GT: Jan 7th Charlotte Vs Washington 7:00pm

[BigSlam]

Kemba Vs Wall
Hobe Vs Beal
CDR Vs Ariza
Al Vs Nene

Should be a fun game. Good yard stick test for us as well.

[Elden Payton]

Yeah it's a great test, they've been pretty good since a slow start and are currently the #5 seed I believe.

Win or lose, this game should be entertaining.

[catch20two]

We should be able to bust the Wizards ass. The only time they win is when Beal is hot and that ain't often.

[HornetJail]

We should be able to bust the Wizards ass. The only time they win is when Beal is hot and that ain't often.

Beal exactly fits the description of the kind of player that goes ham against us.

[catch20two]

We should be able to bust the Wizards ass. The only time they win is when Beal is hot and that ain't often.

Beal exactly fits the description of the kind of player that goes ham against us.

I'd reckon Ariza or Webster fits that description. Beal won't do much.

[Elden Payton]

Beal is shooting 45 percent from 3 on the season.

He definitely has the potential to have a career night against us.

[BeesWax]

I really need a blow out one way or the other. I do not need to be tense the day after surgery.

[Eoghan]

We beat the snot out of them, gut feeling.*

*Unless Al reverts to taking 15 seconds to execute a post move that leads to endless fast breaks for Wall

[Diop]

I remember Nene destroying us last year, he just seemed to big.

Jefferson might actually help in that regard, he is a large object to move.

Jefferson should have his way with Gortat offensively.

[JMAC3]

Gonna be at this one, so hopefully its a great game and the Bobcats win it in dramatic fashion!

[Illmatic21]

Wizards fan here, you guys should feel fairly confident about winning this game.

The Wiz have been playing like crap lately (2 consecutive blowout losses at home, and a 4th quarter collapse the game before). Wittman is clearly losing the team, and based on his track record as an NBA coach I highly doubt he'll be able to get it back.

Washington can really only beat teams that play undisciplined defense and leave shooters open, and Clifford's Bobcats aren't normally one of those teams (that Portland game aside, lol). I think Kemba can have a big game, he's the type of guy who likes to step his game up for individual PG matchups.

My prediction is that it will be close at halftime, then Washington's offense will predictably stagnate while Charlotte takes control and wins.

[fatlever]

i predict there will be maybe 10,000 fans at this game. tuesday + non superstar team + 20 degrees + no free stuff = empty arena

[mrknowitall215]

Game #36: Bobcats vs. Wizards Preview discussion w/ ‘Truth About It’; MKG update

The Bobcats have yet to win a divisional game this season, but tonight presents another good opportunity at home against Washington. Expect Charlotte to exhaust themselves with a committee defensive effort against John Wall. Like with Lillard just a few games ago, the Bobcats will likely have to put a taller defender on Wall in stretches – this is where the team really misses the likes of MKG and Taylor, so CDR and Tolliver will split the duty.

Speaking of CDR and Tolliver, it will be interesting to see which one Clifford goes with in the starting lineup tonight. Douglas-Roberts got the nod on Saturday in Sacramento and impressed – in 35 min, CDR scored 10, pulled down 4 boards and added 2 assists. Tolliver came off the bench, played 16 min and was 2-2 from behind the arc. At this point, it appears as if Tolliver is actually more valuable to the team coming off the bench.

Charlotte currently sits at 7th in the eastern conference, but sports just an 8-10 record in Charlotte. Coach Clifford and the rest of the team know that must change in order to secure a playoff spot. Tonight presents another very winnable home game – 4 of the Bobcats next 6 games will be on the road – the two home games come against teams below .500, which only magnifies how important protecting the home floor will become.

I jumped on in a discussion with ‘Truth About It’, the ESPN TrueHoop affiliate for the Wizards to answer some questions about the Bobcats currently and where they stand as a franchise — here, I speak my peace.

Michael Kidd-Gilchrist Injury Update –

MKG fractured his hand on December 3rd and the Bobcats really haven’t been the same team since losing him + Jeff Taylor. The sun appears to be coming out right on time and we could see MKG on the floor as early as next Tuesday at home vs. New York.

“Next weekend (this weekend) we’re at Minnesota, at Chicago, and we’re hoping to have him back after that,” Steve Clifford told NBA.com’s Scott Howard-Cooper.

