Charlotte
Philip Maymin
Basketball News Services
The Bobcats split their two weekend exhibition games, defeating Portland 69-63on Friday night but falling 85-97to the Wizards on Sunday. The Portland victory came on the shoulders of Primoz Brezec's 11-point, 13-rebound double-double and Gerald Wallace's versatile stat line of 9 points, 9 rebounds, 6 assists, 8 steals, and a blocked shot, and the team overall committed just 14 turnovers. That was not the case on Sunday, however, as the Bobcats turned the ball over 25 times to the Wizards, leading to 27 points and ultimately a loss.
That's the story of the weekend: the good, the bad, and the turnovers. Apart from the individual performances and the good care they took of the ball on Friday, Charlotte's defense has been pretty good. They forced 28 turnovers out of Portland and 22 out of Washington. They just threw it away too often themselves in the second game.
Eddie House and Jason Kapono led the way in yesterday's loss with 20 and 19 points, respectively, with each guard shooting above 50 percent! That sharpshooting helps stretch opposing defenses and Washington head coach Eddie Jordan was not pleased the Bobcats backcourt were able to score so well.
On the other hand, Charlotte did not do a great job of containing Washington's backcourt either. Gilbert Arenas scored 20 points, Larry Hughes got 15, and Juan Dixon chipped in 13 in 20 minutes off the bench. The best consolation the Bobcats can take with them is that out of the three of those guards, only Hughes shot over 50 percent.
NEXT GAME
The Bobcats get a well-deserved rest today before wrapping up their preseason with back-to-back home games. Tomorrow morning, Tuesday, October 26th, at 11am in the bright-and-early morn, the Bobcats host Shaq and the Miami Heat. It's dunking time... if Okafor plays.
TEAM NOTES
Bernie Bickerstaff wants to sign Gerald Wallace to a long-term extension. "I'm getting ready to make another overture, just to see," Bickerstaff told The Charlotte Observer. "We owe that to ourselves." His previous offer has been rebuffed but he will try again this week. Bickerstaff has already extended Primoz Brezec. If Wallace still isn't happy with the latest offer, then he will become a restricted free agent at the end of the year.
INJURY UPDATE
Gerald Wallace(sore ankle) sat out yesterday's exhibition game. So did Emeka Okaforbut only as a precaution.Primoz Brezecmay find some time on the pine for the same reason soon.
Rick Bonnell ofThe Charlotte Observerwrites: The Charlotte Bobcats' problem Sunday night was simple to identify and far tougher to correct: They didn't value the ball. The Bobcats stuck with the Washington Wizards in every other sense -- shooting, rebounding and simply competing. But the turnovers were constant and costly in a 97-85 exhibition loss. Charlotte gave the ball away 25 times, resulting in 27 Washington points.They were wild passes, offensive fouls, shot-clock violations and simply not anticipating a defender streaking by for a steal. That wasted a night in which Eddie House (20 points) and Jason Kapono (19) showed how well they hit jump shots and stretch a defense.
John N. Mitchell ofThe Washington Timeswrites: Coach Eddie Jordan was not completely satisfied with the performance because the Wizards committed 22 turnovers. However, they forced the Bobcats (1-4) into 25, which they converted into 27 points.... Bobcats majority owner Robert L. Johnson, at one time a season-ticket holder at Wizards games, sat courtside last night. Johnson is the first black owner of a major professional sports franchise. The Washington Mystics' Alana Beard sat two seats to his right.