This guy went all out on his True Hoop Blog…

Game 19 Preview vs. Charlotte Bobcats

by Sebastian Pruiti

Dec 4, 2009 2009-2010 Open Thread, Game Previews, Nets vs. Bobcats

So here we go, the Nets are going into their easiest stretch yet, starting with Charlotte tonight.  As Mark noted yesterday, Keyon Dooling is going to be back today.  The official Nets twitter confirmed this:

For tonight: Keyon’s in, Battie’s in, Yi’s close, Jarvis is up after that. Also, Kiki did not offer up the starters. Bet on Lee, though.

So not only Dooling, but Battie too.  That’s another big key, since Battie can play both the center and the power forward spot.  Which means less Josh Boone.  Less Josh Boone is always a good thing.  On to the match-ups:

Devin Harris vs. Raymond Felton

Raymond Felton is a very serviceable point guard who can score when needed, but can distribute the ball and get his guys in position to score.  I think it is safe to say that Devin is 100% right now, and his production is showing that.  He has been getting to the foul line a ton, and his shots are starting to fall.  He didn’t get many assists last game, but as I pointed out earlier, just his presence on the court gives his teammates a better look.  This could be key with Dooling back.

Advantage: Devin Harris

Courtney Lee vs. Stephen Jackson

Also from the Nets twitter, there is no hints from Kiki’s first lineup besides Courtney Lee is probably a bet to start.  This is good, because it means Lee is 100%.  He has looked much better the last two games, and I really think that it will continue.  Plus he brings a defensive presence to the court, and it also means that Trenton Hassell is now removed from the starting line-up.  He has been a serviceable guy, but he has struggled the last couple, and that was probably his age catching up with him.

Advantage:  Stephen Jackson

Chris Douglas-Roberts vs. Gerald Wallace

Wallace killed the Nets last game, putting up a 20-point/20-rebound performance.  He could have another big night because he is so much bigger than CDR, but you know what?  I don’t want anyone else but CDR on him.  With all the talking about lack of effort and giving up, you know that CDR will go hard the whole game.  You need someone going 100% the whole game on Wallace, or else he will kill you.

Advantage:  Gerald Wallace

Josh Boone vs. Boris Diaw

I wouldn’t be surprise to see Tony Battie starting at the 4 a few games down the line.  Josh Boone is just not getting it done, and if Tony Battie is back playing at the same level he was last year for Orlando, that is better than Boone.  Or Sean Williams for that matter.

Advantage:  Boris Diaw

Brook Lopez vs. Tyson Chandler

When these two met last game it was weird neither of them had a good game.  Yeah Lopez had 18 points, but he only had 5 rebounds, and Tyson Chandler only had 8 points and 8 rebounds.  As I pointed out yesterday, Brook should get a ton of touches, so expect for him to play better tonight

Advantage:  Brook Lopez

Please don’t let it be us!

It would be mortifying if the Kitties gave the Nets their first W tonight. We are three-point favorites—not much respect from Vegas, but we’re on the road, and they’re desperate to say the least. Kiki Vandeweghe will coach his first game after conveniently sitting out the road game at the Mavs.

“We have to go in there knowing and expecting that we’re going to win that game,” forward Stephen Graham told the Charlotte Observer, “and keep them at 0-and-whatever.”

And the best line on the Nets comes from Dan Daly of the Washington Times: “Usually when a team starts the season like that it’s because it’s touring with the Harlem Globetrotters.”

Potential trade in the works?

Coach Brown admitted at practice on Wednesday that the team has been hurt by too many men in rotation, except for needed help at power forward.

Against Boston, five different players saw time at a guard position.

“Right now I’m in a trap because I’ve got so many guys,” coach Brown said. “We’ve got too many guys in the rotation. We should only have three guards, we should only have two small forwards and we should have three big guys, basically.”

“We don’t have a backup four and it showed last night. When Gerald (Wallace) went out and Boris (Diaw) was struggling we had very few options, so that’s an issue.”

Gerald Wallace sums the loss up

“I hope everyone is embarrassed. I wouldn’t come back (as a fan) after watching a game like this,” Wallace said. “Even Doc Rivers had 12 points.”

-Gerald Wallace

Is it just me or does Ray Allen have the Midas touch against the Kitties?

Starbucks after a tough loss

I snapped this incognito shot of Boris Diaw after getting his usual coffee at Starbucks after last night’s stinker. He’s on the left in sweats. I’m not a stalker by the way.

Let’s keep it up…

Nice run recently by the Bobcats and hopefully we can keep it rolling against Pierce, Garnett and company.

I really don’t like the Celtics, with their constant preening and thuggish play. I hate their attitude on the court, but isn’t the NBA more fun when there’s someone you love to cheer against?

Another random thought: how often can you go O for your last 12 from the field (as the Cats did against Cleveland) and still win the game? Thank goodness the Cavs couldn’t hit a 3 in the 4th quarter if their life depended on it.

-Ramadan

Keep the streak alive…

Can the Bobkitties keep plugging along on this winning streak and take down the 2008 champion Boston Celtics? We’ll see tonight at TWC arena.

Briefs:

Gerald Wallace named Eastern Conference Player of the Week award: His numbers in those three games – 25.3 points, 13.7 rebounds, 54 percent shooting from the field, 81 percent from the line and 39 percent from 3-point range.

From the ESPN Power Rankings, where the Bobcats moved up six spots on the heels of their recent run:

19 (25)

Bobcats

7-9

Did we wake these guys up or what? Since last week’s comment that the Bobs wouldn’t score or win enough to resist shopping Stephen Jackson before the trade deadline, they’re 4-0.

Happy Thanksgiving

Bobcats routed the Toronto Raptors 116-81 for the most lopsided victory in franchise history. Wallace and Jackson combine for 54 points.

Nazr

It was clear that Nazr Mohammed hadn’t been anywhere near a mirror in the Bobcats recent win over the Pacers. 8-for-10 from the field and a couple blocks? It was nuts to see it in person.

Solid win

Solid win for the Bobcats; it felt good to crack the century mark again. It’s the first time since the Atlanta win over 2 weeks ago, and that win is looking better and better as they are leading the East right now.

Hopefully we can 2 out of our next 3 (TOR, CLE, @WASH) and completely forgot about that 7 game skid…

Ramadan