This is fantastic news for this team and an addition to the lineup that I believe can regain the firepower defensively for this group. On the season, the Bobcats have boasted a defensive efficiency rating of 100.0, but in the past 16 games without MKG the team has had an efficiency rating of 103.5.

http://queencityhoops.com/blog/2014/01/ ... kg-update/

[HornetJail]

Wizards fan here, you guys should feel fairly confident about winning this game.

The Wiz have been playing like crap lately (2 consecutive blowout losses at home, and a 4th quarter collapse the game before). Wittman is clearly losing the team, and based on his track record as an NBA coach I highly doubt he'll be able to get it back.

Washington can really only beat teams that play undisciplined defense and leave shooters open, and Clifford's Bobcats aren't normally one of those teams (that Portland game aside, lol). I think Kemba can have a big game, he's the type of guy who likes to step his game up for individual PG matchups.

My prediction is that it will be close at halftime, then Washington's offense will predictably stagnate while Charlotte takes control and wins.

Yes, we absolutely are a team that leaves shooters open. If you guys win, it will be because of Martell Webster or Trevor Ariza.

[LamarMatic7]

I have us losing this one. Our defense has been abysmal as of late. Guys have forgot our principals.

[LamarMatic7]

Before MKG injury: 94.2 (OffRtg) - 97.9 (DefRtg)
Post-MKG injury and before JT injury: 98.2 - 96.2
Post-JT injury: 101.7 - 107.3

the second phase combined with the third one: 100.2 - 102.4

[mrknowitall215]

I have us losing this one. Our defense has been abysmal as of late. Guys have forgot our principals.

I think it's more so the relentless offensive attack of challenging Al Jefferson's pick & roll defense that has the Bobcats defense looking abysmal. At the start of the season, teams rarely attacked him via that set, but now that it's known that the Bobcats have a top defense under Clifford's tutelage, teams are doing their scouting report & exploiting the weakness

[LamarMatic7]

I have us losing this one. Our defense has been abysmal as of late. Guys have forgot our principals.

I think it's more so the relentless offensive attack of challenging Al Jefferson's pick & roll defense that has the Bobcats defense looking abysmal. At the start of the season, teams rarely attacked him via that set, but now that it's known that the Bobcats have a top defense under Clifford's tutelage, teams are doing their scouting report & exploiting the weakness

Our guards weren't any better against Sacramento. They are supposed to force opponents to the side of the court. Yet it was penetration through the middle galore. And I'm not talking about PnRs. Plenty of times it was completely unprovoked.

[mrknowitall215]

I have us losing this one. Our defense has been abysmal as of late. Guys have forgot our principals.

I think it's more so the relentless offensive attack of challenging Al Jefferson's pick & roll defense that has the Bobcats defense looking abysmal. At the start of the season, teams rarely attacked him via that set, but now that it's known that the Bobcats have a top defense under Clifford's tutelage, teams are doing their scouting report & exploiting the weakness

Our guards weren't any better against Sacramento. They are supposed to force opponents to the side of the court. Yet it was penetration through the middle galore. And I'm not talking about PnRs. Plenty of times it was completely unprovoked.

I agree. Thomas was too quick for Kemba throughout the majority of the game even though he squeezed in a charge or so, but it's easy to spot that teams are attacking Jefferson specifically. It's not even power forwards setting screens anymore. It's strictly the C that Jefferson is defending

[LamarMatic7]

I think it's more so the relentless offensive attack of challenging Al Jefferson's pick & roll defense that has the Bobcats defense looking abysmal. At the start of the season, teams rarely attacked him via that set, but now that it's known that the Bobcats have a top defense under Clifford's tutelage, teams are doing their scouting report & exploiting the weakness

Our guards weren't any better against Sacramento. They are supposed to force opponents to the side of the court. Yet it was penetration through the middle galore. And I'm not talking about PnRs. Plenty of times it was completely unprovoked.

I agree. Thomas was too quick for Kemba throughout the majority of the game even though he squeezed in a charge or so, but it's easy to spot that teams are attacking Jefferson specifically. It's not even power forwards setting screens anymore. It's strictly the C that Jefferson is defending

The plays I hate the most from him are the ones where he shows a sudden burst of energy and attempts a defensive play that he has no business doing only to be way too late because of his slow feet. And then it's some 4 on 3 offensive situation for the opposition and he doesn't even attempt to get back in it.