Gameday Preview: Cavs at Bobcats

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I see a lot of blogs that do their previews and they say “Game #64” or something along those lines in the title.  I didn’t want to do that because it felt like a countdown or a way of saying “only 18 more to go” or “I’ve done 64 of these!”  I look at each game individually but try to keep an eye on the big picture.  Well, the picture is tightening up with only 9 games left to decide if this season is a success or a failure.  That’s the way I look at getting into the playoffs, measure of this seasons success.  While good things may come in the form of a draft pick if the Bobcats miss the playoffs, I still think that the only thing for this team to do, to save face with fringe fans, the local sports talk guys, the “columnists” at the Observer and all the rest is to get into the playoffs.  Now, I think, it probably goes without saying but I’ll say it anyway, if and when the Bobcats get in and get bounced again in the first round, the guys I mentioned will all come back and say “They shouldn’t have even been there!  They should have been in the lottery!  Let’s get Kemba Walker in here!  To the Phones:  Curlina Charlie you’re next.”

Tonight’s game might be a let down game, turns out for both teams.  Trap game isn’t really appropriate but it’s along those lines for the ‘Cats.  Playing the Bucks Monday and the Magic Friday, with Cleveland in between?  Yikes, look for the low lyers to jump up and bite ya.  But last night, the Cavs got more attention then they had, maybe, all year.  They beat the Heat!  Lebron didn’t even show his face in pre-game intros.  So bizzare, the Cleveland Website says he was in the bathroom.

Sort of like when Carolina has a bad year and all they care about is if they beat Duke or not, the Cavaliers beat the hated Heat in Cleveland last night.  I watched the highlights and the roof about came off that place with a Ryan Hollins dunk.  Hold on, did I just say Ryan Hollins had a serious contribution in an NBA game?

For those of you who don’t know or may not remember, Ryan Hollins was the player we all rooted for coming off the bench because he would just block shots and dunk, that’s all he did as a rookie for the Bobcats.  Hold up, I just looked at his stats, he was here in 3 seasons?!  27, 60 and then 18 games before being traded to Dallas with Matt Carroll for DeSagana Diop.  Kid didn’t produce much but he got the crowd pumped.  He was so raw, so big, so athletic.  Like a skinnier, less basketball-minded Tyson Chandler.  He now starts for Cleveland, which is awesome for him, but it again makes the Bobcats look a little dumb for trading a guy that’s now contributing elsewhere.  Shannon Brown, Tyson Chandler, there are several on that list that don’t really bear rubbing salt in that wound.

But yeah, Hollins contributed last night.  I even saw Tim Legler use a quote from him on SportsCenter.  Good for him.

I looked up the Observer’s little preview and they had as the Bobcats’ point guard “TBD.”  Must be a D-League call up or something, hope he’s good but I’ve never heard of anyone with 3 capitalized letters for a name.  I mean there’s Nene for Denver, that’s one of those one name guys but “TBD” just seems weird.  Sorry, I’m being told that means “To Be Determined”  as in they aren’t sure yet.  I’m sure if we keep an eye on Mike Cranston’s twitter, we’ll have an idea just after lunch.  But it does hurt not knowing if DJ Augustin or Shaun Livingston can give it a go.  Garrett Temple isn’t a slouch but he’s only been with the team, let’s see, two ten day contracts equals 20 days and then add the 2 under this end the season deal and I believe you can say he’s only been with the team 22 days, plus he’s been injured for a few of those.  He might not know the offense, but then again, with a coach switch around Christmas, most players might not know the offense.

Boris Diaw, who actually entered the league as a point guard with Atlanta, just look at the little guy:   Svelte, looking slim, ready to take on the world.  So he might get some burn handling the ball, but if the Bobcats are to be without both DJ and Liv, I’d like to see a really open offense, one where there isn’t one guy doing all the ball-handling.  Basically, the anti-Larry Brown.  Sort of free flowing, I think they call it a “motion” offense and let people get open off screens and cuts.  Everybody rebounds (like when Kwame was out) and everybody passes (like when your #1 and #2 options at pg are out).

Kwame should be back, at least that’s what we’re hearing, which is great.  I’m happy his child is well or well enough for him to rejoin the team.  You know, this is a larger topic for another day, but, with Gerald Wallace and Nazr Mohammed being traded, I’ve thought more about players moving, being separated from their families and whatnot.  Then the whole Dwayne Wade child custody thing went down and it hit home that it truly is a bigger deal than fans realize.

Matchups, we just don’t know.  Hickson is the guy you have to keep an eye on for Cleveland.  The Observer lists Sessions as the starting PG, but it looks like, after last night getting the start for the first time, former Hornet under Paul Silas, Baron Davis will start.  Antwan Jamison won’t play with a broken finger, nor will Anderson Varajo.  So it might be a let-down game for them, I hope so anyway.  Lots of energy and lots of emotion were expended last night, then they roll on down to Charlotte to face a streaking Bobcats team that got rest, I like our chances.