Game Thread #28: Bulls vs. Charlotte Bobcats

by your friendly BullsBlogger on Dec 23, 2006 6:18 PM CST in News

When you lose to the Knicks, all bets are off when considering what's a 'winnable' game or not. Then again, maybe the Knicks aren't that horrible, especially after the 'losses' of Francis and Robinson.

But Charlotte is pretty bad. Going with a similar draft philosophy as John Paxson, Bobcats GM (and coach) Bernie Bickerstaff has used his lottery picks (and I don't believe for a second that Jordan is doing anything to earn a paycheck from the Bobcats) to get 'proven winners' from top NCAA programs such as Okafor, Felton, May and Morrison. They are all decent players thus far, but none seem to be showing much star quality outside of Okafor's strong start to this season and Felton's strong finish to last season. The Morrison pick is looking especially awful, delighting those like myself who automatically resent players blown up in ESPN college hype, deservedly or not. David Thorpe recently did an in-depth scouting report of Morrison's early NBA career, and it was pretty scathing at points.

Morrison has had some success so far, at least superficially. He's had six games with 20 or more points, and he was selected the NBA's Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month.

A deeper study, however, reveals ample evidence thus far that the skeptics were right. Morrison averages 13.3 points per game, which leads all rookies by a wide margin -- but he is putting up 13.7 field-goal attempts per game and is shooting just 36.8 percent from the field. He's collecting only 2.8 rebounds per game, despite his 6-8 frame, and he is averaging just 2.0 assists per game, despite handling the ball often.

His player efficiency rating, which measures a player's overall contributions per minute, is 7.29 (the average PER is 15.00), which ranks Morrison last in the NBA by far among all players averaging 30 or more minutes. The NBA's only starter with a lower PER is defensive specialist Jason Collins of New Jersey, while Morrison is a disaster on defense. So, while harsh, it is fair to call Adam Morrison the worst regular in the NBA according to the stats -- at least so far this season.

Thorpe sees potential for improvement, but nevertheless it's another situation where a player getting heavy minutes make his per-game averages seem better than the actual production.

So they do have alot of intriguing young talent, but the Bobcats are learning a lesson that Bulls fans have seen many times: kids don't win. The 'cats are the type of team that can hang in games just to ultimately blow them. The sad thing is they have the cap space to get some free agent help, or even take a salary dump from another team to get an overpriced yet productive veteran. However the franchise itself is in financial straits already, not uncommon in today's NBA, unfortunately. One mistake Bickerstaff (or perhaps ownership) made in the franchises' young history is thinking that getting local products on the team would help attendance more than actual winning. Or maybe I'm just still bitter over UNC beating Illinois in the '05 Title game. (two Illini references in a week: coincidence, I assure you)

Blogging with the Enemy: Bobcat Bonfire | Charlotte Blogcat

Tweet Comment 22 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

So now

that you mention that Morrison is really average or below he will probably have a one time lights out shooting night against the Bulls. Thanks Matt. ;-)

Kirk is due for a great game tonight. I don't think I can take anymore games like his last two. Noc needs a good night too.

Thabo....the accent is sweet!!

by sue369 on Dec 23, 2006 6:44 PM CST reply actions

definitely agree

that Hinrich needs to step it up. His shot has been off the past few games. I Look for Tyrus to have a solid game tonight!

by babybulls on Dec 23, 2006 6:53 PM CST up reply actions

actually if

Santa is listening my Christmas wish is for all the Bulls to have a great game. The score could be something like Bulls 160, Bobcats 83.

Thabo....the accent is sweet!!

by sue369 on Dec 23, 2006 6:57 PM CST up reply actions

Hey now

you are now tempting me to make a prediction ;)

by babybulls on Dec 23, 2006 7:01 PM CST up reply actions

lol

Thabo....the accent is sweet!!

by sue369 on Dec 23, 2006 8:43 PM CST up reply actions

as much as I hate morrison

I think that evaluating him this early is a tad unfair. We all know the kid cant defend...he couldnt defend the WCC...lord knows he wouldnt be able to defend the NBA, but he was a shooter ofr better or worse in college (granted he played against shitty teams). The basket's the same, the games the same, I think he'll eventully get his numbers up, but he'll never be a bird like some people compare him too.

As much as I hate some of his antics (crying when the game is still going on...honestly), ya gotta feel for the kid...he's been under this intense, ESPN fueled spotlight for the past few years, and much of america is rooting for him to fail.

