Taking the LOL out of the Bobcats

[zike_42]

I had just finished winning my fourth title for three different teams I needed a break. Not long, but just some time away from basketball. Unfortunately the universe didn’t see it that way and I had a meeting scheduled without my consent.

“Mr Elwood, so nice to see you,” said Michael Jordan, the owner of the Charlotte Bobcats.
“Always a pleasure to see you MJ, what can I do you for?”
“Well, as you well know our team has been on a treadmill for a couple of years now, just hovering around that eighth seed or just in the lottery, not going anywhere. It needed a change and we decided to blow it up, which we have pretty much succeeded in doing. But now is the hard part and that is where I want you.
“You did so well in turning Toronto into a powerhouse and we want you to do that with this team.”
Are you serious? From what I can see the Bobcats could be on track for one of the worst seasons in history and he wants me to helm the sinking ship?
“You get full control.” He finished.
“That’s more like it,” I say, as I sign the contract.

As I look over the team after being sworn in as the new General Manager of the Charlotte Bobcats it’s not a good sight. We are young, overpaid and terrible. It’s going to be a struggle to win 10 games but we do have some talent. The first thing I do is put all our terrible contracts on the block. That means DeSagana Diop, Tyrus Thomas, Matt Carroll and Corey Maggette your days are numbered.

I don’t put anyone down for the D-League because I want to see what everyone can do to see if we can uncover some diamonds in the rough.

Hey! We aren’t tipped to be last in the conference! That would go to Detroit who are going on a similar youth kick and they also have some terrible contracts. Miami, Chicago and New Jersey are the top three and I can see that with the Nets having Deron Williams, Gerald Wallace and a healthy (for once) Brook Lopez. In the West it’s the Clippers, Lakers and Timberwolves. I can see the first two but I don’t think the Wolves are just there yet while Oklahoma City are all the way down in ninth! Yeah right.

So here is your 2011-12 Charlotte Bobcats –

PG – Kemba Walker
SG – DJ Augustin
SF – Corey Maggette
PF – Boris Diaw
C – Tyrus Thomas
6th – Reggie Williams
7th – DJ White
8th – Gerald Henderson
9th – Byron Mullens
10th – Bismack Biyombo
11th – Derrick Brown
12th – Corey Higgins
IR – DeSagana Diop
IR – Matt Campbell
IR – Eduardo Najera

(OOC – This dynasty is going to a shorter one than last time where I did a small recap of each game which took FOREVER. This time it will most likely be a month by month thing until the 1990s season disks come out and then I can do a awesome 90s story, which is when I started following the NBA.)

[zike_42]

My first month with this team and I’m going to give the players a whole month to work things out before I start pulling triggers, but when it comes to December look for heads to roll.

@ Cleveland – 80-122 L (0-1) Bobcats best – DJ Augustin – 16 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists
Vs Miami – 114-124 L (0-2) Bobcats best – DJ Augustin – 23 points
Vs Detroit – 96-102 L (0-3) Bobcats best – Kemba Walker – 33 points, 10 rebounds
@ New York – 93-111 L (0-4) Bobcats best – Kemba Walker – 18 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists
Vs New Orleans – 98-84 W (1-4) Bobcats best – Kemba Walker – 25 points, 9 rebounds, 6 assists
Vs Toronto – 116-89 W (2-4) Bobcats best – DJ Augustin – 28 points, 4 assists
Vs Denver – 94-105 L (2-5) Bobcats best – Boris Diaw – 10 points, 10 rebounds, 6 assists, 4 blocks
Vs Utah – 84-105 L (2-6) Bobcats best – Kemba Walker – 18 points, 5 rebounds
Vs Orlando – 116-112 W (3-6) Bobcats best – Kemba Walker – 31 points, 6 rebounds
Vs Dallas – 108-102 W (4-6) Bobcats best – DJ Augustin – 24 points, 7 rebounds, 7 assists
@ Atlanta – 100-112 L (4-7) Bobcats best – Corey Maggette – 24 points, 7 rebounds
Vs Milwaukee – 123-119 W (5-7) Bobcats best – Kemba Walker – 27 points, 8 assists
Vs Philadelphia – 92-100 L (5-8) Bobcats best – Kemba Walker – 18 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists
@ Toronto – 94-93 W (6-8) Bobcats best – Corey Maggette – 24 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists

For our first month I’m pretty damn happy with that. Only 6-8 but we have played 10 games at home to only four away so we have to keep a lid on it until we play some more away games. We are in 10th place and only half a game out of the final playoff position so far. It’s a tie at the top of the East with Boston and Orlando holding firm at 12-4 while Atlanta is a game behind at 10-4. My old stomping grounds, Toronto, are languishing at the bottom of the conference with an appalling 1-13 record. Over in the West the Spurs are leading the way with an 11-3 record with Dallas and the surprising Suns not far behind. Sacramento is holding the rest of the conference up with a 4-13 tally.

