Toronto Raptors at Charlotte Bobcats 11/9

[ammofan]

agreed Marvel...

[Keetch]

Well now I don't know where to begin....so here goes....

About the crowd. If you think its dead in the Arena then get off your duff and go down there and watch the game and get drunk and yell your brains out; or drink cokes and yell your brains out, but please quit complaining.

Here's what I saw...a Sunday afternoon game that brought out a lot of young families with their kids, in some cases very young kids; and as far as I can tell, everyone seemed to be having a good time. There were more seats filled in the Arena than I thought there would be. Overall I thought it was a good day at the park.

Observations:

Being there with my grandson; I had my first up close encounter with Rufus. He came over and gave us both high fives and then patted me on the shoulder. I felt truly charmed.

The team came out in good spirits overall, but Wallace got miffed early when he missed some free throws. It was so bad that LB took him out. Wallace went over and sat next to MJ and immediately got an earfull. As soon as MJ was done, LB came over and gave him some too, lol. But Wallace never really recovered. He had a funk going as he does sometimes. I don't think its the trade rumors, because I've seen it before, but it could be who knows.

Larry Brown particularly was VERY spirited in the first half, pushing his team on and constantly into the game. I swear he's the true sixth man. The boys were right there with him. I was SO impressed with Felton's and DJ's speed with the ball....

Chris Paul the other night showed me what all-star quickness is; I was in awe. He has a lateral move that is freaking instantaneous. I saw him create five feet of freedom from Felton and DJ numerous times with that sidestep. Its not quite a cross over, because crossing-over takes time. This is INSTANT. Anyway; Felton and DJ don't have that lateral move, but they have similar quickness straight ahead; and its impressive to watch as well. They both had it going in the first half; penetrating the paint and dishing...

I've not been in Ammo's camp since we drafted him. What I've seen is a guy who thinks too much and was mechanical in movement. Note the "was". It is clear that Adam is finding his Mojo and fluidity on the court. His confidence shows in his ability to move on both defense, where his positioning is much better and on offense where he's protecting the ball when he has it and moving very well without it. Adam Morrison has become an asset. Go figure.

In the post-game interview on the radio, Larry Brown mentioned that "this is the team we have right now" and then let the "short-handed" words out. It's clear he feels he's playing short-handed; whether because of Sean May or otherwise.

That showed in the second half today. I thought the team fatigued early and fell victim to Toronto's defensive intensity. Both Ray and DJ got caught up in pressure defense and traps and didn't execute out of it well. Crash was still funked out and JRich couldn't find space too shoot. Ammofan may be right; that Ammo could have helped; but I think it was Toronto sensing blood and All-Star Awesome Player Chris Bosh taking over. That happens with players of his caliber. It was something to see.

When the Raptors weren't trapping at half court, they were clogging the middle so that DJ and Ray couldn't drive and dish. That seemed to leave the guys frustrated and tired.

Overall I think this team has the talent and emerging skill/intelligence to contend on most nights. I swear in the 1st half we looked like by far the better team. But it will take major effort to pull wins and major smarts as well. The game the Bobcats are now playing is vastly different from last year, and its A GREAT DEAL OF FUN TO WATCH. This team is getting there and can be nasty good at times. So y'all come on out and watch some NBA basketball in Charlotte!

I was planning on selling a lot of my tix this year. Now I'm having some serious second thoughts. I LOVE this team!

[spectre]

Good stuff Keetch! Thanks for the breakdown.

[Dunk]

I was at the arena as well. It was a Sunday afternoon so a lot of families were in attendance. Right now, the city just isn't into the team and probably won't be until they start winning.

The team, IMO, just seems to move a lot faster with DJ at the helm. He'll be the starter by mid-season. I think he's just plain better than Felton. He just seems quicker and can dish better. At least it looks that way to me in person.

We need something to happen at the four. Just seeing how we handle things under the basket, it's ugly. If we can hit our shots, that opens it up for penetration and we do okay. Otherwise, we don't have anyone who can bang or handle a team that's big under the basket. It felt like Bosh got about 25 rebounds. Obviously we knew this but seeing it in-person a couple times now makes it even more apparent.

