Charlotte Bobcats ‘09-10 NBA season preview
Ray Felton
Last year we debuted the “Highs and Lows” system — previewing the NBA season by predicting the respective ceiling and basement for each team. Same theme, different season…
Added: Tyson Chandler, Gerald Henderson, Flip Murray, Derrick Brown, Stephen Graham
Lost: Emeka Okafor, Sean May, Juwan Howard, Cartier Martin
Ceiling: Playoffs. Finally.
You know the Bobcats’ regular script by now: Respectable talent and depth at (almost) every position, some good athletes and solid defenders, a solid scorer or two, a promising Lottery pick, and a healthy amount of preseason potential. Why will that finally translate to a playoff spot in 2010? Because they’ve got Larry Brown. While a lot of people (including myself) predicted doom in LB’s first year in Charlotte, he embraced this teaching opportunity and got the ‘Cats within a few games of the 8th seed in the East without an All-Star or even what you’d call a traditional go-to guy on the roster … The team’s best overall player, Gerald Wallace (16.7 ppg, 7.8 rpg, 1.7 spg), is an All-Star caliber defender and garbage-point scorer reminiscent of Shawn Marion in his prime … When the Bobcats need to create buckets in crunch time, though, that aforementioned go-to guy is Boris Diaw; while not quite Brandon Roy, he’s a smart playmaker and good ball-handler who can score from mid-range and inside and hit an occasional three … Ray Felton is one of the more underrated point guards in the League, and could be playing with a chip on his shoulder after sitting on the free agent market forever this summer. His backup, D.J. Augustin, is Charlotte’s best late-game shooter. Felton and free-agent pickup Flip Murray are the Cats’ two best scorers off the dribble … Tyson Chandler brings an athleticism to the center spot that former franchise player Emeka Okafor didn’t have, and in his last two healthy seasons (’06-07 and ‘07-08) finished second and third, respectively, in the NBA in rebounding.
Basement: Lottery. Again.
Raja Bell isn’t the impact player he was at his peak in Phoenix, but he’s still an important part of Charlotte’s plans as one of their top defenders and better outside shooters. Bell injured his wrist in the preseason, and as of earlier today, was still undecided on surgery that could put him out for up to four months. Last night Brown started Augustin in Bell’s regular two-guard spot, but that gives the ‘Cats a small backcourt that would get taken advantage of defensively … Losing Bell also means more playing time for rookie Gerald Henderson, but he could be a victim of the Bobcats’ financial problems; because the organization decided not to pay the cost to field a summer-league team, Henderson was a ringer for Minnesota’s summer squad, and not training in Charlotte’s program could hurt his progress. (Henderson hasn’t really stood out yet in the preseason.) Same goes for second-year big man Alexis Ajinca, who might just stink … Chandler is a downgrade offensively from Okafor, and without Chris Paul to create looks for him, is pretty much a lock to be a single-digit scorer who still can’t shoot free throws. Backup center DeSagana Diop is just as one-dimensional; a good shot-blocker with hardly any offense to speak of … Wallace is always a health risk, due to his reckless style and just plain bad luck. And seriously, Boris Diaw is their go-to guy.
*** *** ***
10/21 — San Antonio Spurs
10/21 — Miami Heat
10/19 — Oklahoma City Thunder
10/19 — Milwaukee Bucks
10/15 — Portland Trail Blazers
10/14 — Chicago Bulls
10/13 — Golden State Warriors
10/12 — Toronto Raptors
10/9 — Houston Rockets
10/8 — Detroit Pistons
10/7 — Memphis Grizzlies
10/6 — New York Knicks
10/5 — New Orleans Hornets
10/2 — Atlanta Hawks
9/30 — Sacramento Kings
9/29 — New Jersey Nets
9/28 — Denver Nuggets
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October 21st, 2009 at 3:31 pm
Ian says:
austin what u think of arod now?
October 21st, 2009 at 3:33 pm
Austin Burton says:
A-Rod is kicking ass. Did I say something bad about him before? BTW, do you still think Jeter is overrated?
October 21st, 2009 at 3:42 pm
sh!tfaced says:
Two words why A-Rod is kicking ass right now.
Kate Hudson.
