Hawks - Bobcats

[lethalweapon3]

“With the first pick in the 2012 NBA Draft, the Washington Wizards select Anthony Davis, of the University of Kentucky!”

Upon hearing those words a couple weeks ago, Paul Silas awoke, drenched in a cool sweat.

The race to the bottom of the NBA Lottery Odds pile has begun, and the Bobcats hope to play spirited, energetic, encouraging and, ultimately, losing basketball the rest of the way. Silas knows that he’s not going anywhere, not unless John Calipari wants to give the old resuscitate-a-dormant-NBA-franchise thing another try. Even though getting one more win to avoid the worst season in NBA history would be nice, the Bobcats are already playing for next season, lest they give their division foe an improved chance to pick from the top of the rookie litter.

So, it’s youth movement time in the Queen City. Corey Maggette? Rest up, old fella, ‘cause it’s Reggie Williams Time. D.J. Augustin? Thank you for your time in service, but it’ll be Kemba Walker at the helm from here on out. Gana Diop? We’ve seen what you can do. Now, sit back and enjoy Bismack Biyombo doing his thing. We may even get to see Silas’s son Stephen at the coaching reins, as the progeny has been green-lighted to serve as interim coach once a week.

Poppa Silas and company hope to at least sneak out one more game to avoid infamy for all-time futility, but the true focus for his staff in April is to assess whether or not the Kids Are Alright:

“We still want to win games, but the fact is we have to find out what these kids are about,” Silas said. “If we were going for a playoff berth or something like that then absolutely we would want our veteran players in there. But we’re not, so we want these guys to play and see how they react.”

Unlike our past few tete-a-tetes with the ‘Cats, we won’t have Boris Diaw to kick around anymore. The pass-first photographer-extraordinaire who was, by default, one of their top rebounders was bought out of his hefty contract and is now treading water along the Riverwalk with the Spurs. His nonchalant attitude and production became all the more expendable with the emergence of Byron “don’t call me B.J.” Mullens. Silas is trying to force Mullens to use the remainder of the year to craft his inside game, as the effectiveness of the outside jumpshot he relies upon has fallen precipitously (now down around 36%) since lighting up the Hawks with 17 and 21 points in two January games.

Silas is still trying to find the right balance with Walker and Augustin, and he may be getting closer to figuring it out. Walker has not found his offense but is distributing well (7.0 assists and 1.5 turnovers in his last two games, albeit at Detroit and Toronto), while Augustin’s last couple games has him putting up 17.0 points, 8.5 assists and just 2.0 turnovers as he transitions back to the bench role. At least one or the other guard has produced a minimum of 5 assists in every contest since March 15, and neither has turned the ball over more than 3 times since March 17.

They’d have many more assists if they could find somebody who can make a basket. Charlotte is dead last in FG% (41%) and 3-Point FG% (30%), and the only team below the 50% mark in total shooting percentage (48%). Guard the three-point shot effectively, and you’ve won half the battle; the Bobcats are a .500 team (5-5) when they shoot more than 40% from three-point range, and of course 2-39 when they don’t.

Having Mullens playing more aggressively upfront with Biyombo is hoped to improve their woeful rebounding numbers, as there are plenty of offensive putbacks to be had. Opponents are relentless in attacking the rim (about 19 at-rim field goals per game, most in the league), so their presence and activity is sorely needed. Conversely, Bobcat foes don’t waste much time taking long jumpers (21% of all opponent FGAs, fewest in the league) against Charlotte.

Speaking of long jumpers, like an infinitely-more productive forward that we all know and love, leading scorer Corey Maggette has found himself rather smitten with them. He lofts up about 5 per game from that range and is now down to around 27% shooting them. It’s when he steps behind the 3-point line that he becomes a more serious threat (a modest 36%). But when your top scorer is putting out 37% field goal shooting overall on the season, things are not going well for you. Second-leading scorer Gerald Henderson is marginally better with the long-range jumpshots, taking 6.2 per game (third most in the league, tied with a certain Hawk) and shooting 39% from that range. As a squad, the ‘Cats take at least 3 more jumpers from 16-to-23 feet out, about 35% of their offensive arsenal, than the next closest NBA team. Alas, their FG% at this distance (36%) ranks 24^th.

Their short-range jumpers are nothing to write home about, either. Since March 1, they’re hitting at a 44-for-137 clip (32%) at just 3-to-9 feet from the hoop.

As you’re eating your Lucky Charms, check your milk carton for the face of Tyrus Thomas. The former fourth-overall draft pick has been seen less and less, as he’s struggled with his conditioning and turned in some brutal shooting performances for a starting forward. Now on the bench, his minutes are getting increasingly eroded by the likes of Derrick Brown and D.J. White. Thomas was offered no more than 6 minutes in last night’s close contest with Toronto, ironically the last team Charlotte defeated back on March 17. He always seems to relish a matchup with Josh Smith, so we’ll see if he’s activated more tonight. To help you lose a little sleep at night, a future (high-lottery-protected until 2016) first-round pick goes to Chicago in the deal Charlotte made for this guy (What, Chicago? Acie Law and Flip Murray didn’t suffice?)

Go Hawks!

~lw3

[lethalweapon3]

Maggette is out until at least next week with a strained Achilles (now there's a "bug" that's going around the league a lot lately). Augustin may have limited mintues as he's recuperating tendinitis in his left knee. And Thomas apparently had a rough collision with Ben Uzoh late in last night's game at Toronto -- no concussion confirmed -- so he's questionable at the moment.~lw3

Edited April 4, 2012 by lethalweapon3

[benhillboy]

Watch Jordan on his phone the whole game trying to find a safe way out of his horrible investment. His lame damage control over the report just made him look more suspect. Anthony Davis seems like a good kid, so I would never wish being drafted by the Wiz or the Cats on him. A Manning Family-like refusal to go to either wouldnt surprise me, and I couldn't much blame him. 100% chance the Hawks win.

[Gray Mule]

Three days rest.Shocking. We're not accustomed to that.Bobcats had the Hawks number, once upon a time. No matter what elseCharlotte would give us heck. I expect nothing less tonight. They needdesperately to win another game so as not to have the worst record ever.The Bobcats might just believe that tonight's game is the one. Betterbe careful and don't sleepwalk too much.xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

[Hawks27]

I'll be at this game! Looking at Charlotte's past games, it seems like they are in them but just can't make the plays to win.We better not be asleep tonight expecting some cakewalk. Every game now is absolutely huge!GO HAWKS

[Gray Mule]

1st game we played Charlotte, we had to go to overtime for the victory.The second game was rather easy.Here's something to watch for, especially it the score isn't close:Will Dampier be allowed to make a token appearance tonight?He's on the roster - active - and he warms up with the team.He never sees the floor while the game is in progress. Couldtonight be the night for us to have a Dampier sighting??????????????????????

[HawkItus]

Damn good write up mr.lethal

[capstone21]

Man Charlotte team is a mess....there is no identity there at all. They don't play good defense but they also have no offense. Walker looks like he will be pretty good but other then that they really have nothing. Looking like an expansion team right now.

[Gray Mule]

DNP- coaches Decision

Guess the lead wasn't big enough to get Dampier

out of the dog house.

Great blow out win by Atlanta Hawks!!

[Hawks27]

Nice blowout win! Definitely a fun game to be at!Picked up a Joe Johnson t-shirt tonight.GO HAWKS!