Charlotte at Dallas Mavericks 12/26

[ziggy]

Will this be one of those nights that we play well against one of the top teams in the league OR we bout to step into another 20,30 or 39 point blowout. The fun matchup of the night no doubt be Raymond Felton matched up against Devin Harris. They are both guys that are ridiculously fast end to end, and they love to push the pace.
Are we going to get a win tonight?

Bobcats
G R. Felton
G D. Anderson
F G. Wallace
F E. Okafor
C P. Brezec
Mavericks
G D. Harris
G J. Terry
F J. Howard
F D. Nowitzki
C E. Dampier

[tamburello]

It's very difficult to get out of American Airlines Center without being blown out by Mavs. I don't even say a word about win. Mavs are the one of best three teams in the league(along Spurs and Suns), IMO.

We are 0-5 against them in overall and we'll have to wait until at least next season to grab our first ever win against Mavs.

At our first meeting this season, they had beaten us 93-85 despite being held 39% FG pct. I'm pessimistic about our chances to upset them. But I don't forget that we're the best "upsetting" team in the NBA.

Furthermore, they don't have an injured player as far as I remember. Only Stackhouse was day-to-day in their last match, but he'll probably play. Do you know whether May or Knight will play tonight?

[ziggy]

Brevin is out. He is still having groin problems. I haven't heard yet if Sean May is returning tonight.

[djack]

2 positives to start with.
* No Adrian Branch
* Matt Carroll in the starting lineup. I have a feeling that Matt is going to have a BIG game.

[dvdbumpus]

2 positives to start with.
* No Adrian Branch
* Matt Carroll in the starting lineup. I have a feeling that Matt is going to have a BIG game.

If Carroll lights it up and holds the fort down on Terry, I feel we got em beat @ the point, equal on the SF, Okafor should hopefully defend Nowitzki. I feel this game will depend on Brezec and the C spot, as well as Carroll and the SG spot. If we win these matchups we stand a chance, however slight it is.

We can do it!

[ziggy]

We're down 19-16 with 4:20 left, but I like the pace of the game. With players like Felton, Wallace and Okafor we should run like this all the time,

[djack]

Hmmm. Bernie dusted off Melvin Ely and hes getting some 1st quarter minutes. He isn't doing a lot with those minutes though

[dvdbumpus]

I really wish Carroll got more minutes. He deserves it. If only he was a better rebound or passer.

We definitely got beat at the C position. Brezec had a horrible game. not a single point.

[Keetch]

Well its the fourth quarter and we're losing big....classic Bobcats tonite...this is what I saw:

Horrible horrible defense, really no one guarding Nowitzki on the perimeter, no one can. Just watched Dirk hit a three over Derek Anderson...that's not even funny. Free shots for the Mavs from all over the court; Bobcats chasing...flailing in the air.

Wallace inconsistant and often reckless. Really bad vibes there.

Okafor often double-teamed by the Mavs Center and Josh Howard = Okafor ineffective, leaving Wallace with the ball too much. Scorers are Morrison, Wallace and Carroll; not Felton or Okafor the 2 "best" players on the floor for us. Okafor is our one true stud on the floor, but the Mavs know it and are shutting him down. Unfortunately Okafor isn't resisting much and is standing around...not sure why. This is his team.

"Morrison is a scorer not a shooter." argh enough of that. He's put up some points tonite and gotten some rebounds, but really what is he doing? On the other end Dirk roams free and our big 6-8 SF/SG isn't even allowed to be near him, leaving Jake Voskuhl or whatever PG completely overmatched.

We just grossly lack defensive and offensive athleticism at the SF/SG mid-size postions where SO much of the high NBA game plays out. We're just not competing there.

[djack]

Unfortunately Okafor isn't resisting much and is standing around...not sure why. This is his team.

I've noticed that at times myself. I wonder if 2 & 1/2 years of being on a team thats getting pounded night in and night out has broken some of the player's spirit.
Okafor and Felton are guys that had tremendous success at every level that they've played... until they got to the Bobcats. Now they are stuck on a team thats tied for the 2nd worst record in the league and tthey are being led by an incompetent coach.
At some point all of that has to start messing with their minds.