Charlotte Top Points
Kemba Walker – 20.6
DJ Augustin – 18.1
Corey Maggette – 14.8

Charlotte Top Rebounds
Tyrus Thomas – 6.4
Boris Diaw – 6.1
Kemba Walker – 4.9

Charlotte Top Assists
Kemba Walker – 5.1
DJ Augustin – 4.3
Boris Diaw – 2.9

Charlotte Top Efficiency
Kemba Walker – 19.9
DJ Augustin – 16.0
Boris Diaw – 15.9

As you can see Walker is a total stud. If I can have my way he will be in a Bobcats uniform for a long time to come. I’m happy enough with DJ Augustin at the moment at the shooting guard position but I’m going to be looking long and hard for a proper 2 guard to replace him. Boris Diaw is safe for the moment as well because he is on an expiring contract but it has been a month and I will be going shopping like crazy to find some killer deals.

League Top Points
Kobe Bryant (LAL) – 30.8
Lebron James (MIA) – 25.3
Dirk Nowitzki (DAL) – 23.9

League Top Rebounds
Dwight Howard (ORL) – 14.5
Andrew Bynum (LAL) – 11.4
Tim Duncan (SAS) – 11.0

League Top Assists
Chris Paul (LAC) – 11.7
Steve Nash (PHO) – 11.6
John Wall (WAS) – 10.8

League Top Efficiency
Lebron James (MIA) – 27.5
Steve Nash (PHO) – 26.9
Chris Paul (LAC) – 26.6

Rookie Top Points
Kemba Walker (CHA) – 20.6
Kyrie Irving (CLE) – 18.1
Ricky Rubio (MIN) – 14.8

Rookie Top Rebounds
Kenneth Faried (DEN) – 5.9
Tristan Thompson (CLE) – 5.5
Kemba Walker (CHA) – 4.9

Rookie Top Assists
Kyrie Irving (CLE) – 7.7
Isaiah Thomas (SAC) – 6.4
Ricky Rubio (MIN) – 5.9

[Jabez54]

[color="DarkRed"]Good start ...[/color]

[PointGuard]

Liking it! Nice presentation of the results and stats.

[pdandy]

Will be following this. Good luck! You're in for a rough first season but Kemba Walker is unstoppable in this game.

[zike_42]

Thanks everyone, I have never gone with the Bobcats before and if we didn't have Kemba we would be screwed.

[zike_42]

Kobe Bryant was named Player of the Month for November, averaging 30.8 points, 5.4 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 1.1 steals and 0.4 blocks as the Lakers went 8-5.

Our own Kemba Walker won the Rookie of the Month with numbers of 20.6 points, 5.1 assists, 4.9 rebounds, 0.4 steals and 0.2 blocks as we went 6-8 in the month.

Great news with Kemba being crowned, not that it is a stretch his numbers as a rookie are spectacular and hopefully I can get some better bodies around him as he is our future. With that I go shopping, especially for a centre or a proper shooting guard but I will settle for anyone with an expiring contract.

I try for Tim Duncan as he is still serviceable and has a huge expiring contract but I am quickly shut down as the Spurs head office tell me that he will be in San Antonio for life. Fair enough.

There is no one in the whole league that will touch Tyrus Thomas or DeSagana Diop with their terrible contracts and I don’t blame them, but I do find one trading partner.

Charlotte trade:
SF Corey Maggette

Houston trade:
C Marcus Camby

Why for Charlotte – We get out of Maggette’s second year of over $10 million and we get a genuine C which moves Tyrus Thomas to the bench where he belongs.

I make another trade which I probably shouldn’t have but I don’t like having two PGs starting together.

