Catch all for Bobcats Playoff articles...

[ItsNotGonnaBeAlright]

In an effort to keep the board clean, I move that all links to news articles making referance to the Bobcats first playoff berth in team history be placed here.

[King Taharqa]

Not a bad idea. We can throw em in here to see what the land is saying about the Mighty Bobcats and the good people of Charlotte, North Carolina.

[Porn Shop Clerk]

NEW ORLEANS — The Charlotte Bobcats clinched their first playoff berth since their founding six years ago, as Stephen Jackson scored 29 points and D.J. Augustin hit a crucial 3-pointer with 16 seconds left in a 104-103 victory over the New Orleans Hornets on Wednesday night.

http://www.ajc.com/sports/bobcats-beat-hornets-clinch-444766.html

[King Taharqa]

NEW ORLEANS (AP)—The Charlotte Bobcats clinched their first playoff berth since their founding six years ago, as Stephen Jackson scored 29 points and D.J. Augustin hit a crucial 3-pointer with 16 seconds left in a 104-103 victory over the New Orleans Hornets on Wednesday night.

Charlotte blew a 26-point lead and trailed by as much as eight in the fourth quarter before clawing back, helped in large part by Augustin, a New Orleans native, who hit three 3s in the fourth quarter.

His last gave Charlotte a 102-100 lead.

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/recap?gid=2010040703

[King Taharqa]

NEW ORLEANS (NBA.com exclusive) -- Larry Brown didn't look or sound like a guy who's team just clinched it's first playoff berth in the history of the Charlotte Bobcats.

"What is that? Some of the best of times, and the worst of times?" the Bobcats coach said. "It's a miracle. I'm not a happy man."

Happy or not, here come the Bobcats to the postseason as Charlotte seesawed its way to a 104-103 win over the New Orleans Hornets on Wednesday night. Charlotte nailed down the playoff berth with the win and Toronto's loss earlier Wednesday against Boston.

Brown had good reason to be miffed.

The Bobcats led by as many as 26 points, and then put it in cruise control. So much so that they lost the lead late on the fourth quarter as the Hornets led 97-89 with 3:44 left in the game. Then Charlotte showed resolve going on a 15-3 run highlighted by D.J. Augustin's 3-pointer with 15.8 seconds left in the fourth quarter turned out to be the game-winner and playoff clincher.

Augustin said he had a good feeling the shot was going in, especially after two 3-pointers on his previous two shot attempts.

"We should have never let it get to that point," Augustin said, who finished with 14 points. "We should have kept them down, but that kind of stuff happens. We kept fighting. We stayed strong mentally."

Tyson Chandler should have felt an extra sense of satisfaction as the Bobcats clinched a playoff berth against the Hornets, a team that traded him twice within about a year span. Chandler played with a bit of vigor with 16 points and 10 rebounds. Yet he realizes roller-coaster efforts won't turn into wins come the postseason.

"A win is a win, but he's always going to coach," Chandler said. "We did some incredible things in the first half, and we had a big let down in the second half. The important thing is that we got the win. We do need to learn from this. We can't continue this going into the playoffs."

http://www.nba.com/games/20100407/CHANOH/gameinfo.html

[ItsNotGonnaBeAlright]

The Bobcats, who were founded six seasons ago, will make their first appearance in the playoffs. According to online sportsbooks, like the one found at Bodog, the Bobcats are 100/1 to win the NBA championship this season.

http://www.sportsbookgurus.com/news/charlotte-bobcats-earn-first-nba-playoff-berth-in-franchise-history

[King Taharqa]

This is a bleacher report article, but I think its a very good read on our prospects of facing Orlando in the dance.

The Charlotte Bobcats ushered in a new chapter in their history by clinching their first playoff berth, but will the young team be content to rest on the laurels of their achievement, or will they strive for greater things?

Conventional wisdom says the Bobcats will likely be satisfied with making the postseason and succumbing in the first round, but coach Larry Brown brings a different element to the equation.

Brown has been to the pinnacle of the NBA mountain, and he has based his success on the principles of discipline and tough defense, both qualities which his Charlotte team thrive by.

Although Charlotte still has a chance to improve their standing in the Eastern Conference, if the season ended today their opponent would be the defending conference champion Orlando Magic.

The Bobcats actually match-up pretty well with the Magic until you reach the center position where the conversation begins and ends with the dominance of Dwight Howard.

Raymond Felton and D.J. Augustin provide an effective counter to Jameer Nelson and Jason Williams, and Gerald Wallace and Stephen Jackson can match any of Orlando's wing players in most aspects of the game.