[ammofan]

I was at the arena as well. It was a Sunday afternoon so a lot of families were in attendance.

i forgot to post what happened to me and my dad today. We were sitting in the Upper Level like section 223 I think and then this one guy comes and is talking to us. He says he is a salesman for the cats and whatever. he asked how many games we go to and then he asks us if we want to sit down low today! I was like "heck yeah"! lol
So we go down have a good conversation with the guy on the way down and he gave us "Comp" seats section 110 seats 5-6 row l. Great seats behind basketball by TOR bench.
They did this with a few people today because I saw them bringing other people down too.

[TheBeagle]

Good stuff Keetch! Thanks for the breakdown.

I concur! John Delong in the heyday of the Charlotte Hornets wishes he did as good analysis as Keetch does in the Journal!!

Glad to hear it was a nice enough crowd today....I honestly expected the paid attendance to be 9K for such an early game on a Sunday. I really have nothing to say since I was working today and the game wasn't televised: I was able to get to the radio twice and heard they were up by 10 with 5 or so minutes to go in the 3rd, and then they were down by 7 with a minute or so to go in the game with Bosh hitting a jumper to put 'em up by 9 and I cut it off in anger.

I don't know if I agree with the attendance comments, BobcatsfaninETX, but otherwise, I really liked the post, and agree with it!!! +1

Marvel, also is right with the consistency being such a problem.

I also agree with Keetch about Gerald....I've seen him get in these moods before (last year's home game vs. Spurs, is one I remember) where he just gets down and can't get out of it; it could be the stress of trade talks is adding to it, but I'm skeptical.

I also don't understand Larry's rotations at times: Ammo and Matt should've been seeing more PT since Gerald and JR were so off, or at the very least, JR, since Gerald expends such energy on the defensive end, especially when playing the 4. DJ's numbers looked good, but I don't know how he looked.

Saw his postgame comments on bobcats.com, and yeah, Coach is still getting his digs at FO for some inside help! I swear if a big trade is needed, if we can't get value for Gerald, then I agree JR should be shopped and see if an improvement over Eddy Curry can't be made.

Anyway, let's bounce back Tuesday!

[BIGCatBobcat]

I had a good time at the game today. Until those final 5 minutes or something, they just looked flat and they weren't selling anymore beer. I left. Ammofan, must be nice. I like the seats in the "Rock the Rooftop" area but lower level is fantsatic. Never been moved up except when I had the broken leg 2 years ago. Anyway, 2 guys in the 7' range and athletic like O'Neal and Bosh will wear out Mek and Gerald every time. Ajinca just isn't ready yet but I see promise. I don't even want to mention the guy who started at the 4 for us opening night in Cleveland or wherever but I told the guy who sits beside me that we really could use a guy in the 6'10" range who is a little bit north of 225, a little north I said. Actually that might be incredibly skinny. We need help at that spot but I am not willing to give up what it would take to get a truly good one in trade. We're in too many games with what we've got and just need a little help, not an overhaul.

[Keetch]

DJ had one sick move in the first half when he dribbled down the sideline and made a cut inside, into the paint; but when he hit the wall of bigs, he VERY quick spin/dribbled out with the ball and popped a jumper (swish).

It was sweet.

I'm not sure "inconsistancy" is the right word here. This team is getting better; but it still has flaws; they're still learning real coaching and they need a 4 bad. What happens with that is sometimes teams on the other side figure out how to beat you and it happens. That's not necessarily inconsistancy. That's the ebb and flow of professional athletes coached by professional coaches. It's tough and competitive out there, and nobody gives away anything. I didn't see this game as inconsistant. I saw it as strategic on both sides; with Toronto's superior frontline taking control in the second half....leaving our coach to admit he's "short-handed", i.e.; there wasn't much strategy he could employ when the other side had it going inside.

I really thought it was a pretty good game; win or lose.

[spectre]

Did you guys notice how well we were driving/kicking it out, esp. at the beginning of the 3rd? It was outstanding! Gotta hand it to Smitch tho; he adjusted and clogged the paint with his bigs and took it away…and we were lost and confused on what to do after that.


Sign of some good things coming!

[Keetch]

I couldn't agree more Spectre. I've been just AMAZED at the improved movement with this team, on both ends of the court. This is definitely not your run-of-the-mill Ham Biscuit Bobcats.

This talk about inconsistency is so "last year".....the effort is back; its just that that doesn't guarantee wins...it does in a way guarantee better times though.