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Unbunch yer Panties

Posted: Fri Oct 24, 2008 5:08 pm
by fluffernutter
If you even wear them. Perhaps I'm writing to a bunch of thong-wearing girly men. Kinda sounds like it.

Answer me this: is our defense already better than it was last year?

Hint: Yes.

Do we sometimes even trap full court, or at half-court, to good effect?

Hint: Yes.

Are we playing worse offense and shooting a worse percentage than we ever have in the history of the Bobcats?

Hint: Yes.

And I'll tell you why.

Because the Bobcats have traditionally sucked on offense. They sucked last year, and they sucked the year before. They sucked for so long that nobody on the team even understands what it means to run a play. They don't know when they should shoot or pass. They don't know when they should shoot or drive. They don't know what to do when somebody drives. They don't know what to do when it is kicked out. Nobody is shooting "in rhythm" because there is not rhythm; it is all too new, and the offensive schemes are nowhere near being "instinctive."

MC is shooting like crap.
JRICH is shooting like crap.

Everyone else is too, except possibly Ammo.

The explanation is either that suddenly everyone can't shoot. Or that this is a cosmic run of bad luck. Or - far more likely - the team is absolutely struggling to get a grip on the new offense.

And I think that's a good sign.

I mean it would be great if everyone learned it in one week. Presto, poof, done. But that's not how real life works.

Bad habits are hard to overcome. Hard. It hurts getting over them, and it's a struggle. I think the fact that the team is struggling hugely right now is growing pains - pure and simple. There was no offense last year with Sam Vincent. There is now an extremely complicated offense put in place by LB. Getting from point A to point B is a challenge, a big one. And some teams would not make it. They would fall back into old habits, which got them exactly... nowhere. They might be playing better than the Bobcats right now, because they are falling back on established routines. But they won't get to point B, not all the way.

Yes the team is struggling right now, but it's the spastic thrashing of a newborn which preceeds the first breath. And even the first breath hurts. But after it, it gets easier, automatic, and only then is growth possible.

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So stop the whining and complaining and worrying and all of that.

The reason we suck so, so, so badly is because we tore it all town, all of it, razed the homestead, and we have to start over forging nails.

Faith. Love. Patience. Kick-ass two-handed pull-back tomahawk Okafor jams over Duncan.

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Re: Unbunch yer Panties

Posted: Fri Oct 24, 2008 5:54 pm
by amcoolio
Why a pic of a newborn baby? not only gross, but no correlation to whining.

I'm in the same boat, I'm not worried. I watched two games - our offense is very sluggish but our defense intensity has picked up big time. We are still getting beat in the fast court, but that can be fixed. The bad offense means we are learning a system that is brand new to most of our players. Its painfully obvious - you'll see two players in the same spot on our plays and that results in a turnover or bad shot every time - at least half of the cause of our bad offense so far.

One good thing that has showed is Ammo seems to be doing well in LB's system...that has earned him playing time and he might break out in the early part of the season. I am thankful for that because I was hoping for a rebound.

Our point guards, j-rich and nazr are shooting very poorly. Thats what has killed us in the preseason.


Remember, all of the players on this team besides J-Rich and Carroll have not been coached offensively in their NBA careers. Bickerstaff and Vincent - enough said. Its like they are entering the NBA all over again.

Re: Unbunch yer Panties

Posted: Fri Oct 24, 2008 6:27 pm
by Felton for Pres
This is a Charlotte sports team, why are you surprised that people whine and complain when things don't appear to going the right way? It happens with the Panthers too. It absolutely drives me nuts about this town. I stopped asking why people only focus on the negative a long time ago. I never ever got a legit response. Geez, this is preseason. At least wait for the regular season to start before freaking out.

side note: couldn't you have found a less creepy baby picture? yikes.

Re: Unbunch yer Panties

Posted: Fri Oct 24, 2008 6:28 pm
by BigSlam
amcoolio wrote:Why a pic of a newborn baby? not only gross, but no correlation to whining.

As father of two I can tell you 1st hand that there is nothing gross about a newborn baby. In fact, they might just be the most beautiful thing in existence. But man, do they whine!!

And :clap: fluffer

Re: Unbunch yer Panties

Posted: Fri Oct 24, 2008 6:44 pm
by spectre_
IMO that's the best post you've ever made fluffer...totally agree!

And that pic of Mek dunking the ball is SWEET!

Re: Unbunch yer Panties

Posted: Fri Oct 24, 2008 7:16 pm
by e4Nf6
Bravo Mr. Fluffer sir, Bravo

Re: Unbunch yer Panties

Posted: Fri Oct 24, 2008 7:33 pm
by fatlever
that pic of mek was photoshopped. i dont believe he dunks.

Re: Unbunch yer Panties

Posted: Fri Oct 24, 2008 7:46 pm
by Felton for Pres
I have one kid and he was pretty gross. We called him "gooey baby" for about a week because of it.

Re: Unbunch yer Panties

Posted: Fri Oct 24, 2008 8:49 pm
by SteveMorrison15
that baby pic was photoshoped. i don't believe babies cry

Re: Unbunch yer Panties

Posted: Fri Oct 24, 2008 10:40 pm
by August Us Seazr
I wanted to make three points.

1- Fantastic post Fluffer! We have to go from being a bunch of "parts" to being a team. We have quite a few guys who have been successful in team situations before- winning championships. But this is the NBA and we have sorely lacked a real "keeper" coaching staff. Now, maybe we have something to hang our hats on. That the guys are getting the hang of the defense speaks very well of everybody.

2- Defense is noted for winning championships, but we will have to put some points on the board at some point this year. A defensive stop is meaningless in the last 2 minutes if we are down by 16. On the bright side though, our guys will learn the offense together. But how long will it take for each one's light bulb to come on (You know, the one that indicates I just realized that I know what to do!)? Read- He GETS it.

3- I got the baby part. Our guys are in the infancy of becoming true NBA players. No more days of being that cute little expansion team. Its time to become mean- and let our cat's teeth tear a chunk out of some teams. Right now, the guys are having to "THINK" their way through. They have to have enough repetition that the system becomes instinctive. THAT'S when we will have a winner!

Re: Unbunch yer Panties

Posted: Fri Oct 24, 2008 10:50 pm
by Walt Cronkite
Great post Fluff.

Re: Unbunch yer Panties

Posted: Sat Oct 25, 2008 2:07 am
by Rich4114
SteveMorrison15 wrote:that baby pic was photoshoped. i don't believe babies cry


That's actually carolinacash

Re: Unbunch yer Panties

Posted: Sat Oct 25, 2008 3:45 am
by Walt Cronkite
HEYO!

Re: Unbunch yer Panties

Posted: Sat Oct 25, 2008 6:10 pm
by chrbal
I never had a problem with the offense overall, my beef is with the fact that a guy we brought in as an "Extra" easily managed to be the 2nd best big man. Well that and the whole "lets wait until tomorrow" philosophy on free agents.

Re: Unbunch yer Panties

Posted: Sun Oct 26, 2008 3:52 am
by SteveMorrison15
Rich4114 wrote:
SteveMorrison15 wrote:that baby pic was photoshoped. i don't believe babies cry


That's actually carolinacash


OHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

Richie! Richie! Richie! :beer: