Fallout From Bobcats 92-90 Win Over Raptors

Nov 6, 2013; Charlotte, NC, USA; Charlotte Bobcats guard Gerald Henderson (9) shoots as he is guarded by Toronto Raptors forward Amir Johnson (15) during the game at Time Warner Cable Arena. Bobcats win 92-90. Mandatory Credit: Sam Sharpe-USA TODAY Sports

Gerald Henderson scored 23 points, and the Charlotte Bobcats (3-2) defeated the Toronto Raptors (2-3) 92-90 Wednesday night.

Henderson entered Wednesday’s game shooting 31 percent through the first four games, but finished 10-17 from the field.

The Raptors were trailing 92-90 with less than 30 seconds left, but DeMar DeRozan’s shot was blocked by Bismack Biyombo. Biyombo finished with eight points, three blocks and 11 rebounds.

Rudy Gay led the Raptors with 20 points and DeRozan added 14. The duo combined to shoot 14-37 from the field.

Jonas Valanciunas had 12 points and 10 rebounds.

After a memorable game against the New York Knicks Tuesday, Kemba Walker was held to five points on 2-13 from the field.

Walker sustained a shoulder contusion against the Knicks when he collided with Metta World Peace in the third quarter. X-rays were negative and Walker returned to the game in the fourth quarter. Walker is listed as day-to-day but played 38 minutes against the Raptors.

Michael Kidd-Gilchrist hit double digits in scoring for the second straight game with 14 points, while Jeffery Taylor did the same with 13.

The Bobcats shot 49 percent from the field and attempted 30 free throws.

IN-GAME THOUGHTS:

• Josh McRoberts has been the glue of the team so far through five games. He’s every bit “The Connector” nickname Michael Jordan gave him.
• Through five games, the Bobcats are averaging 32.4 free throw attempts, which Is second in the league. Unfortunately, the Bobcats are negating their biggest offensive strength with their poor free throw percentage. The Bobcats rank last in free throw percentage and shot 56.7 percent from the line Wednesday.
• Despite Walker’s shoulder injury, Ramon Sessions only played 14 minutes. Four of the Bobcats starters played 30 minutes or more, while Taylor played 28 minutes off the bench. Though it’s only five games, there’s an early feel of the players Clifford trusts to compete each night.
• The Bobcats are 4^th in points allowed.
• If Al Jefferson returns for Friday’s game against the Knicks, the Bobcats could win their third straight. Tyson Chandler is sidelined for four to six weeks and the Knicks are weak up front after him. It will be interesting to see whether the Bobcats defensive edge continues with Jefferson as a starter. If anything, it should make the team deeper.
• Was it really that long ago when D.J. Augustin was being pegged as the Bobcats point guard of the future?

AROUND THE WEB:

• Evan Sidery, Rufus on Fire: Where did this performance come from, Josh? He was a bundle of energy all night and he almost posterized Jonas Valanciunas (which made me jump out of my seat). McRoberts attempted 13 shots tonight, and made five of them. He also had six rebounds, five assists, one steal and a block. The pride of Carmel, Indiana, (living just a few miles down the road from yours truly) did his job, providing a spark off the bench. McRoberts has a spot in this rotation, so let’s hope he continues to have performances like this.
• Zarar Siddiqi, Raptors Republic: The egg the Raptors laid in the first quarter was both depressing and amusing.  It was depressing to see the Raptors go down 16 to a Charlotte team which features Kemba Walker, MKG and Gerald Henderson as their three best players.  At the same time, it was mildly amusing to see DeRozan treat a screen set on him as an invitation to take a break from play instead of fighting through it and contesting Gerald Henderson’s jumpers.  Conceding 75% shooting to a team that’s at the bottom of the league in total offense flew in the face of all that defense Dwayne Casey talked about in training camp.
• Rick Bonnell, Charlotte Observer: Ramon Sessions is the Bobcats’ backup point guard because D.J. Augustin no longer wanted to be, turning down a contract extension. Augustin is now on his third team (Toronto) in as many seasons while Sessions, signed the summer of 2012, has been one of the best free-agent acquisitions in franchise history.
• Zach Salzmann, Raptors HQ: Gay has been horrendous offensively thus far this season. He’s still shooting too many long 2s, and turning the ball over at critical junctures, but he is making an effort to get into the lane – problem is, he’s been horrendous around the basket this season, too. 9 of his 21 shots came within 6 feet of the bucket last night, and he only made 3 of them. Not good.
• Dakota Schmidt, Queen City Hoops: In perhaps his best performance of the short season, Henderson looked like a man on a mission from the opening tip-off. Throughout the majority of the 1st quarter, Henderson was able to quickly work around off-ball screens to get an open mid-range jumper which pretty much landed in the basket more times than not.