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We have closed the gap on the +/- numbers to a 1.9 differential. We avg 91 pts and give up 92.9. We have never been closer to my recollection, and we are playing well. I expect that number to close even more in the future! Playing some strong Defense these days and LB deserves trememdous credit.

Also, Hollinger on ESPN has us on the front page on the Power Rankings now! We are #15! Dont recall us being on the front page after 30 games before, so another sign that we are gaining some respect. We are not the doormat some people thought we would be and I am proud of this team and their effort. I did not believe they would play at the level they have the past several games, and I am glad I was wrong.

Just wanted to spread some good news and joy this Holiday Season! Go Cats!

ohara wrote:We have closed the gap on the +/- numbers to a 1.9 differential. We avg 91 pts and give up 92.9. We have never been closer to my recollection, and we are playing well. I expect that number to close even more in the future! Playing some strong Defense these days and LB deserves trememdous credit.

Also, Hollinger on ESPN has us on the front page on the Power Rankings now! We are #15! Dont recall us being on the front page after 30 games before, so another sign that we are gaining some respect. We are not the doormat some people thought we would be and I am proud of this team and their effort. I did not believe they would play at the level they have the past several games, and I am glad I was wrong.

Just wanted to spread some good news and joy this Holiday Season! Go Cats!

I hear you and don't disagree. However, I am still tempering all of my expectations and keeping hope on the back burner. If we get back to .500 or are in the 8th spot, then I'll get excited. In the meantime, improved play is nice, let's just hope its not fleeting like we've seen in the past.

Ohara i couldnt agree with you more cuz,im excited more and more to watch and see this team gel.I know there's gonna be a few bumps in the road but its lookin like we are learning how to finish games. Felts for pres dont worry man i got a good feelin we are gonna get back to 500 sooner then most people think.

4 and 2 since Diaw but only vs bad teams. Now I believe if Diaw can keep Mek aggressive and DJ gets better and or Felton's % starts going up then they really have a chance.

I've been burned by this team before, no hope until we're actually "there".

[too lazy to get the carny curb your enthusiasm graphic, but it'd go here]

[cues curb theme song] dom dom dom dom daaaaa dom daaaa dom daaa.....

we have the making of a really good defensive squad.

felton/bell/wallace/diaw/okafor

individually, all 5 players are at least above average defenders at their position and you could make a case that all 5 are well above average defenders at their position. if those 5 can really gel on defense, watch out. we could become a top 10 defensive team by the all-star break.

it's clear LB has put his image on this team, it's a defensive focused team. But they've been decent on defense from day one of LB with some major problems rebounding. Our offense was poor enough to make our defense not matter. But now that guys are starting to play more fluently we're starting to see a difference. I didn't think the J-Rich trade was smart at all, but for LB's system it's actually going to work out.

I still don't see Raja Bell in this teams long term plans, but Diaw has been a pleasant surprise if you ask me. Bell is a bit older now and can be used as a defensive specialist here and there. But ultimately, we're going to need to upgrade that position again.... maybe more so than PF/C. I guess when we get to the draft we're going to need to take the BPA.

And this is how it looks on paper:

Stats of our starting five from last five games (4 in case of Crash):
(FG% - 3PT% - FT% - PPG - RPG - APG - SPG - BPG / TO - PF / PT)

Felton 39.7% - 30.0% - 73.9% - 13.2 - 3.8 - 6.8 - 1.4 - 0.4 / 3.4 - 2.8 / in around 40 minutes

Bell 39.1% - 47.9% - 100%* - 9.4 - 3.2 - 2.4 - N/A - N/A / 0.8 - 1.8 / in around 30 minutes (influenced by the ejection)

Wallace 65.9% - 66.7% - 84.6% - 20.0 - 8.5 - 2.8 - 1.3 - 1.0 / 2.0 - 2.8 / in around 35 miutes

Diaw 50.8% - 60.0% - 100%* - 14.8 - 9.2 - 5.0 - 0.8 - 0.8 / 4.0 - 2.6 / in around 39 minutes

Okafor 61.4% - N/A - 51.2% - 21.4 - 12.0 - 1.8 - 0.8 - 2.6 / 2.0 - 2.0 / in around 37 minutes

*FTs 2-2

Not that bad, right?

And then tonight we revet back to the old Bobcats who choke in the face of success. What a horrible game to lose. Fight back to make it to OT and then implode in OT. Lack of focus = 18 TO's and way too many defensive breakdowns. People coming over late to help out, people leaving their man wide open for open jumpers that the Nets hit. Just a disappointing game.