A-Rod has been playing a 30 mil man ever since they started dating…
October 21st, 2009 at 4:56 pm
Ashlov says:
The Cats made the right move with Felton. He’s an overrated chump who should be a backup point guard on a contender. DJ Augustin is the future at the point for Charlotte.
I’ll be surprised if they make the playoffs.
October 21st, 2009 at 5:44 pm
Ian says:
of course hes overrated people (yankee fans) think hes better than arod isnt that being overrated? mention him with ruth gerigh mantle isnt that being overrated?
if u combine new yorks 2 ss and 2 3bs hes prob the worst one of the group but he should be 2nd in mvp voting so i cant complain.
i dont remember if u said anything bad about arod but some people call him a choker (dirk effect i call it)
October 21st, 2009 at 6:01 pm
Austin Burton says:
I don’t know anyone who says Jeter is more talented than A-Rod, but if the ultimate barometer is winning — which you and I both use when talking about Duncan/Parker and the Spurs — Jeter had accomplished more.
And yes, Jeter does belong in the same sentence with Mantle, Gehrig, Ruth, etc. If you look at the Yankee record books and look at Jeter’s hits, average, runs scored, extra-base hits and a few other categories, he’s right up there with those guys. Therefore, same sentence. At least the same paragraph.
October 21st, 2009 at 6:58 pm
Ian says:
austin
in baseball winning doesnt cout like in basketball
one man cant carry a team like in basketball so no its not the ultimate barometer. pujols arod bonds have a combined 1 titles so jeter is better fuck no he was in a better team.
now the numbers u have the balls compare jeter because of career totals in hits and runs lol please austin you are better than that why dont u go ahead and compare avg seasons for those players.
ruth
avg 342
runs 141
hrs 46
rbis 146
ops 1164
arod
305
126
44
128
965
pujols
334
124
42
129
1055
jeter the great
317
119
17
81
847
best part is that jeter scores less than the three superstars i mentioned and has always been on a better team than arod and pujols.
jeter goes on the next chapter after them not in the same paragraph.
how do u rank iverson alltime because the man sure has big total of points scored.
October 21st, 2009 at 6:59 pm
Ian says:
again austin im not sayin u on the arod/jeter comparison but u know that is what most people think.
October 21st, 2009 at 7:10 pm
Austin Burton says:
Of course if you compare Jeter to a bunch of power hitters, he’s going to come out looking weak.
In Yankees history, Jeter is 5th in average, 4th in runs, 1st in hits, 1st in singles, 4th in doubles, 10th in HR’s, 10th in RBI’s, 7th in walks, 2nd in steals, 4th in “runs created” (whatever that is), 7th in extra-base hits … You can’t front on the numbers. In all those categories he’s ahead of, right behind or even with Ruth, Mantle, Gehrig, etc.
The guy has the rings, the awards, the stats … what else do you want?
October 21st, 2009 at 7:38 pm
Ian says:
what awards? rings sure so do the other greats in yankee history hes just part of the team that won 4 times if hes so great why havent they won after tino and oneill left?? yeah ill give u some time for that one. ruth pujols and arod arent just power hitters they are better overall hitters and better defenders also (not ruth but he pitched).
dude please the yanks are one team when u come up with bullshit like well hes the yanks 13 best basestealer who cares? the players that are great are great overall. one arod season=3 for jeter
hes just lucky hes a yankee not a royal.
October 21st, 2009 at 7:39 pm
Ian says:
.317 17 and 81 sure what a superstar
October 21st, 2009 at 7:42 pm
Ian says:
keep coming back with the totals lets say i get pujols or ruth for 12 seasons u get jeter for 18 and u are going to say jeter is the better one because of totals pleaseeeeeeeeeee flawed logic.
October 21st, 2009 at 8:09 pm
Austin Burton says:
What awards? Well, you’ve got a World Series MVP, a Hank Aaron Award (best hitter in the league), Rookie of the Year, 3 Gold Gloves, 10 All-Star picks, 3 Silver Sluggers.
A lot of Hall of Fame players didn’t average 20 HR’s a season or 100 RBI’s. But you never mentioned Jeter gets 180-200 hits every year and scores 100-120 runs. Superstar.