RealGM

I know a lot of you don't like JH, but I have always been a fan. I like him even more now that he predicted that we make the playoffs this season.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/trainingc ... recast0809

Prediction: 40-42, 2nd in Southeast Division, 8th in Eastern Conference

I've never been a fan but I have to say this was pretty much spot on...other than mentioning Mek's back, which unless I'm mistaken has NEVER been an issue during his pro career. The "statistics" he hit...FTs, blocked shots, defense & rebounding are all legitimate reasons for our down year and IMO he actually looks beyond those stats to see that we do have talent, it's just been untrained and misused.

In a nutshell, last season was pretty much all the Idiot (leading ultimately to management) & McInnis' fault and this season will probably depend on May (again because of management).

Can't argue with that.

First really good discussion I've read of how intensely awful McInnis was last year.

I honestly blocked out McInnis. Didn't think about him at all for months. He was just incredibly, incredibly bad. My god.

A good summary of this article is:

Bobcats from last year - McInnis - Vincent + Larry Brown + half-a-season from May or Morrison = last playoff spot.

Seems reasonable.

Losing McInnis is worth a win or two by itself. EASILY.

All I can say is that we on this board seem to think 40 games is pretty optimistic for May. My guess is that if May drops to 20, the projection slips beneath the playoffs.

However, his projections are based on solid statistics (and last season was hoorrrrriibbblllleeee), so the fact that he's optimistic about our chances makes me hopeful.

Every time I'm reminded that Mcinnis doesn't play for us, it makes me smile a little bit...

I remember once my friends and I were watching TV and McInnis went down with some minor injury. All of us jumped up and down and high-fived, thinking that maybe we were saved. Instead it took the front office saving Sam from himself.

What's really hard to believe was that McInnis had some mild defenders... that he wasn't the worst player in the league.

Good article by Hollinger. I wish he still released a print version of the basketball prospectus.

50/50 shot at the playoffs contingent on May playing 41 games, great news, but for now I'm curbing my enthusiasm.

I have to admit that Hollinger did a pretty good job on breaking things down. And he is sticking his neck out there in print giving us the 8th seed. I give him credit. I'm sure there are plenty of readers who will scoff at that notion of the Cats getting the #8 seed, but if we do, Hollinger can say he called it.

Paydro70 wrote:All I can say is that we on this board seem to think 40 games is pretty optimistic for May. My guess is that if May drops to 20, the projection slips beneath the playoffs.

However, his projections are based on solid statistics (and last season was hoorrrrriibbblllleeee), so the fact that he's optimistic about our chances makes me hopeful.

You view May as a factor in making the playoffs. I think this team has a shot at the playoffs without him, and benefits slightly from having him. I'm guessing Larry Brown is shopping for a veteran 4/5.

And last season was horrid; Jeff getting 26 minutes a game and 26 starts in 54 games...leading to the frontoffice basically having to waive him to force Vincents' hand, Brezec starting 18 games out of 20 inspite of pathetic numbers that shouldn't be tolerated for a 10 day signee let alone your starting center, Hermann getting shoved aside and eventually dumped off , getting so desperate up front that two expirings for Nazr Mohammed seemed like the only way out, and of course Othella Harrington sticking around all season in spite of countless reasons as to why they should of cut him.

chrbal wrote:You view May as a factor in making the playoffs. I think this team has a shot at the playoffs without him, and benefits slightly from having him. I'm guessing Larry Brown is shopping for a veteran 4/5.

He's not a vet, but what do you think the odds are that Maxiell can be had WITHOUT a 1st? Do you see any deal whatsover that could be done with what we're willing to give up? Do you guys need a "shooter" like Hammer maybe?

Hopefully not out of line...if memory serves you're a Piston fan as well right?

Wonder if Big Shot Bob has anything left in the tank? Without looking at "rate" it doesn't appear he's an exceptional rebounder...would we even be interested? Would he?

I'd love to see Matt join the Pistons. But I would never want to see Shannon Brown in a key role.

Maxiell is a complicated one, not for any bad reasons. Mostly because if McDyess doesn't start then Maxiell is the starter at the 4.

What I was thinking are the many guys that could easily become available; The Bucks Charlie Villanueva, just about any Net frontcourt player who is not a rookie and any veteran not named Yi, and some others.