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March 15, 2009
Will Diaw contain Bargnani?
It's been nearly three months since the Bobcats and Toronto Raptors have played, and a lot has changed for both teams.
The Bobcats acquired Boris Diaw and Raja Bell in perhaps the best trade in franchise history. The Raptors moved Jermaine O'Neal to Miami, primarily to escape his $23 million salary next season, but that deal also stabilized Toronto's frontcourt.
With Shawn Marion at small forward, Chris Bosh and Andrea Bargnani can settle in as the power forward and center. Bargnani, a former No. 1 overall pick, finally looks comfortable -- he's reached 20 or more points in six of his past eight games.
That's a real worry for the Bobcats, because nontraditional centers -- high-post passers and 3-point shooters -- often confound this team. The difference, perhaps, is Diaw. He's mobile enough to guard effectively out to the 3-point arc. I'm guessing Diaw will guard Bargnani Monday night and Emeka Okafor will match up with Bosh.
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Okafor has just one block in his past two games and that could be a function of foul trouble, because he committed four in each of those games. Teams have run a lot of high screen-and-roll against him of late, and that places Okafor out in space, where it's hard for him to guard the basket.
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I know it's blasphemous to say anything nice about Sean May, but I wish Larry Brown would find him some minutes before the season expires.
I watched him throughout an optional practice Sunday, and he looks in shape. He says his right knee is pain-free and he'd love a chance to help.
Maybe that's just self-interest -- he hopes unrealistically that the Bobcats will exercise his qualifying offer and keep him around next season. But I've never seen May as a selfish or malicious person. This is very different from, for instance, Kareem Rush blaming everyone else for his failings when he was a Bobcat.
I keep hearing these calls to cut May. That's such an emotional, impractical response. Cutting him wouldn't save a dime against the salary cap, and Murphy's Law says the week after you cut him, Boris Diaw and Vladimir Radmanovic both get hurt.
Posted by Observer Sports on March 15, 2009 at 05:32 PM | Permalink
Comments
Having Diaw guard Bargnani sounds great - IF Diaw decides to show up and put in some effort.
Bosh is in a bit of a slump so he must be licking his lips at the thought of going up against the SOFTcats - and the leader of the softness - Emeka "pay me what Dwight Howard was paid" Softafor - "guarding" him.
When was the last time had a 30/30 game?
I'm guessing Bosh has 2 of them in the next 5 days.
Posted by: Doomed | Mar 15, 2009 5:55:27 PM
Bobcat won six games in a streak, and lost three straight. What does this tell us about this team? Loosing to the Timberwolves is a setback for a team trying to be a play-off contender. I know the team has come a long way since coach LB took over and especially the acquisition of Diaw and Bell both of whom have brought tremendous needed help to this young franchise. However, there are still rooms for the potential of this team to be explored. Trade May, Mohammed and bring in a good player of a good caliber. Work on elevating Diop and Okaor's athleticism, which they're lacking. Work on improving Romanovic focus on the game and his defensive part of the game. Wallace and Felton are doing real well, but Augustin need some tune up for his game. He commit some careless turnovers that hurt this team. I'm not sure if he's ready to be a pointguard. He needs some work.
Posted by: nunu20041 | Mar 15, 2009 6:55:21 PM
"Trade May, Mohammed and bring in a good player of a good caliber."
I agree nunu20041! Why didn't the front office think of this earlier?
Rick, why not right up a piece on why the Bobcats weren't smart enough to trade May and Mohammed for a good player? That would really answer a lot of questions.
Posted by: Bobby | Mar 15, 2009 7:42:58 PM
uhhh, bobby, i hope that your sarcastic.
the cats cant move mohammed because of his ridiculous contract. dont quote me on this, but its like 7 mill over the next three years. as for may, its hard to move him because he is a liability as of now. he rarely plays, but his expiring contract would have been nice for a team.
but that was a very ignorant comment as many people asked that same thing during trading season.
the problem with this too is that many teams arnt willing to take garbage contracts (and players i guess) for talent. thats why the pacers trade didnt go down.
as for may, idk what to do with him now. i just want a competitive team on the court when i show up to the games...and on nba 2k9 hahahaha!!!
Posted by: reggie Gallant | Mar 15, 2009 9:37:19 PM
do you honestly think we can get a good player of a good caliber trading may and mohammed? who would be dumb enough to make a trade?
Posted by: bfawcet | Mar 15, 2009 9:41:14 PM
i would trade them for dirk nowitski
Posted by: kyle | Mar 15, 2009 9:46:47 PM
>
at this point, May is not tradeable as the trading deadline has passed.
Our only real option on May is a) offer him his qualifying offer of $3.7mm or b) he is a free agent on 7/1/09.
Nazr's contract is $6.5mm and $6.9mm over the next two years; can't beleive we'll find takers for that. Now we know why Detroit made the trade in a heartbeat for Brezec and Hermann. We would have been a lot better off in the long run if we have 'pained' our way through Primoz's last year and not have Nazr to deal with now.
