RealGM

fatlever wrote:i win tonight is extremely important since tomorrow we are playing at memphis on the 2nd night of back to back. i dont see us winning tomorrow and going 0-2 this weekend would be a huge letdown. we need to come out focused, with energy, from the start.

Game #62: Bobcats vs Cavs Preview — links + thoughts

For starters, listen to Al Jefferson talk on ESPN radio late Wednesday night after the Bobcats beat Indiana. Arguably, Charlotte’s biggest win of the season. Jefferson talks about how the team has overachieved most people’s expectations this season and why he hopes he’s paving a way for another big time free-agent to come to Charlotte. Oh, he also talks about MJ as an owner. Exciting stuff.

Tonight, the Bobcats will have a fight on their hands. Jodie Valade, a Cavs beat writer explains why tonight + Cleveland’s games this weekend are must-wins. Reading this, I’ll go ahead and presume that this team is going to play with some grit tonight.

This is a huge game for both teams tonight. As Valade points out, Cleveland essentially needs it to keep Charlotte within sight, but if the Bobcats can find a way to get a result tonight they will have wrapped up the tie-breaker with the Cavs on the season.

Al Jefferson should wake up foaming at the mouth this morning – Spencer Hawes is likely going to start on him defensively, and if that isn’t as much of a mismatch that Big Al is going to see then I’m not sure what is. Hawes has never been very interested on the defensive end of the floor. The double-team is surely coming Jefferson’s way, but to an extent, the Cavs just really have to pray that he has an off night. I don’t really see a scenario where Jefferson doesn’t ‘get his’, so to speak, tonight.

Kemba vs. Kyrie is always fun, and expect to see much of the same tonight. Irving has been good in his past 5 — 25.8 PPG, 7.8 APG, 4.8 RPG, 49.5 FG%, 41.4 3FG%. Kemba hasn’t been as consistent, but he’s coming off an impressive 19 points + 9 assists performance against Indiana Wednesday night. The winner of this one-on-one matchup could very well tell us what team is ultimately successful tonight.

Charlotte and Cleveland are much more similar than they are different: from a efficiency standpoint offensively, these two teams are pretty close to identical. Which is to say not great. Both teams also play at a very similar, slow, pace. In most matchups, it benefits the Bobcats and Cavs to slow the game down every opportunity that they have. Not all, but most. Tonight will portray itself as a game that is played to the tempo/pace of the team that throws the first punch. I’d say that if the Bobcats can get out and play fast, do it every opportunity that you have.

A few things on the Cavs tonight: 1) trending up with their three-point shooting in the past 5 — 38.9% (+3.5) – being disciplined and staying attached to shooters will be important. Kemba will have to do a good job of keeping Kyrie in front on him and keep Irving settling for jump-shots – bringing extra defenders off-the-bounce is certainly one of Irving’s strengths, but Kemba is plenty quick of keeping him in front. 2) Cleveland hasn’t been getting to the foul line very often in the past 5 — 19.0 trips/game (-4.0). The Bobcats are one of the best teams in the league at guarding without fouling – 4th best (opponent’s take 19.9 FTA/game).

I thought Wednesday was a game that the Bobcats didn’t necessarily have to win, but they had to play well – they did. Tonight, Charlotte can’t afford a letdown. This is a must-win. It’s the time of the year where some teams will start trending in the right direction and build confidence leading into the playoffs – others will do the exact opposite. The toughest stretch of the schedule has passed and it’s time for this team to decide what they want to be.

Prediction: 96-88 Bobcats.

http://queencityhoops.com/blog/2014/03/ ... -thoughts/

Liver_Pooty wrote:Seems like its been over a year since we've faced a mediocre/bad team.

Biz Gilwalker wrote:...

mrknowitall215 wrote:

Biz Gilwalker wrote:...

@ your new avatar. I like it

Biz Gilwalker wrote:Cavaliers

Grizzlies

Nuggets

Wizards

Timberwolves

Bucks

Hawks


upcoming schedule doesn't look bad at all. Only one I'm worried about it the Wizards.

mrknowitall215 wrote:

Game #62: Bobcats vs Cavs Preview — links + thoughts

For starters, listen to Al Jefferson talk on ESPN radio late Wednesday night after the Bobcats beat Indiana. Arguably, Charlotte’s biggest win of the season. Jefferson talks about how the team has overachieved most people’s expectations this season and why he hopes he’s paving a way for another big time free-agent to come to Charlotte. Oh, he also talks about MJ as an owner. Exciting stuff.

I hope I open the door to let other free agents out there to understand, to know, coming to Charlotte is not a bad thing. We could come here and do something special, you know regardless if it's small market. There’s great fans here…you know…the Hornets coming back next year…there’s great fans here who want to see great basketball like they used to see back in the 90’s when Larry Johnson and Alonzo Mourning was here…you know and I just think that it’s time to put Charlotte back on the map…we have a great group of guys here.