Charlotte trade:
C Byron Mullens
PG DJ Augustin
SG Gerald Henderson

Washington trade:
SG Jordan Crawford
PF Kevin Seraphin

Why for Charlotte – It may be overpaying for Crawford but after striking out on James Harden he was next in line. Seraphin takes over for Mullens while Henderson will not be missed.

Here is our updated starting five –

PG – Kemba Walker
SG – Jordan Crawford
SF – Reggie Williams
PF – Boris Diaw
C – Marcus Camby

With Seraphin slotted into the 10th position. These trades also give Bismack Biyombo more playing time as he has been bumped up to eighth man on the depth chart. I would really love to trade Tyrus Thomas for anything at the moment but no-one wants him. Onto the games.

@ Indiana – 85-93 L (6-9) Bobcats best – Marcus Camby – 10 points, 19 rebounds, 4 blocks
Vs Boston – 70-85 L (6-10) Bobcats best – Jordan Crawford – 17 points, 4 rebounds
Vs Minnesota – 111-96 W (7-10) Bobcats best – Kemba Walker – 27 points, 5 assists, 4 rebounds
Vs Oklahoma City – 96-82 W (8-10) Bobcats best – Kemba Walker – 24 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists

I assign Bismack Biyombo to the D-League as he isn’t getting any playing time yet. I don’t mind that he goes down for now because I have big plans for him in the future.

@ Milwaukee – 69-111 L (8-11) Bobcats best – Kemba Walker – 21 points, 6 rebounds
Vs Cleveland – 88-83 W (9-11) Bobcats best – Kemba Walker – 20 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists
@ Miami – 84-109 L (9-12) Bobcats best – Kemba Walker – 22 points
@ New Orleans – 96-110 L (9-13) Bobcats best – Marcus Camby – 13 points, 14 rebounds, 3 blocks
@ Dallas – 69-89 L (9-14) Bobcats best – Marcus Camby – 12 points, 12 rebounds, 3 blocks

Kemba Walker has strained his hamstring and will be down for about two weeks so we will really be struggling. I don’t want him to play through the pain because we don’t really have much to play for this season so Cory Higgins will be taking his place in the starting line-up.

Vs Detroit – 103-107 (OT) L (9-15) Bobcats best – Jordan Crawford – 18 points
@ Atlanta – 88-98 L (9-16) Bobcats best – Marcus Camby – 12 points, 12 rebounds, 6 blocks (Cory Higgins had 12 turnovers, ouch.)
Vs Chicago – 99-108 L (9-17) Bobcats best – Marcus Camby – 16 points, 14 rebounds, 5 assists
@ Memphis – 94-104 L (9-18) Bobcats best – Reggie Williams – 20 points, 7 rebounds

That’s seven losses in a row and I know we have injuries but that is unacceptable, so I trade one of my few assets.

Charlotte trade:
PF Boris Diaw
2014 1st round pick

Utah trade:
PF Paul Millsap
SF Josh Howard

Why for Charlotte – Millsap is a stud on a few good contract and more importantly he can score which is a must for this offensively challenged team. Josh Howard has a broken wrist at the moment but when he comes back he will probably start at SF.

Vs Golden State – 79-100 L (9-19) Bobcats best – Marcus Camby – 10 points, 16 rebounds, 8 blocks
Vs Washington – 103-85 W (10-19) Bobcats best – Jordan Crawford – 22 points, 10 rebounds

Kemba Walker is fully healed and is back in the starting five.

@ New Jersey – 89-114 L (10-20) Bobcats best – Kemba Walker – 14 points, 8 rebounds, 6 assists
Vs New Jersey – 106-120 L (10-21) Bobcats best – Kemba Walker – 23 points, 5 assists

We went 4-13 for the month which doesn’t look to good but when you take into account Kemba Walker missing most of those games and all of the player turn over I will take it. Now that everyone is back and Millsap has had a few games January should be a better month.

New Jersey and Orlando lead the way for the East at 21-9 while Miami is half a game back, with Toronto still on the bottom at 5-25. We are third last in the conference but I am confident that we can salvage some dignity.
In the West Denver is leading the way at 22-9 while San Antonio is at 21-9 and Dallas on 20-10 round out the top three. Minnesota has been very disappointing as they are in last position with a record of 8-21.

