This was the best crowd any Charlotte team will play in front of all year. Time Warner Cable Arena was full of middle-school cheering wildly for the home team. Schools decide which students will make the trip, and everybody gets in free. The game began at 11 a.m.
Milwaukee came back from a 20-point deficit and beat the Charlotte Bobcats 100-90 in Charlotte's next to last exhibition. The Bobcats open the season at home a week from Friday.
Milwaukee hammered the Bobcats, who often played a small lineup, on the boards. The Bucks had 56 rebounds, the Bobcats 38. The Bucks had 21 offensive rebounds. The Bobcats 12. The Bucks had four players with seven or more rebounds. The Bobcats had Brendan Haywood.
The Bobcats rested Gerald Henderson most of the second half and played Michael Kidd-Gilchrist only 13 minutes total. They practiced long Wednesday so the idea was not to wear players out.
Although Kemba Walker shot only two of seven from the field in the fourth quarter, he finished with a game-high 20 points on 16 field goal attempts.
He played 40 minutes and had seven assists, also a game high. Most impressively, did not have a turnover.
I don't think 11 a.m. tipoffs will catch on. But if I had a vote, they would.
Must have been nice not to have been the shortest guy in attendance too.
Posted by: Tiny Tom | October 25, 2012 at 02:48 PM
Hey Tom,
What ever happened to McClain? the Panthers 3rd round DT??
Posted by: WhatsNew | October 25, 2012 at 03:56 PM
Kemba is playing some ball. Now let's get him some help please.
Posted by: James | October 25, 2012 at 05:37 PM
Kemba took 16 shot attempts?!? Odds are, he'll be out of the league if he continues to be a shooting guard, rather than learn to be an effective & efficient point guard.
Posted by: CLTfan | October 25, 2012 at 07:33 PM
@CLTfan I don't know what team your watching but the bobcats need Kemba to score. If his teammates knock down the open shots he gives them the assist would be there. Ramon Session took 16 shots too. Kemba and Gerald and Gordan are their best players so why can't kemba take 16 shots.
Posted by: Respect | October 25, 2012 at 07:45 PM
7 assists and zero turnovers for Kemba. And he led the team in scoring as well. Those numbers will have you in the all star game before you are out of the league.
Posted by: Bop | October 25, 2012 at 08:52 PM
@Respect: I am watching the 'Cats and your point is valid, but I am more concerned that he only hit on 6 of 16 attempts. That's only 37% and that's hurting the team as a "point guard." Furthermore, could it be that Kemba's teammates can't knock down their shot because Kemba has yet to learn how to effectively distribute the ball (like a point guard) to others at the right place for the higher percentage shot? Bottom line is, if he can't develop the skills as a true point guard, I just don't see Kemba lasting in the NBA acting as a shooting guard with a point guard's body. I hope he proves me wrong, but I don't think he's Allen Iverson.
Posted by: CLTfan | October 25, 2012 at 08:58 PM
7 assists and zero turnovers. That is not hurting your team. Also indicates he is more than willing to pass. How about getting him some teammates?
Posted by: Ratio | October 25, 2012 at 09:27 PM
Kemba is on the worst team in the history of the NBA. To put up the numbers he did the last couple of games is amazing.
Posted by: Ball expert | October 25, 2012 at 09:40 PM
charlottean still butthurt about losing DJ has been going all over talking down Kemba.
40 minutes with NO TOs. Give this team an inside presence and he along with everyone else will look a LOT better.
Posted by: DontmissyaDJ | October 26, 2012 at 06:04 AM