Wednesday, April 21, 2010

5 thoughts about Game 2 as Bobcats go down 0-2

Just finished watching the Bobcats lose, 92-77, to Orlando in Game 2 of this 7-game series. A few thoughts that I couldn't fit into my column:

1. Both head coaches seemed to be equally furious at the officiating Wednesday night. Larry Brown and Stan Van Gundy each drew a technical. Van Gundy believes his superstar Dwight Howard doesn't get superstar calls and keeps getting whistled for "marginal fouls" -- Howard has missed about 20 minutes of both games because of foul trouble.

Brown was upset that only three players on his team shot free throws at all Wednesday and that Orlando outshot the Bobcats from the free-throw line, 35-18.

2. Van Gundy disputed Brown's notion that the Magic didn't practice Monday because they didn't respect Charlotte. He said instead that Game 1 was so brutal that his players needed some "physical rest," and he added that Orlando won't practice much on Thursday, either. Van Gundy portrayed all this as a compliment to Charlotte, but then again, what did you expect him to say?

3. Three Charlotte starters -- Boris Diaw, Theo Ratliff and Raymond Felton -- shot a combined 4-for-15 and scored a total of nine points Wednesday. That's nasty.

4. Vince Carter was much better Wednesday, showing what he can still do when he drives to the rim and accepts contact instead of settling for outside jumpers. He scored a team-high 19 points. Carter and Raymond Felton also had a brief dispute on the court that caused Carter to roll his eyes at Felton -- you don't see two Tar Heels doing that too often.

5. Tyson Chandler had six fouls in a little more than 13 minutes of action Wednesday. Geez.

15 comments:

Unknown said...

We've seen watching this series what a real playoff team is and isn't. Charlotte has a ways to go yet. They must get better depth and more quality depth of shooters. Like Del was off the bench for the Hornets.

Anonymous said...

Van Gundy was crying to the refs because his team NEVER commits a foul. They have to be the biggest babies in the NBA.

LB has legitimate beef, Charlotte was beat sure, but they get no respect from the officials. They had finally started to get some at the end of they year, but are going to have to re-earn it in the playoffs.

Anonymous said...

The talent difference between the two teams is wide. A team with only 2 scoring threats will get clobbered every time. This series will be over in 4. Maybe next year we can get players that can play more than just defense.

Anonymous said...

Howard doesn't get any calls going his way. The fouls that are called on him would NEVER be called against Wallace. As for SVG's comments about resting his players on Monday, the whole conversation started when LB made something out of nothing and tried to fire up his players. LB's efforts failed horribly. Leave it at that.

Anonymous said...

The Bobcats set the game of basketball back 30 years last night. That was an embarassing display of basketball, and Larry Brown should be embarassed to have coached them. No team play, no ball movement, horrible shooting. I'm a fan and that made it all the more painful to watch.

Anonymous said...

Other teams have players without the ball moving on offense.

Bobcats should try it.

Anonymous said...

Bobcats could not shoot the ball, and hate to say but Felton is suspect on defense. Howard was getting some bum calls, so was Jackson..Hopefully a win will help Charlotte Saturday.

Anonymous said...

Two thoughts on the Bobcats.. They suck!!

HAve2650 said...

A few thoughts...

1) why does Diaw play so many minutes when he is so incredibly ineffective
2) why is Hughes getting minutes when Stephen Graham had such a huge game in Orlando when Wallace was injured?
3) Why is Tyson the 3rd option off the bench when he has been playing so well? He's proven he's our strongest center the past 5 games or so yet he doesn't get in until we're down 10 or 15.

Unknown said...

jameer nelson had thirteen points yesterday thats why were losing we dont get enough production. from our starts besides jack an gw

MagicPhan said...

I understand your frustration, especially as a Magic Fan for 20 (mostly painful) years. But this playoff run is only going to be a reference point for Charlotte's future. You guys have MJ running the show. You're going nowhere but up.

Anonymous said...

If Felton didn't go to Carolina would he be starting?

Matt said...

It is funny that all of the ridiculous comments come from the Anonymous posters.

HAve2650 you make very good points. Diaw has played a ridiculous amount of minutes and has been terrible defender during these minutes. Anyone see Lewis hit those two corner 3's in the fourth of game 2? Diaw's fault! He pretty much had 6 unassited TO's last game too.

Who the heck said "Felton play in the NBA if he wasn't from UNC. YOU = Dumb. The NBA is not tied to what college you are from. DJ has been better but LB figured it out and played DJ in the 4th more.

The only thing I question is why Diaw is playing so much when Thomas at least rebounds and plays Defense.

LB put Chandler 3rd in the rotation because he is thinking all "defense" and Tyson is just plain soft on Defense.

MichaelProcton said...

No, 8:23. It's only because he went to Chapel Hill that he gets any run at all. It's been five years, and he STILL can't run an NBA offense. He STILL can't hit a contested jump shot from more than about eight feet out. He STILL is one of the very worst players in the entire league in endgame situations. But we'll likely see him back in a Bobcats uniform for several years at about $8 mil a pop, because that move would be supported by Jordan. And Brown. And Alkie Phil Ford. And Buzz Peterson. And Jeff McInnis. And Sean May.

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