Finally, I have never been one to worship at the alter of Hollinger; it's an interesting tool, but thats it...a tool. I would never trust a formula versus my own watching of the game. Case in point; Noch was the worst player in the game rookie (04-05) year. Hollinger said he'd be out of the league in a matter of years (sorry can't find the link, you'll have to trust me). Anyone who had ever watched a b-ball game, and especially us die-hards, could see that noch was much better than his numbers indicated. I don't want to piss of paxjax and get into sports cliches, but he possesses something that PER can't evaluate. So let's lay off morrison, and judge him after his 3 year guaranteed contract, as we should all rookies.

by milesgmsu on Dec 24, 2006 12:34 PM CST up reply actions

PER has flaws

and I agree evaluating a rookie this early doesn't offer solid evidence on future production, but it was an embarrassment to the Bobcats and the NBA that the Sobbing 'Stache was getting so much clock.

by Paxson Jackson @ Blog a Bull on Dec 24, 2006 1:15 PM CST up reply actions

No way.

I don't have a link to the ranking, but Nocioni's PER his first year was over 10, which certainly wasn't the worst in the league. And I'm pretty sure the comment was along the lines of "if he keeps playing like this, he'll be out of the league in a few years." I know Hollinger expected better play based on Noc's translated stats.

by Eddy Currys Broken Heart on Dec 26, 2006 9:16 AM CST up reply actions

this game looks like its going to be a blow out

no need to even watch, right?

by Option27 on Dec 23, 2006 8:36 PM CST reply actions

Ben G.

is playing balls out. Kirk...wtf???????? Come on man, at least score in the second half.

Thabo....the accent is sweet!!

by sue369 on Dec 23, 2006 8:43 PM CST reply actions

Bobcats are playing real dirty now

We've got to be real careful not to get into a fight and get people suspended. Charlotte is a shit team going nowhere, while we're trying to win the East.

by Big D on Dec 23, 2006 9:08 PM CST reply actions

Thabo is just abusing Morrison

It says a lot about the power of hype that Morrison was picked as high as he was, because he's terrible.

by Big D on Dec 23, 2006 9:36 PM CST reply actions

wow...

can someone teach Thomas how to land... he is going to blow a knee before he's allowed to drink off the pain

by micah on Dec 23, 2006 9:49 PM CST reply actions

Tyrus + Thabo = studs

Thabo....the accent is sweet!!

by sue369 on Dec 23, 2006 9:57 PM CST reply actions

I didn't get to see

the game but thabo's and tyrus' stat lines seemed pretty darn good. Could anyone tell me how the rookies looked out there in person?
What about Tyrus getting to the line and thabo having 9 boards???

by spider from split on Dec 24, 2006 11:03 AM CST up reply actions

Both rookies

played well, Sefolosha had a few dunks so check your highlight channels. The scouting report on Thomas seems to be to foul him near the basket, and the Bobcats were pounding on him. His free throw% is steadily improving to his LSU season (.657).

by Paxson Jackson @ Blog a Bull on Dec 24, 2006 11:35 AM CST up reply actions

scouting report was right

Tyrus has looked like the 2nd worst FT shooter (shaq #1) in the game this year (at least ben had a somewhat nice stroke). But he was hitting them nicely last night. Also, he looked like he finally found a FT stroke. At the shootaround I saw his elbow was ending up in a different place everty time after his shot (for compairson, Noch and Kirk had their elbows end up in the same spot each and every shot). But with about 6 minutes to go in the 4th, T2 went to the line, and you could see his stroke looked really good. The ball made a great sound hitting the net, and it looked like his elbows were locking right where they should be; hopefullyn boylan & skiles have been working with him

by milesgmsu on Dec 24, 2006 12:38 PM CST up reply actions

Kirk sucks

whats with his hair in NBA League Pass?

by JoJoEnglish94bulls4ever on Dec 24, 2006 2:37 AM CST reply actions

Is anyone else happy

that Bulls backed up a very disconcerting game in NY with an utter dismantling - albeit at the hands of Charlotte?

Instead of going into the tank after a bad loss, they steam-rolled someone. They got pissed and took it out on the Kittens.

This game is a nice sign of maturity on the Bulls. Forget the opponent and just think of the situation: road loss to a beatable opponent followed by a 39 point smash job in the second half of a back to back.

It's impressive to me, even more so with the poor play of Hinrich.

Fleece the Pig, Flog the Pony

by james@lifeinthecell on Dec 24, 2006 9:38 AM CST reply actions

Great!!

Kirk has food poisoning but is expected to be able to play tonight. Nice Christmas present.

Thabo....the accent is sweet!!

by sue369 on Dec 26, 2006 6:38 PM CST reply actions

Perhaps he's had

a blood transfusion from the (sadly) invincible Chris Duhon?

by Paxson Jackson @ Blog a Bull on Dec 26, 2006 6:42 PM CST up reply actions

It seems like

there has been a lot of illness with this team this year. The way Kirk has been playing why not just rest him and have him fresh for tomorrow nights game? Guess that's why I'm not the coach.

Thabo....the accent is sweet!!

by sue369 on Dec 26, 2006 6:49 PM CST up reply actions