Don't know anything about this game yet except the box score, but congratulations to Charlotte for their first win (and in only their second game). With a lot of people claiming to be experts proving to be idiots by predicting this team to be the worst ever, this game provides a lot of positive signs.
First, they won by scoring 111 points and they did it on non-spectacular 45% shooting. The biggest problem this team has on paper is scoring so this production is a very good sign. And it is not like one person went off - they had 5 players in double digits with 4 more scoring 6 to 8 - excellent balance.
Second, a lot of people thought this team was going to have problems with fouls and turnovers, but they bettered Orlando in both categories. I'll have to see the recap tomorrow to find out how they managed to foul both Francis and Mobley out.
Third, in a match up of the two top draft picks, both playing power forward, you have to say Okafor got the edge on Howard, though Dwight did have an amazing amount of rebounds for the amount of time he played. Doesn't really mean much since the two will be facing off plenty in the future, but it is nice to see the elder Okafor play decent in response to the slight of being the second pick.
Fourth, Orlando is without question the second best team in the Bobcat's division (though that is not saying much). The Bobcats really should have no trouble racking up some wins in their division, especially if they get to play Miami a couple of times when O'Neal is inevitably hurt. It's extremely unlikely that the Bobcats can make the playoffs despite how poor the East is, but I imagine they won't have the worst record either, never-mind the worst record of all-time.
One more thing, mark by words. With Jermaine O'Neal hurt and Ilgauskas due to break his foot at any moment, Primoz Brezec has a shot at being Shaq's backup on the All-Star team (at least if Ben Wallace is considered a forward). Admittedly, the man has no name recognition, but there is a good chance he could be a 20-10 man at the All-Star break, and how many centers in the East will have those numbers? Only the man in Miami. Yes, in a Kelly Tripucka-way a lot of his points will be a result of happenstance of being on an expansion team with no other scorers, but the man is a good player.
Posted by shs4 at November 6, 2004 10:21 PM | TrackBack