Boris Diaw is one of the more underrated power forwards in the league considering his versatility and uncanny court vision which makes him a primary passing option in the offense.

But Howard is the one player Charlotte can not match in terms of size, speed, athleticism, or sheer physical force, although they do have a plethora of players who would take their turns defending Howard.

Center Tyson Chandler is taller than Howard and just as quick, but he would get punished in the paint because he is nowhere near strong enough to provide ample resistance.

Nazr Mohammed and Theo Ratliff are more of the physical types of players, but they lack the athleticism and quickness to keep up with Howard in the paint and would likely garner a litany of quick fouls in their defense.

But the chances of the Bobcats scoring an unlikely upset lies in a combination of all three post players playing Howard tough and the perimeter players being disciplined in their defense of Orlando's perimeter players.

The Magic offensive scheme is simple but effective, and it revolves around the idea of placing Howard in the post and surrounding him with players who can score form the perimeter.

Orlando is most efficient when opponents choose to double-team Howard in the post and he is able to pick between players like Vince Carter, Nelson, or J.J. Redick, and all are deadly from behind the three point arc.

The Magic rarely stray from this formula and in order for Charlotte to be successful, they will have to rely on the abilities of their post players to play solid man-to-man defense on Howard.

That's easier said than done, and there is the experience factor and the hunger of Orlando to capture the championship which eluded them last season, and that definitely plays as an advantage to the Magic.

But the NBA postseason is the stuff of dreams, at least until the games start, and you can't blame fans of the Bobcats for having hope in their newly historic team, however wistful those aspirations may be.

Charlotte may not be able to stop Orlando's march to the Eastern Conference Finals, but should they meet in the first round, the Bobcats may be able to add to their newly found legacy by winning a couple of games.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/376372-nba-playoffs-charlotte-has-made-history-but-can-they-beat-orlando

[Porn Shop Clerk]

Not one mention of Tyrus Thomas in that article. He can probably play a little defense on Howard. He's athletic enough, just not tough enough.

[HeatCheck]

Not one mention of Tyrus Thomas in that article. He can probably play a little defense on Howard. He's athletic enough, just not tough enough.

Yeah he would get out powered. He'd be better suited to guard Lewis. I hope he doesn't slouch off Lewis to help out on weak side blocks, leaving Lewis open.

[Porn Shop Clerk]

Seems like our guys always do that with wings.

[King Taharqa]

Message is clear: Orlando Magic can't sleep on the Bobcats

A lot of the numbers — heck, most of the statistical evidence — suggests that the Charlotte Bobcats were rather clawless against the Orlando Magic this season.

The Magic won the season series, 3-1, and have taken 11 of the last 13 matchups against the 'Cats.

Is the data deceiving heading into their first-round playoff series, beginning Sunday at Amway Arena?

Could be, especially if you examine how the four games between them progressed:

Game 1, Nov. 10, 2009: Magic 93, Bobcats 87 in Charlotte, N.C.: Nursing a sore ankle, Vince Carter wasn't supposed to play and sat out the morning shootaround. Then he walked back from the arena to the team hotel, it was raining lightly, the last remnants of Hurricane Ida.

Carter said that his ankle felt better with each step. He came off the bench to score 15 points, only the eighth time in 781 games during his career he was used in a reserve role.

The Magic scored 22 points off turnovers, and the Bobcats' big men all got into foul trouble trying to handle Dwight Howard. Little-used power forward Brandon Bass hit all six of his field goals.

Conclusion: The Bobcats were struggling early in the season while the Magic were en route to a 17-4 start.

Game 2, Nov. 16, 2009: Magic 97, Bobcats 91 in Orlando: Magic power forward Rashard Lewis returned after serving a 10-game suspension for elevated testosterone levels. Lewis scored just 10 points, but hit a few timely baskets.

Lewis and fellow power forwards Ryan Anderson and Brandon Bass all ignited a key run despite all of them missing the previous game.

The Bobcats welcomed small forward Stephen Jackson, who was playing his first game only hours after arriving in a trade with the Golden State Warriors. His presence wasn't enough to prevent Charlotte from losing its fifth consecutive game.

The oft-controversial Capt. Jack was something of a seer: He boldly predicted that the Bobcats would make the playoffs.

Conclusion: The Magic displayed their depth and needed Lewis back. No one knew it, but Jackson was about to turn around the 'Cats fortunes.

Game 3, Jan. 23, 2010: Magic 106, Bobcats 95 in Charlotte: Orlando won the game, but needed to go into overtime to do it.

