RealGM

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/bobcats-ho ... --nba.html

anthony davis might still be out for this game. rivers claims he is playing.

hornets beat us twice in preseason.

can dunlap fix the issues with defending the 3pt line and rebounding?

will jeff taylor get another start?

will mully shoot every times he touches the ball or only 3 out of every 4 times he touches it?

No Davis, no Gordon, and a limited Austin Rivers? Our entire team would have to go cold to lose this one.

According to ESPN and the observer, they say Davis may get limited time. Either way, I think if everyone remembers right, we saw plenty of ryan anderson when he was in orlando and he destroyed us from behind the arc. That also happens to be our funny bone right now in defending the three. All over, I would say it will be close, but I'm still confused as to why we don't push the tempo more. Dunlap came in as a runner and other than the game against the Pacers, we've yet to see an offense that is on the go. I would love to see the cats win this one, just not sure if we're still understanding the system. Also, PLEASE GO TO MAN DEFENSE!

I think MKG will make us thankful for the rig tonight.

I've accepted it finally. If Mullens can keep people happy with "offense" while consistently losing us games, I'm all for it.

This is one of those games that we need to win even if the odds are about even.

If everyone is going to be out that they claim is going to be out, then yes I like our chances. If Rivers plays, we're going to need a spectacular game out of Kemba across the board. He is going to have to be our difference maker.

lmcguir5 wrote:If everyone is going to be out that they claim is going to be out, then yes I like our chances. If Rivers plays, we're going to need a spectacular game out of Kemba across the board. He is going to have to be our difference maker.

Rivers?!?

...and yes we I want to see a spectacular game out of Kemba across the board, but it's not necessarily needed for the at best middle of the road New Orleans Hornets. We are going to need a better rebounding effort from our frontcourt compared to the previous preseason losses to the Hornets. Robin Lopez, Anthony Davis, and Ryan Anderson killed us on the boards, not to mention that the absent Hakim Warrick will play tonight.

lmcguir5 wrote:If everyone is going to be out that they claim is going to be out, then yes I like our chances. If Rivers plays, we're going to need a spectacular game out of Kemba across the board. He is going to have to be our difference maker.

But Rivers f'n sucks

fatlever wrote:can dunlap fix the issues with defending the 3pt line and rebounding?

The only way Dunlap can fix defending the 3pt line issues is if Ryan Anderson decide to take a night off. As far as the rebounding, I doubt it. That's a personnel problem.

will jeff taylor get another start?

I hope not. They don't need anybody with a negative (-11.9) PER on the floor (Higgins included).

will mully shoot every times he touches the ball or only 3 out of every 4 times he touches it?

I'll go out on the limb to say that he'll shoot "only 3 out of every 4 times he touches it" tonight, and be successful at it.

aminu has been playing well.. 12ppg, 9rpg, plus blocks and steals on 50% he will be a good matchup for MKG since they both are hustle guys that do a lot of the same things.

Word on the street is that Haywood may be out tonight with a family matter. Biyombo might get his first start this season.

Don't underrate the Hornets though. As much as I've seen from them they have been surprisingly good, obviously, I didn't watch that 60-point game though. Davis and Gordon might be out, however, Lopez, Vasquez, Aminu and Anderson are competent starters in this league. I haven't seen the line, but I think it should be the Hornets by 5.5 acknowledging that they are playing at home.

The Matchups
Kemba vs Vasquez

Kemba should be able to get by the slower vasquez. I wouldnt be surprised if they try to post up Kemba some because Vasquez is 6'6''. Also, Greivas has been averaging close to 10 assists a game so we need to pressure him and make playmaking difficult for him. They do not really have a good option as a backup point with Rivers starting at the 2. This means we should push the tempo because they have no bench and we are way deeper then them.

? vs ?

Kind of hard to judge this matchup since we don't know who will be starting for either team. Most likely Rivers and Jeff Taylor. But like mentioned Rivers could be out and Taylor may not see the floor. I will give us the advantage with Gordon, Reggie and Sessions playing major minutes here.

MKG vs Aminu

They do a lot of the same things, but MKG is already better then him. Which is saying more about Aminu probably who was a high selection by the clippers 3 or 4 years ago. Statistically I expect they will put up the same game, but MKG will make the bigger difference.

Anderson vs Mully

Anderson gets the edge, but both guys are similar players that will knock down the three and spread the floor. Hopefully Mully is the more efficient guy tonight as both guys are volume shooters.

Lopez vs Haywood

I do not see either guy having a big game. They will both rebound and block a few shots. I dont think Lopez will keep scoring how he has this season especially tonight vs Haywood.

Better Bench?

Clearly us. Especially if Davis and Rivers are out tonight. If that is the case then they will only really have Jason Smith, Roger Mason, DArius Miller, Xavier Henry , and maybe Hakkim Warrick. Compare that to Sessions, Gordon, Biz, Tyrus, and Reggie three of which would probably start for them.

Key to Victory

Push the Tempo, Swing the ball on offense to create lanes for driving. Play man to man defense 80% of game throwing in zone a bit. Outside of Anderson, Mason, and Vasquez they struggle from behind the three so just focus on not leaving them and help off Aminu or Rivers. Look for our backcourt of Sessions, Kemba, and Gordon to all have big games tonight.

Rick Bonnell @rick_bonnell about 1 hour ago

Per @Jimmy Smith Hornets rookies Anthony Davis and Austin Rivers cleared to play tonight versus the #bobcats

Read more: http://hoopshype.com/twitter/tag/charlo ... z2BlMfBcwM

This could honestly be a good game for Taylor to prove his Second round worth. We're obviously at a disadvantage without Hendo, and we will be for a while. If Taylor can clamp down defensively (we can't ask for much more) then I think we can call it a win for him. Winning this game means pushing the tempo and controlling the boards. NO is pretty big in the frontcourt and size is going to be a problem. My prediction? Bobcats win 91-85 in a poorly shot game FG% wise.

So the fact that Haywood is out due to personal family issues is confirmed.

Tonight's @bobcats starters are @KembaWalker, Jeff Taylor, @MikeGillie14, @byron22james (Mullens) and @bismackbiyombo0, #CatsHornets.

Come on JT. Show us something.

Show us anything!!