until he does tho I'm leary of pegging him for that role.

Crash...not a chance.

Boris? We struggle to get him to play aggressively and somewhat selfishly...asking him to direct players on the court I think might be asking too much.

Who could be that guy? Do we even have him yet? I hope that it can be Henderson, but I don't follow college so someone will have to help me out on that one.

[krazyrumpshaker]

I am a Duke fan, and i dont believe that Henderson is that guy who will step up and be the leader of this team. He was not that in any year while he was at Duke, and he is a rookie and rookies very rarely take over leadership of their pro team.

[etothet]

To me the undisputed leader and the extension of Larry Brown when we were playing our best last season was definitely Raja Bell. Most on the forum I think realize that...so that really isn't the point of this thread.

Thing is Raja is starting to lose a step or two, and we saw some of that with his injuries end of last season. I expect his age to come into play even more this year, and any optimism has to be tempered with the reality that we could be playing a few games without him.

Who's stepping up? Can Henderson be "that guy"? Was he a leader on his Duke team?

I think Felton can to an extent and he certainly tries...but unless I'm mistaken that's been the knock against him with the two previous idiots who called themselves our coach. Notwithstanding...it IS a legitimate concern.

DJ, with all his positives, also has yet to show any type of "take charge" mentality (and this worries me much more than his defense). We've opined before why he hasn't and this year he might. Until he does tho I'm leary of pegging him for that role.

Crash...not a chance.

Boris? We struggle to get him to play aggressively and somewhat selfishly...asking him to direct players on the court I think might be asking too much.

Who could be that guy? Do we even have him yet? I hope that it can be Henderson, but I don't follow college so someone will have to help me out on that one.
I really think Raymond could be that leader. I am not talking about always taking last shots but leading by example. He comes every night to play; He loves the game; He loves the Charlotte Bobcats; I think his decision making will determine if he will be that leader. He had tremendous improvement under LB last year and if he improves his decision making, his field goal percentage will go up and his turnovers come down. He is not far from being exactly what the Bobcats need at the point. I think its up to Raymond.

[Muttley]

I really think Raymond could be that leader. I am not talking about always taking last shots but leading by example. He comes every night to play; He loves the game; He loves the Charlotte Bobcats; I think his decision making will determine if he will be that leader. He had tremendous improvement under LB last year and if he improves his decision making, his field goal percentage will go up and his turnovers come down. He is not far from being exactly what the Bobcats need at the point. I think its up to Raymond.
Most likely candidate fo sure. Crash just isn't vocal enough. Perhaps DJ will show leadership in his 2nd year. You can't fault him too much for not being a vocal leader while simultanously being a rookie.

[spectre]

Most likely candidate fo sure. Crash just isn't vocal enough. Perhaps DJ will show leadership in his 2nd year. You can't fault him too much for not being a vocal leader while simultanously being a rookie.

I agree about not faulting DJ...it's just a concern. Maybe I think he just needs a little more cockiness (esp. with that 3 shot he has).

Felton's trying, and I think he has gotten better. I guess part of my problem with him being that is I think he's one of the guys who needs to be held accountable (and Crash). IMO at times he has to realize that he can't look at the big picture...esp. when the guy he's assigned to guarding is burning him from outside repeatedly.

BTW...did I mention that my primary concern is defense and not offense? LOL! That might make a difference!

[ammofan]

Right now this is how I see it.......

1. Felton
2. Diaw
3. Wallace
4. Bell

Maybe in the future this is how it will be.....

1. Wallace
2. Felton
3. DJ
4. Diaw
5. Hendo
That is just based on player progression and who will get minutes more blah blah blah

[Muttley]

I agree about not faulting DJ...it's just a concern. Maybe I think he just needs a little more cockiness (esp. with that 3 shot he has).I think an offensive swagger would suit DJ very nicely.
Felton's trying, and I think he has gotten better. I guess part of my problem with him being that is I think he's one of the guys who needs to be held accountable (and Crash). IMO at times he has to realize that he can't look at the big picture...esp. when the guy he's assigned to guarding is burning him from outside repeatedly.

BTW...did I mention that my primary concern is defense and not offense? LOL! That might make a difference!

Never would I ever accuse you of caring about offense!The answer to your question may end up being Henderson by default. I think he can be the one that makes sure the other 4 are accountable. That's for the future, however. This season, we just hope to see him do that with the second unit.

[teej]

Henderson wasn't really a factor in Coach K's system, either.

