Charlotte
Philip Maymin
Basketball News Services
Star rookie and franchise centerpiece Emeka Okafor was only the third-highest scorer in the preseason for the Bobcats, averaging just under 10 points per game. The number one scorer for Charlotte was Primoz Brezec and his 13.7 average follows by Gerald Wallace and his 10.7. Wallace may turn out to be the key for this franchise.
Brezec has been called a "steal" for averaging 13.7 point and 6.6 rebounds in 33.3 minutes of action per game during the preseason. What if I showed you a player who averaged 10.7 points, 6.1 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 1.86 steals in just 26 minutes per game? That player is Gerald Wallace.
Wallace logged in as the second-highest scorer over the preseason but he may be Charlotte's most versatile weapon and perhaps will become their star player. Of all the current Bobcats, he is probably most likely to get a five-by-five sometime in his career (five or more points, rebounds, assists, blocks, and steals in one game), and he is certainly the most likely to get a triple-double this season.
NEXT GAME
The Bobcats (3-5 in the preseason) host the Washington Wizards (3-5 in the preseason) in their first ever NBA game. Tip-off is slated for 7:00 p.m. Eastern time on Thursday, November 4th. The game will be broadcast on C-SET in the Charlotte area and on Comcast Sports Network in the Washington metro area. Tickets are still available for this game at Charlotte Coliseum as basketball returns to the Queen City.
TEAM NOTES
The Bobcats Blast-Off celebration takes place on Wednesday, November 3, at 5:30 p.m. at the Wachovia Plaza in Uptown Charlotte. The event is free and open to the public and will feature the entire inaugural Bobcats team, Bobcats Owner Robert L. Johnson, President Ed Tapscott , General Manager & Head Coach Bernie Bickerstaff and his coaching staff, Dance Team members, mascot Rufus Lynx and Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory, who will proclaim Thursday, November 4, “Orange Day†for Charlotte. Several Bobcats giveaways will take place during the evening, live music will be provided by The Voltage Brothers and food and beverage will be available for purchase.
INJURY UPDATE
Jamal Sampson(ankle) is expected to start season on the injured list.
Erik Spanberg ofThe Charlotte Business Journalwrites: Charlotte Coliseum will be immersed in flip squads and fireworks, dancers and decibel counts beginning next week. Not to mention entertainment crews billed as the Rhythm Cats, Rally Cats and Phat Cats. And, oh, by the way, the Charlotte Bobcats, the city's second NBA expansion franchise, will be somewhere in the mix. The focus on entertainment is no surprise, as owner Robert Johnson has pledged to win the crowd ever since he paid $300 million for the team.Now, under team President Ed Tapscott, the Bobcats are working to bring Johnson's entertaining vision to life.
Marc Narducci ofThe Philadelphia Inquirerwrites: Dell Curry remembers the buzz in what was affectionately known as the Hornet's Nest.Loud, animated and fanatical was the way to describe the fans of the Charlotte Hornets when the team entered the NBA and began play in the 1988-89 season. The devotion grew even more once the Hornets reached the postseason for the first time in 1993. Curry, the last member of the original Hornets to leave the team, said he will never forget the loyal following the Hornets had during his decade with them.
Jenna Fryer of The Associated Press writes inThe Post and Courier writes: Charlotte's last NBA team won 20 games its first season, and the city celebrated that achievement with a parade. Charlotte's newest NBA team will be lucky if either happens. The Charlotte Bobcats are an unusual expansion team, trying to make a fresh start in a city stuck with the lingering bad taste the Hornets left behind.