The Off Day: Bobcats Hit The Road

Three games, four days, 2 in Texas and 1 in Okahoma City.  Houston isn’t that great, by Western Conference standards.  San Antonio and Oklahoma City are all-world, #1 and #4 in the West at the moment with 6.5 and 3.5 games over their respective chasers.  Daunting, to say the least.  Especially when you consider the Bobcats are “tied” with the Pacers for the 8th and final playoff spot in the East.  It’s heavy and you know, if you think Houston is a passover, think again.  They’re 34-34 and 3.5 out of the 8th spot in the West, which would put them around the 7th spot in the East.  Yes, there is a significant difference this year on either side of the Mississippi.

The Bobcats, by letting the Pacers back into it and the Bucks get to within striking, albeit distant striking distance, have forced fans to watch scoreboards.  Milwaukee and the Pacers are the ones we’re watching, they both play/played tonight.  Milwaukee, who I’m not really concerned with has lost to Atlanta tonight.  They lost big, 110-85.  Sunday, they lost to Boston, scoring fewer than any previous Boston opponent, including the Bobcats!  The Bucks have legitimate issues offensively.  I sadisticly enjoyed the write-up by new Fansided Bucks writer KL Chouinard over at WereBucked.com on the Boston game.  He titled it “Flung Off the Bubble.” Tonight’s loss firmly planted a block on the Bucks’ access to the bubble again.

The not so good news is that the Pacers just beat the Knicks by two!  Damn…117-119 and it was a close one throughout.  I had faith in ‘Melo and the former Nuggets but Danny Granger just had that final shot and if I’m looking at the Play-by-Play correctly, the Knicks didn’t get off another shot.  So, the Pacers, basically a mirror image of the Bobcats, 2 straight wins after a 6 game losing streak, fired their aging coach, which seemed to be holding back youth and exuberance, the new interim coach comes in and revitalizes things, for a while.

The big differences are, head to head, the Pacers have the edge over the Bobcats; also, the Pacers’ back to back wins are over the Knicks while the Bobcats’ are over the Blazers and the Raptors.  The Blazers win was a straight up emotion win.  Gerald Wallace’s return, Stephen Jackson and Tyrus Thomas back from injury, Jackson’s incredible fourth quarter, it was all emotion and being “up” for a game.  The Raptors are a mess and didn’t have a chance.  The Knicks are kind of a mess as well but they are 6th in the East, 2 games above .500 and have 2 legit superstars.

I’m not down on the Bobcats and up on the Pacers.  I have a feeling that the Bobcats are set up for success.  The Pacers are far less balanced and far from having the leadership that the Bobcats do.

Here’s what I mean by “set up for success:”  Stephen Jackson is hot, I mean solidly on a hot streak offensively.  15 points against the Raptors was not huge, but when you look at how he was hacked and abused by the Raptors, it was impressive.  He also had 5 assists which is above his average.  Gerald Henderson stuffed the stat line in the Toronto game.  If he can get his shot to fall, keep up on defense with his mark and bring some of those blocks and energy plays he’s becoming known for, we’re in for a good run from him.  DJ Augustin is one question mark, but you can be assured that he’ll not fall off too terribly.  Tyrus Thomas is back, with his energy and effort off the bench, plus rebounds blocks and those nights when he can light it up, he’s sure to help in this playoff push.

Possibly most important, Paul Silas was extended and the “interim” tag has been removed.  Frank Vogel hasn’t been given that vote of confidence and once in a while you actually see names pop up as possible replacements for the Indy head coaching gig for next season.  They also don’t have a vocal locker room leader.  They have Danny Granger, but he’s no leader, just a solid scorer.

So, bottom line, it’s all about wins out of these next 16 games for both teams.  I’ll be watching ever score I can out of Indiana and keeping an eye out for the Bucks, although I don’t really expect much, nor do their fans.  The Bobcats have to win, have to do it now.  Playing from behind, in any case, whether it’s a game or in the playoff chase, is a difficult proposition.  Houston will be huge, if they can steal one from the Spurs or the Thunder?  Whooo.

I like that Przybilla is trying to come back, maybe he can get back for the late push to help out Kwame and play beside Tyrus.  Imagine that shot blocking front line.  I hate he’s not ready but at least he’s trying to make it out on the road for support.  I also appreciate the Bobcats are keeping Garrett Temple, at least on another 10 day contract.  If Silas likes him, I like him.

Hey, as road trips go, at least it’s Central time!