But I don't think our future leader is on the roster yet...or if it is, we're screwed.

[WhatTheHeel74]

Gerald Wallace needs to be the team leader because he's been here since day 1 and he plays with so much heart on the court.

[Muttley]

Gerald Wallace needs to be the team leader because he's been here since day 1 and he plays with so much heart on the court.
You can't make an orange an apple.

Don't get me wrong, Gerald is my favorite NBA player. He's the best player on the Bobcats. But it may not be in him to be a vocal leader. (Plus, his voice is so low, you don't want him accidentally hitting the "brown note" while yelling at Boris to keep his man outta the paint.) He's really best at help defense more so than locking down his man anyway.

I dunno, I guess maybe it could happen. Most of y'all know more about basketball than me anyways.

Also, I like oranges .

[davcbow]

I think GW is the team leader in actual play but I dont think he is the vocal leader, but who else do we have that could do it? Felts could do it but maybe not the best choice. Bell would be a darn good one but how long is he going to be around? Its between GW, Felts and Bell unless we make a trade for someone that would be a better choice....:cool:

[TheBeagle]

Yeah, Gerald is the leader of the locker room and inspires via his play on the court, but he's not the conventional "team leader" spectre is calling for.

The closest thing we have (excepting Raja, per spectre's discussion) is Raymond....though he's not signed, so does he even count?

I'm with those that think a successor to Raja is not currently on the roster, unless DJ steps up to the plate in his second season. But even then, not being able to contain his own man on defense is going to make it difficult to ride his teammates to up their effort on defense when he isn't able to do likewise....

[docend24]

MAybe not a ledership but I disree that we are yet to see DJ taking charge - he himslef defeated Bulls (including that four point play - just to point out which game I have on my mind)

[SCBobcat]

I think we also have to keep in mind DJ's age. He was drafted after his sophmore year, making him the youngest player to play heavy minutes we have had in our existence. DJ has always just seemed so mature- probobly with all he has overcome in the wake of Katrina. I expect him to show us that he has grown even more this season. However, like GW and some of our other guys, he seems more like a lead-by-example guy instead of a vocal leader.

[spectre]

^ Good point.

I don't see DJ's defense as being that bad. He improved busting thru screens vs. going under them somewhat (I think the injury hindered a lot) and he's a darn good defender against the post ups/defender backing him down. The big concern is him stopping that dribble penetration...which makes me question his lateral quickness. Again though, he's young and that just might be something else besides physical limitation.

IMO tho we HAVE to have a vocal leader on the court in regards to defense. Someone to hold the others accountable like Raja does now.

Maybe that guy isn't here yet. If that's the case then I hope Raja stays healthy this season.

[spectre]

I think an offensive swagger would suit DJ very nicely.

Never would I ever accuse you of caring about offense!The answer to your question may end up being Henderson by default. I think he can be the one that makes sure the other 4 are accountable. That's for the future, however. This season, we just hope to see him do that with the second unit.

Heh, boy do you know me!

I appreciate a well run offensive play like the next guy...but when a team plays defense to perfection like the old Detroit team did under Larry Brown that's like a work of art to me.

I saw that in spurts last season...and it's a big reason why I'm so high on this team right now.

[davcbow]

Heh, boy do you know me!

I appreciate a well run offensive play like the next guy...but when a team plays defense to perfection like the old Detroit team did under Larry Brown that's like a work of art to me.

I saw that in spurts last season...and it's a big reason why I'm so high on this team right now.

I do agree with you but having said that what good is all the great defense if you cant score any points? There has to be some amount of importance to offense to score enough points to win the majority of the games so we can get to the playoffs.........:cool:

[spectre]

I do agree with you but having said that what good is all the great defense if you cant score any points? There has to be some amount of importance to offense to score enough points to win the majority of the games so we can get to the playoffs.........:cool:

Absolutely...BUT!

Going totally from memory here, but do you know the only team that didn't make the playoffs who was top 15 in defense last season?

Us. I think we ended up around 7th to 9th.

Compare that to the top scoring teams. The run and gunners like GSW, PHO and NY didn't make the playoffs at all.

That's why LB's system of "letting our defense initiate our offense" IMO is a pretty sound strategy...esp. without a go to scorer like Kobe.

Like I said, I do appreciate a fine tuned offense where an intricate play with movement/picks generates the easy basket...but watching defenders switch flawlessly without letting their guy see an ounce of daylight and forcing them into a difficult buzzer beating shot is just beautiful to me.