Charlotte
Philip Maymin
Basketball News Services
When the Bobcats finally obtained LA's Kareem Rush yesterday in exchange for two future second round draft picks (Atlanta's pick this year and Charlotte's pick in 2008), the Bobcats thought they'd get a little psychological boost in taking on the team that shared Rush's former arena. And for regulation and most of double overtime, it looked as if the Bobcats were in it to win it. Unfortunately, an offensive drought in the second overtime period gave Charlotte the 99-93loss to the Clippers.
Former Clipper Melvin Ely seemed to be trying to hard to impress his old employer and was a little out of kilter, though he did end up with 8 points and 4 rebounds in 23 minutes of action. Keith Bogans, who will be competing with Rush for time at the shooting guard spot, was very effective with 12 points and 6 rebounds in 29 minutes of action.
The highlight of the game was the ejection of otherwise mild-manned Elton Brand with under four minutes left in regulation. Okafor bodied up Brand on defense who lost the ball when no foul was called. Brand took offense at the lack of the foul call and shoved his forearms into Okafor's chest, earning himself a flagrant foul two and an immediate ejection.
Though the Bobcats have won four home games they remain winless on the road and they are looking at a schedule that looms with three straight more away games before they are able to return home.
NEXT GAME
The Bobcats (4-11, fourth in the Southeast) play the second of their four-game Western Conference road trip TONIGHT as they battle the Sacramento Kings (12-5, second in the Pacific). The game starts at 10:00pm Eastern and will be broadcast on C-SET and NBA League Pass.
TEAM NOTES
The Bobcats have opened a new Team Store at Southpark Mall, adjacent to The Bombay Company and off the Hecht’s entrance. The store, open through January 15, 2005, carries a comprehensive selection of team merchandise.
Primoz Brezec, Jason Kapono and Emeka Okafor represent the Bobcats on the 2005 NBA All-Star Ballot. This year’s All-Star festivities will be held in the Mile High City of Denver on Sunday, February 20.
The Charlotte Bobcats will hold “Conversion Night†on Tuesday, December 14, in conjunction with the Bobcats home game against the New Orleans Hornets. Fans who trade inold Hornets merchandise at the December 14 game against the Hornets will receive a free Bobcats cap, courtesy of Time Warner Cable and Harris Teeter.
INJURY UPDATE
Jamal Sampson(ankle) is close to being ready to play but is still on the injured list along withTheron Smith(right knee injury) andBernard Robinson(knee).Gerald Wallace(recovering from concussion) will miss tonight's game.Jahidi White(shoulder) is questionable.
Rick Bonnell ofThe Charlotte Observerwrites: Remember that kid who showed up in Charlotte from Purdue? The big guy who wasn't drafted, who said he'd be a welder if he failed in the NBA? Ex-Hornet Brad Miller is all grown up, an All-Star last season for the Sacramento Kings.Miller is so good now (22 points, 10 rebounds and five assists Sunday against the Boston Celtics) that the Kings felt comfortable not re-signing Vlade Divac at center. He's brought some toughness to a team that was far too attached to finesse.
Rick Bonnell ofThe Charlotte Observerwrites: The game was marked by a violent foul by former Duke star Elton Brand on Charlotte Bobcats rookie Emeka Okafor with about 31/2 minutes left in regulation.Defending the post-up play, Okafor chested up to Brand, who took offense after he lost the ball and no foul was called. He slammed his forearms into Okafor's chest, drawing an immediate ejection. Brand was charged with a flagrant foul two -- the more serious transgression in the NBA rule book.
Gavin Keefe ofThe Daywrites: Okafor is off to a terrific start playing for the expansion Charlotte Bobcats, leading the team in scoring (13.9 points), rebounding (10.6) and blocks (1.5).For his efforts, the 6-foot-10, 252-pound forward received the NBA Rookie of the Month for November. Okafor's offensive output might surprise some people, especially those that question whether the college All-American could be effective on the pro level, but not UConn coach Jim Calhoun. “I got a call from the Charlotte paper about Emeka,†Calhoun said. “They said, ‘Why has he become a good offensive player?' I said because he's worked very hard. Secondly, he's very comfortable with himself. He's not worrying about a thousand other things. “I'm sure he's not worrying about being rookie of the month. That's the farthest thing from his mind. He's comfortable with just being Emeka Okafor and just getting better.â€