Charlotte Top Points
Paul Millsap – 18.3
Kemba Walker – 17.5
Jordan Crawford – 15.6

Charlotte Top Rebounds
Marcus Camby – 11.3
Paul Millsap – 10.8
Kemba Walker – 4.5

Charlotte Top Assists
Kemba Walker – 4.5
Marcus Camby – 2.8
Cory Higgins – 2.6

Charlotte Top Efficiency
Paul Millsap – 23.2
Marcus Camby – 22.0
Kemba Walker – 16.4

League Top Points
Kobe Bryant (LAL) – 28.4
Lebron James (MIA) – 25.6
Dirk Nowitzki (DAL) – 25.0

League Top Rebounds
Dwight Howard (ORL) – 14.3
Andrew Bynum (LAL) – 11.5
Marcus Camby (CHA) – 11.3

League Top Assists
Chris Paul (LAC) – 11.1
Steve Nash (PHO) – 11.1
Deron Williams (NJN) – 9.5

League Top Efficiency
Lebron James (MIA) – 28.0
Chris Paul (LAC) – 27.7
Deron Williams (NJN) – 27.2

Rookie Top Efficiency
Kyrie Irving (CLE) – 17.5
Ricky Rubio (MIN) – 16.6
Kemba Walker (CHA) – 16.4

First round of future prospects
1. Sylvester Street (C), 6’9”, 269lbs, Senior, Purdue. 20.4 ppg, 3.9 apg, 19.6 rpg, 2.7 bpg, 0.6 spg
2. Ketevan Abashidze (SF), 6’10”, 225lbs, 19 years old, Estonia. 27.8 ppg, 4.8 apg, 11.5 rpg, 1.1 bpg, 2.7 spg
3. Austin Bremer (C), 6’9”, 268lbs, Freshman, California. 15.9 ppg, 3.1 apg, 13.6 rpg, 2.8 bpg, 1.2 spg
4. Aquil McCray (PF), 6’9”, 237lbs, Junior, Minnesota. 23.5 ppg, 2.4 apg, 18.2 rpg, 3.4 bpg, 0.9 spg
5. Jason Porter (SG), 6’4”, 187lbs, Sophomore, Providence. 18.5 ppg, 5.4 apg, 7.5 rpg, 1.4 bpg, 1.0 spg

[zike_42]

December’s Player of the Month – Lebron James, Miami Heat – 25.9 points, 7.5 rebounds, 5.7 assists, 1.8 steals and 0.6 blocks per game.

December’s Rookie of the Month – Kyrie Irving, Cleveland Cavaliers – 19.1 points, 3.8 rebounds, 6.5 assists, 0.3 steals and 0.7 blocks per game.

There were no other trades apart from our three in the month; it seems everyone else isn’t in such a hurry as I am. Unfortunately no-one, and I mean NO-ONE, will take on Tyrus Thomas. Even when I throw in a future first rounder there are no takers, so it is a lost cause and I won’t even bother trying.

Vs New York – 94-71 W (11-21) Bobcats best – Paul Millsap – 21 points, 11 rebounds.

DeSagana Diop is starting to cause some problems, having a go at Kevin Seraphin. I tell him to cool it but he doesn’t care because he is getting paid to do nothing. This infuriates me as I am trying to get a sense of loyalty with this team and he is spitting in all of our faces. I try and trade him to anyone for anything but it seems they aren’t as stupid as I thought. I end up cutting him, even if we have to eat his salary. It will be $14 million over two years but if I can’t trade him then it doesn’t really make sense to keep him if he doesn’t play so off he goes. I bring back Bismack for some bench big man depth.

@ Milwaukee – 111-101 W (12-21) Bobcats best – Kemba Walker – 28 points, 7 assists
Vs Milwaukee – 109-80 W (13-21) Bobcats best – Jordan Crawford – 29 points.
Vs Boston – 112-100 W (14-21) Bobcats best – Kemba Walker – 29 points, 9 assists
@ Cleveland – 109-115 L (14-22) Bobcats best – Kemba Walker – 24 points, 8 assists
@ Philadelphia – 98-106 L (14-23) Bobcats best – Kemba Walker – 34 points, 7 rebounds

Paul Silas has put Josh Howard in the starting line-up which is good. What is bad is that he has replaced Jordan Crawford. Let’s see how this goes but if it doesn’t work out there might be some stern talking to by me to Silas.

