Charlotte
Philip Maymin
Basketball News Services
Even if you call their first preseason game against Washington, a one-point loss in double-overtime, essentially a tie, their 26 point 111-85blowout loss to Portland on Saturday put some perspective on this young club, especially considering the Bobcats led after one and were only down three points at the half. The problem was pressure: both the pressure of young guys not used to prime-time minutes and the pressure defense that the Blazers used to blow out Charlotte.
Jason Kapono toldThe Charlotte Observerthat, being unused to playing large minutes, he had the hesitant mentality of a bench player who knows that his next missed shot is his last. Though he showed some improvement from the first preseason game to the second, his big mental hurdle is reflected on all of his teammates with the possible exception of Emeka Okafor, whose only bench career was a few weeks this summer in Athens.
The other pressure, namely the defense that Portland inflicted on Charlotte, came from their lack of chemistry together. Chemistry takes nothing more than time and goodwill, and though the players all have plenty of the latter, they can't control the former. Wing players, says Gerald Wallace, need to help the point guards by being in better position to receive the ball. And point guards need to beat pressure with passes instead of fancy dribbling moves.
Charlotte had 20 turnovers, the majority from their pressured point guards. Tomorrow night will likely be another test of their ability to handle pressure as they travel to New Jersey to take on the Nets and their occasional full-court press.
NEXT GAME
The Bobcats take their 0-2 preseason record to the Nets tomorrow as they travel north to take on New Jersey. It will provide another chance to go up against a pressing defense and see if the Portland kinks have been worked out. Tickets are still available.
TEAM NOTES
The Bobcats will celebrate Read To Achieve Week with a Book Drive at the Harris YMCA Teen Center in Charlotte on Thursday, October 21 from 5:00-8:00 p.m. Those whodonate a children's bookwill receive an autograph from a Bobcats player or dance team member.
INJURY UPDATE
No injuries to report.
Jason Quick ofThe Oregonianwrites: The Bobcats led for much of the first half Saturday, and even though it was an exhibition game, there was cause for concern. Both teams played their starters for much of the game, and here were the Bobcats, hitting uncontested shots and running up leads as large as seven points.But up stepped Stoudamire, who keyed a defensive rally by the Blazers by applying full-court pressure, all while continuing to pick and choose when to shoot. He hit his first seven shots and finished with 18 points on 8 for 9 shooting, along with six assists and no turnovers in 30 minutes.
Roscoe Nance ofUSA Todaywrites: Rookie Emeka Okafor is the player tabbed to be the cornerstone of the expansion Charlotte Bobcats, the odds-on favorites to have the worst record this season in the NBA. That's a daunting challenge, but he's undaunted. "I'm approaching it the way I approach anything, by being a good person and working hard," says Okafor, the second player chosen in the June NBA draft.
Rick Bonnell ofThe Charlotte Observerwrites: The most damning statistic for the Bobcats Saturday was their 21 turnovers, resulting in 27 points for the Trail Blazers.Portland went to full-court pressure early in the second half, and it rattled the Bobcats' point guards. Jason Hart, Brevin Knight, Eddie House and Omar Cook combined for 12 turnovers.
Rick Bonnell ofThe Charlotte Observerwrites: This business of playing a lot is a nice change for Jason Kapono. But it is a change, and he's still adjusting. He says that's why he looked self-conscious in the Charlotte Bobcats' first exhibition, Thursday against the Washington Wizards. Kapono took a single shot, missed it, and essentially disappeared in the 13 minutes he played. Saturday against the Portland Trail Blazers was very different -- he scored 17 points and played 30 minutes after coach Bernie Bickerstaff reminded him of a simple axiom -- shooters shoot.