(Courtesy – Chris Young – AP)
Kemba squeezes his way through 2 defenders
Wow what a game! I figure why recap 1 win when you know there’s going to be a second win right behind it, right? Let’s all just believe that one and go with a 104-102 victory in Toronto after having a 95 – 87 victory in Charlotte last night. Follow me Bobcats fans…let’s shed some light on these games.
Obligations last night kept me from getting to see much of the game on Tuesday night. I was catching bits and pieces of the game, and from what I could see, the Bobcats looked good…they looked real good. Charlotte started off very strong last night and that was a major key to victory. Hitting 8 shots from the 3-point line, shooting 44% overall, and having 26 assists is a good way to secure a victory as well. Any time you get 24 from Kemba, 20 from Henderson, and at least 2 others in double figures, you should come away with a victory. This was the home court victory that was needed to break a 3-game losing streak and to prepare them for a Home-Away, back-to-back chunk of their schedule.
Fast-forward to tonight, no real down time from Tuesday’s game, the Bobcats arrive in Toronto, looking to get a win streak going. Again, we outscored the opposing team in the 1st quarter, but not by as strongly as the night before. We were blessed with 45% shooting overall, and 8 makes from the 3-point line. Here’s where the back-to-back stat lines can get ugly; we were beaten in every hustle stat and we turned the ball over 20 times. What was our one saving grace for the night? Heart and determination were the keys to the victory. The game as a whole was a mess to watch, slow transition and poor foul shooting by the Bobcats (64%) made the game last much longer than it should have. Co-captain Kemba Walker just put his heart on his sleeve, and performed when it mattered the most. 29 points on the night, and none bigger than the last 2 points which was the result of a shot with 1 second on the clock in overtime. It was a difficult shot over the defender that determined a second overtime or rest for the weary Bobcats. Yeah, it should be on SportsCenter, so keep an eye out for it.
Honorable mention on the night was Al Jefferson with 24 points and 11 rebounds. Josh McRoberts continued his solid play with 13 points, 7 rebounds, and 7 assists with only 1 turnover. Gerald Henderson and Ramon Sessions each chipped in an additional 11 points, and the pivotal player in the game was Anthony Tolliver off the bench with 10 points. Tolliver scored them when we needed them the most in the 3rd quarter. Toronto had us in major trouble, but Tolliver’s much needed points cut deep into a huge run that Toronto had going on the night.
Hands down, Kemba’s 29 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 steals earn him the Trade Street Post Player of the Game.
Rest up Bobcats fans because we have another back-to-back this weekend. We face Detroit in Detroit on Friday, then the Utah Jazz in Charlotte on Saturday. Don’t forget, Saturday night at halftime, the new Charlotte Hornets logo reveal takes place! Be there fans because it’s going to be an EPIC night!
Let’s Go Cats…Hornets!
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