Bobcats at New Jersey Dec 4
It's a nasty mess. You're playing a team that's as desperate as it is discouraged. But to the 0-18 New Jersey Nets, this game with Charlotte is the most winable you see on the schedule. Tonight, the Bobcats are hoping to extend the Nets' NBA record smashing start-the-season losing streak to 19.
Coach Larry Brown's shootaround this morning at the New York Athletic club contained no mention of the streak. The players can't help but see that everywhere they go. In every paper they read, it's near the top of the page. More so tonight, because there's a new coach for the Nets. Kiki Vandeweghe takes his turn tonight wih veteran Del Harris at his side.
How do you prepare for this team? What plays will they run? Who will they start? Assistant Coach Jeff Capel had the scouting honors for this one and the best you can do under these circumstances is look at the most successful plays they have run over the first 18 games. Surely the new staff won't throw that stuff out.
Coach Brown was as frank as I've heard him during the post game comments following the Bocbats' loss to the Celtics Tuesday night. He went in Wednesday mornig to practice and told his team what he said about them to the media at the start of practice in case they didn't get his message right after the game.
Bobcats' centers have perfromed well over the last four games. Nazr Mohammed and Tyson Chandler have combined to average 19 points and 12 rebounds a game. Together they're shooting 60% Gerald Wallace is looking to go off after suffereing his first sub-double digit perfromacne against Boston Tuesday night.
Tonight's key? Don't let the Celtic game beat you again. Take your place in history and keep the Nets wanting for a win. Late start tonight....7:30 for Bobcats Live, the game begins at 8 on Fox Sports Carolinas.