@Washington – 92-105 L (14-24) Bobcats best – Marcus Camby – 6 points, 12 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 blocks
@ Detroit – 106-99 W (15-24) Bobcats best – Paul Millsap – 22 points, 7 rebounds
Vs Portland – 109-120 L (15-25) Bobcats best – Kemba Walker – 21 points, 13 assists
Vs San Antonio – 107-88 W (16-25) Bobcats best – Paul Millsap – 30 points, 14 rebounds
Vs Memphis – 104-83 W (17-25) Bobcats best – Paul Millsap – 24 points, 14 rebounds, 5 assists, 5 steals
Vs Phoenix – 85-117 L (17-26) Bobcats best – Jordan Crawford – 25 points, 5 rebounds
@ Indiana – 98-106 L (17-27) Bobcats best – Kemba Walker – 26 points, 8 assists, 7 rebounds
@ Los Angeles Lakers – 96-114 L (17-28) Bobcats best – Marcus Camby – 10 points, 11 rebounds
@ Portland – 84-100 L (17-29) Bobcats best – Kemba Walker – 17 points, 7 rebounds, 7 assists

We had a four game winning streak and a four game (active) losing streak but in the end we hadour best month so far, going 7-8. I’m happy enough now that the Diop drama is behind us and we can get on with winning games.

New Jersey is still on top of the East with a 33-13 record two games ahead of Orlando and three ahead of Miami. We are sitting eleventh, four and a half games out of eight position. Toronto is still last with a 9-38 record. I would have thought that would be us in last place still waiting for win number 10 which shows how much this team has grow throughout the season.

Denver has the same record as New Jersey and the same cushion between them and second in the conference, with the Spurs two games back and New Orleans tied for third. Sacramento is 11-36 and behind everyone in the conference.

Charlotte Top Points
Paul Millsap – 17.9
Kemba Walker – 17.7
Jordan Crawford – 16.6

Charlotte Top Rebounds
Marcus Camby – 10.5
Paul Millsap – 10.3
Kemba Walker – 4.5

Charlotte Top Assists
Kemba Walker – 5.3
Marcus Camby – 2.9
Cory Higgins – 2.5

League Top Points
Kobe Bryant (LAL) – 28.0
Lebron James (MIA) – 26.5
Kevin Durant (OKC) – 25.0

League Top Rebounds
Dwight Howard (ORL) – 14.1
Andrew Bynum (LAL) – 11.7
Andrew Bogut (GSW) – 11.5

League Top Assists
Steve Nash (PHO) – 11.5
Chris Paul (LAC) – 11.4
Deron Williams (NJN) – 9.5

League Top Efficiency
Lebron James (MIA) – 29.2
Chris Paul (LAC) – 28.2
Deron Williams (NJN) – 27.5

Rookie Top Efficiency
Kemba Walker (CHA) – 17.5
Ricky Rubio (MIN) – 17.4
Kyrie Irving (CLE) – 17.1

Second round of future prospects
1. (2) Ketevan Abashidze (SF), 6’10”, 225lbs, 19 years old, Estonia, 25.1 ppg, 4.3 apg, 10.4 rpg, 1.0 bpg, 2.4 spg
2. (NR) Rick Allen (C), 6’10”, 264lbs, Freshman, Kansas State, 13.0 ppg, 2.5 apg, 9.3 rpg, 1.3 bpg, 1.2 spg
3. (3) Austin Bremer (C), 6’9”, 268lbs, Freshman, California, 16.7 ppg, 3.3 apg, 14.3 rpg, 2.9 bpg, 1.3 spg
4. (NR) Chad Ridnour (SG), 6’6”, 198lbs, Freshman, Kansas State, 16.8 ppg, 4.6 apg, 5.5 rpg, 1.1 bpg, 1.3 spg
5. (4) Aquil McCray (PF), 6’9”, 237lbs, Junior, Minnesota, 21.1 ppg, 2.2 apg, 16.4 rpg, 3.1 bpg, 0.8 spg

[LightningStrike5]

Kemba is so awesome in this game. Great trade for Milsap, I love taking advantage of the computer thinking the human team will still suck in three years.

[zike_42]

Kemba is so awesome in this game. Great trade for Milsap, I love taking advantage of the computer thinking the human team will still suck in three years.

Kemba will be a Bobcat for a long time don't you worry about that. It's only three years though and I'm running uphill with this current team so I need a high pick this year for that trade to be a good one.