The Magic led by as many as 16 points in the second half, but the Bobcats outscored them 33-23 in the final period of regulation.

Jackson's layup with 1.2 seconds left forced the extra period, but Orlando outscored Charlotte 14-3, ending their nine-game home winning streak.

Howard had 10 points, 20 rebounds and seven blocks. Carter scored 21 points and played Gerald Wallace tough, but Jameer Nelson led the charge in OT.

Conclusion: Carter's defense against Wallace was promising. But clearly, the Bobcats were closing the gap, thanks largely to Jackson.

Game 4, Mar. 14, 2010: Bobcats 96, Magic 89 in Orlando: The Magic were looking to tie the franchise's longest winning streak at nine but they had been routing opponents (except for a 96-94 victory against the Lakers).

Everyone could see this coming.

The Bobcats won their sixth consecutive game, even though Wallace was out with a sprained ankle.

Capt. Jack's earlier proclamation about his new team making the playoffs was about to come true. Jackson scored 28 points and Raymond Felton added 16, having their way with Orlando's defense.

Howard's 27-point, 16-rebound night wasn't enough. Carter added 23, but the Magic missed the defense of Matt Barnes (toe) against Jackson.

Conclusion: The ‘Cats won for the first time in eight games against the Magic, giving them confidence, especially on the road. "The difference in them," Nelson said, "is Stephen Jackson."

The Magic might have won three of the four games, but only once did they score more than 100 points against the Bobcats, who lead the league in defensive efficiency (fewest points per 100 possessions).

Check out the scores: 93-81, 97-91,106-95 (OT) and 96-89.

The Magic can't be deceived strictly by the number … of victories.

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/os-magic-bobcats-nba-playoffs-20100415,0,357641.story

[King Taharqa]

From an Orlando Magic fan blogsite. What they're saying bout us...

Defensively, the Magic will key on Stephen Jackson. Jackson scored 20.6 points per game, shot an effective field goal percentage of 46.9% and a true shooting percentage of 52.0% this season. Jackson scored 18.7 points per game against the Magic. Jackson takes a little less than a third of his shots (6.0 of his 18.7 attempts) at the rim. Jackson shoots just 55.3% on these shots and has 6.9% of his shots blocked. Jackson takes 4.9 three-pointers per game and 4.5 shots per from within 16-23 feet, which accounts for 24.1% of his shots. He shoots just 37.0% from from there. The Magic would love for Jackson (and the rest of the Bobcats for that matter) to attempt a majority of shots from 16-23 feet because of how inefficient the shot is.

Matt Barnes and Mickael Pietrus will likely share the job of trying to slow Jackson and both players are above average defenders.

Barnes is up for the challenge.

“We have the eye of the tiger right now,” Barnes told the media. “We stopped being the hunted and became the hunter.”

Gerald Wallace has also had a good offensive season. He’s scoring 18.2 points and grabbing 10.0 rebounds per game. Wallace’s effective field goal percentage is 51.1% and for the most part, he takes fairly efficient shots. Shot attempts at the rim make up 57.3% of his shots and he shoots 58.6% on those shots. However, Wallace gets 11.2 of his shots blocked.

That doesn’t bode well for a player who is going to have drive into the lane against the league’s leading shot-blocker and best defensive player, Dwight Howard. Howard is absolute monster on the defensive end. Not only does he block 2.8 shots per game (his block percentage is 6.0) and grab 9.7 defensive rebounds per game (he grabs 31.3% of available defensive rebounds), but Howard alters many other shots and often prevents wing players from even attempting to get to the basket, instead choosing to take shots with a much higher degree of difficulty.

The Bobcats will be forced to step out and make shots and they are one of the poorest three-point shooting teams in the league. They hit 34.6% of their three-pointers and only make 5.6 per game.

http://howardthedunk.com/2010/04/15/series-preview-charlotte-bobcats-vs-orlando-magic/

[Liminy]

I predicted that this would go to the Cats in 6, but I think it might go Cats in 7, I really believe that we can beat this team and sweep (not literally) the rug out from under them. I think we will see a new kind of attitude from the entire Bobcats team and it will be very exciting basketball.

[HeatCheck]

I predicted that this would go to the Cats in 6, but I think it might go Cats in 7, I really believe that we can beat this team and sweep (not literally) the rug out from under them. I think we will see a new kind of attitude from the entire Bobcats team and it will be very exciting basketball.

See if the Cats do win this one its gonna have to happen in 6. We aren't going to win on Orlando's home court in deciding game. For us to win the series, we need to snag one of the first 2 home games. We aren't going to win 4 straight or 4 out of 5.