Posted by: bobfan1 | Mar 15, 2009 11:18:09 PM
Okafor does not seem to have the desire to become a superstar or to become the vocal leader of the Bobcats. I am pretty sure the Cats knew the latter when they signed him to his "big" contract. Okafor is a solid double double center who occasionally plays at an All Star level. The Bobcats need him to be more than that, but I can't see that happening.
Lets just hope the Cats win the next couple of games. The upcoming schedule is favorable.
Posted by: Token | Mar 15, 2009 11:49:32 PM
We got screwed with Nazr, no ifs ands or buts about it. He'll finish his career averaging 0-5 minutes for the cats. May on the other hand is different, he got hurt, got fat, and its takes time to fix fat after being hurt. Lest we forget that pre-"get to 260 or dont play" Sean May put up a double double against the Thunder (albeit they sucked bad then). I honestly say we keep him, if we get eliminated from playoff contention we play him much more, and if we don't we try to find 5 mpg for him. If he can put up 2-3 points and 2-3 rebounds in 5 or so minutes and keep up in transition, we should qualify him. A qualified RFA is still an expiring contract, so if he ends up sucking next year we dump him as expiring to people who want to free up that 3 mil for LeBron and company.
Posted by: tattoo | Mar 16, 2009 9:32:11 AM
This team is more interesting now with some better players and a good coach. Problem is they still have odd pieces that don't match up well with power teams. Okafor and Diaw are tweeners, with Mek a 5/4 and Diaw a 4/3. In certain situations this helps them and the team. Against power teams it hurts. Mek is solid, but cannot range out into space either offensively or defensively. Diaw is weak on the boards. Combine this with our other starters own strengths and weaknesses, and you have what we've got: a decent to occasionally good team that may not get significantly better. The ceiling for this squad is not very high. To get from competing to make the playoffs, to a position of going DEEP into playoff success, we need several things:
1. AMAZING LUCK IN THE DRAFT - Our most recent picks weren't the right ones (DJ will be solid but no starter or star, Ajinca was a major reach) when Lopez and Chalmers fit the bill. Since we are likely in the lottery we need that ball to finally hit #1. That would provide us Blake Griffin and a TRUE power forward to build on. If not that, we need to get lucky and snatch the best NBA rated SG available.
2. Seriously consider dealing ANYONE on this team if the deal is right: Look, nobody on this squad is sacred or untouchable, including Diaw, Crash or Okafor. This team needs one or two key players; a BIG who can score and rebound, and a SG who can carry the team when needed. If there is a way to get those players you get them. If that means you deal Crash, then you move Diaw to the 3. Okafor traded? It better be for a true center in the mold previously described.
Posted by: Mark | Mar 16, 2009 9:38:55 AM
Is Carlos Boozer a franchise type player that you "build on"?
No, he's not. He only plays one end of the court - like like Griffin.......plus Griffin sux from the free throw line.
Griffin is going to be a heck of a nice player, but he's not a franchise type.
Heck, his D makes Amare's look like he should be the DPOY.
Posted by: Blake Who??? | Mar 16, 2009 12:25:38 PM
I don't know how you can say that DJ will neither be a star nor a starter. Did anyone else see his 18 points in 22 minutes against Minnesota - he's the only reason we were even in that game.
We shouldn't judge a player's abilities on just one game, so let's look at his body of work. Yes, he has indeed been inconsistent, but so have his minutes. What you can say though is that he has shown flashes of brilliance, and these came even earlier in the season. Games of 29 points and double-digit assists. His rebounding has improved as the season has gone along. He has also shown that he has the ability to drive past anyone. Dare I mention his ridiculous three point shooting and FT percentage too?
DJ was an excellent pick. He has the potential to be an all-star - think a smaller, not quite as good Deron Williams. Give him more time under Larry Brown. As he learns to get to the basket and get fouled, use his feat on D to compensate for his size, and hones his passing and decision making skills, he will emerge as the star of this team.
Posted by: Trey | Mar 16, 2009 12:48:30 PM
You're quite right Trey! DJ is a good player, and perhabs he's one success of the team's draft pick. However, while he remain inconsistent, his turnover ratios and quick decisions are what the coaches need to work with him. Okafor is playing better since Diaw came over, but he lacks the athletic skills required to make him a superstar. Felton is improving from my stand point and I think he'll be better with LB. Crash is athletic and physical and he's one of the best players on this team. You've others that will do better hopefully? The question is when? Good luck tonite CATS
Posted by: nunu20041 | Mar 16, 2009 1:20:47 PM
Mark,
Blake Griffin appears to be every bit the NBA "tweener" that Diaw and Okafor supposedly are. But at least he COULD bring some rebounding to the PF spot. I'll give you that.
Emeka has Center length and strength. Diaw appears to have the same for the PF spot-- but isn't much of a rebounder for some reason. I'd like to see a big, offensively-skilled 7-footer mixed in with those 2 guys.
Posted by: DeLaQuest | Mar 16, 2009 1:39:33 PM
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