The Bobcats can’t shoot
Ray Felton
Watching the Bobcats snatch defeat from the jaws of victory last night, I figured out their biggest problem, the reason why — even if they beat the odds and sneak into the playoffs this year — they’re not really ready yet.
Charlotte desperately needs a crunch-time jump shooter. You look at the playoff teams in the League, and most of them have at least one: Kobe in L.A., Ben Gordon in Chicago, Chauncey in Denver, and as the ‘Cats have so emphatically learned over the past couple seasons, Ray Allen in Boston. But it doesn’t even have to be a star or a 20-point scorer; Roger Mason fills that role in San Antonio, Steve Blake has hit a lot of clutch jumpers for Portland, and Rasual Butler has even come up big for New Orleans when called upon.
When the Bobcats need a bucket, Options A and B are Ray Felton and Boris Diaw. But neither of them is a reliable jump shooter in those situations; Felton gets his on penetration or the occasional pull-up, and Diaw gets his on mid-range stuff or Ron Artest-ish awkward drives.
As the ‘Cats watched Ray Allen take out their heart multiple times last night, they couldn’t respond with a sniper of their own. At no time was I confident any of them would hit a big-time jump shot when it was needed. That’s why they allowed the Celtics to go on an 8-0 run to force overtime, why their last play before OT involved Felton getting into the paint but not knowing what to do once he got there and Diaw throwing up a hook shot that didn’t hit rim. That’s why despite Larry Brown drawing up a good inbounds play at the end of the second OT — with Emeka Okafor crushing Ray on a pick and getting Raja Bell a wide-open look from three — they couldn’t deliver.
On paper, Raja Bell is Charlotte’s go-to shooter. And while he did hit a ton of threes in Phoenix and his percentages look good (41.9% 3PA), he doesn’t strike fear in anyone’s heart besides Daniel Ewing. So who’s it going to be? Vlad Radmanovic seems like a good candidate, and he was often a safety-valve option on last-second plays when he was with the Lakers, but Coach Brown doesn’t use him in that role. While Radmanovic has gotten about 20 minutes of burn per night since the trade, he’s not in the game in crunch-time situations. D.J. Augustin can shoot, and was 4-for-4 beyond the arc against Boston, but where do you play him at the end of the game when you already need Felton (ball-handling, passing), Bell (defense, hustle plays), Diaw (scoring, passing), Gerald Wallace (defense, hustle plays) and Emeka Okafor (defense, rebounding) to be on the court?
There is one solution: Trading Felton this summer for some value that hopefully includes a shooter. If nothing else, it’ll open up the PG job for Augustin, who can take and make those spot-up jumpers in a pinch. But that’s for next season. This season, the absence of That Guy on the ‘Cats roster will be what ultimately keeps them out of the playoffs. Again.
April 2nd, 2009 at 4:36 pm
Heckler...formerly 'yallallreadyknow' says:
adam morrison was suppose to be that jump shooter for them. but they traded his whack ass for vladomir
April 2nd, 2009 at 4:42 pm
Ian says:
LOL nice opening austin
April 2nd, 2009 at 4:54 pm
srb says:
emeka rocks so hard
April 2nd, 2009 at 4:56 pm
Celts Fan says:
Isn’t Matt Carroll still wasting cap space on that team? Definitely not who you’re looking for to fill that role, but he can at least shoot and coulda been out there in an offense/defense role at the end. But yes, trade someone and get a worthwhile shooter, cuz that line-up – all the way up and down – is filled with guys that can’t shoot at all. That’s why the Richardson trade makes no sense (from a basketball point anyway, which clearly wasn’t the reason cheapo pulled the trigger on that move.)
April 2nd, 2009 at 5:02 pm
the cynic says:
Richardson trade made plenty of sense, he plays no D. The Bobcats are a better team with Diaw and Bell over Richardson
April 2nd, 2009 at 5:14 pm
lifep says:
Not feeling the Daniel Ewing reference….secondly, Raymond’s my favorite player but he shoots entirely too much..thirdly, yes we blew that game last night..
April 2nd, 2009 at 5:16 pm
jryu says:
1. matt carroll is on dallas
2. that daniel ewing line was cold lol. i still remember that shot in the playoffs..
April 2nd, 2009 at 6:53 pm
AY says:
just a few months ago, the Bobcats looked like they were a whole new starting lineup away from even getting recognized as an nba franchise, and now they’re beating the lakers and taking the celtics to the limit. We only wonder what the missing piece is to their puzzle, definitely kudos to larry brown and la cabra. Maybe la cabra at age 45 can come in and drain one in jesus’s face.
April 2nd, 2009 at 6:56 pm
AB_40 says:
stephen curry next season haha untill after about 3 preseason games coach brown decides to let him ‘work on his game’ for a full year resulting in 5 to 10 minutes of burn per game.
April 2nd, 2009 at 7:42 pm
Dodge Taylor says:
Did I read #6 properly … someone’s favourite player is actually Ray Felton?? What, from his college days? Not sure he’s done anything in the NBA that would make someone like him. I’d be surprised if he’s anyone favourite Bobcat let alone NBA player, give me G Wallace E V E R Y day of the week.
April 3rd, 2009 at 1:27 am
Hmmmmm says:
Dodge – That’s the same G Wallace that left Ray Allen in the corner for the 3. If his basketball IQ matched his hustle he would be an All-Star.
April 3rd, 2009 at 10:52 am
Diego says:
DJ Augustine can really shoot. He’s the guy, period. Screw is D at the end of the game.
Carroll on Dallas; Adam Morrison with Lakers. What did the Bobcats get in return?
April 3rd, 2009 at 10:53 am
Diego says:
DJ Augustin can really shoot. He’s the guy, period. Screw is D at the end of the game.
Carroll on Dallas; Adam Morrison with Lakers. What did the Bobcats get in return?
April 3rd, 2009 at 10:54 am
Diego says:
DJ Augustin can really shoot. He’s the guy, period. Screw his D at the end of the game.
Carroll on Dallas; Adam Morrison with Lakers. What did the Bobcats get in return?
April 3rd, 2009 at 10:55 am
Diego says:
Sorry about that!!! Didn’t think that shit posted.
April 3rd, 2009 at 12:27 pm
MSkittle says:
They had J Rich. Guess he wasn’t a good enough shooter for them.