Charlotte Bobcats @ Miami Heat Preview

[jbbReal Deal]

<div align="center">http://img23.exs.cx/img23/7448/OnTheReal.jpg

http://img121.exs.cx/img121/8719/f1-bobcats.gif http://img121.exs.cx/img121/1438/dd-heat.gif
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Charlotte Bobcats: 7-19
Miami Heat: 24-7

Date: Saturday, January 1st
Time: 7:30 PM
TV: C-SET, NBALP

Previous Games:
Heat @ Pistons 89-78 (WIN)
Sonics @ Bobcats 103-97 (LOSS)

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http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/bernie_bickerstaff.jpg
<font color="darkorange"><font size="1">Coach Bernie Bickerstaff</font></font>
http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/primoz_brezec.jpghttp://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/emeka_okafor.jpghttp://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/gerald_wallace.jpghttp://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/keith_bogans.jpghttp://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/brevin_knight.jpg
C - <font color="darkorange">Primoz Brezec</font>
PF - <font color="darkorange">Emeka Okafor</font>
SF - <font color="darkorange">Gerald Wallace</font>
SG - <font color="darkorange">Keith Bogans</font>
PG - <font color="darkorange">Brevin Knight</font>
***stats to be added on 1/1/05

<font size="4">VS</font>

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http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/stan_van_gundy.jpg
<font color="red"><font size="1">Coach Stan Van Gundy</font></font>
http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/shaquille_oneal.jpghttp://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/udonis_haslem.jpghttp://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/eddie_jones.jpghttp://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/dwyane_wade.jpghttp://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/damon_jones.jpg
C - <font color="red">Shaquille O'Neal</font> (21.5 PPG, 10.7 RPG, 2.9 APG)
PF - <font color="red">Udonis Haslem</font> (11.4 PPG, 8.7 RPG, 1.4 APG)
SF - <font color="red">Eddie Jones</font> (11.6 PPG, 4.7 RPG, 2.7 APG)
SG - <font color="red">Dwyane Wade</font> (23.9 PPG, 5.6 RPG, 7.6 APG)
PG - <font color="red">Damon Jones</font> (11.4 PPG, 2.7 RPG, 3.8 APG)

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http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/kareem_rush.jpghttp://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/christian_laettner.jpg
BOBCATS - <font color="darkorange">Kareem Rush</font>
Predicted Stats: 11 points, 0 rebounds, 2 assists

HEAT - <font color="red">Christian Laettner</font>
Predicted Stats: 8 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist

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BOBCATS - <font color="darkorange">Emeka Okafor</font>
Predicted Stats: 18 points, 10 rebounds, 1 assist

HEAT - <font color="red">Dwyane Wade</font>
Predicted Stats: 30 points, 6 rebounds, 9 assists </div>

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The Heat are on a 13-game win streak. That's right...1...3...thirteen. The Bobcats are on a four game losing streak. The Heat are in the East; the Bobcats in the East. Miami has Shaq and Wade, and the Bobcats have...Emeka.

How's that for an analysis? Not enough? Well...

The Cats are looking at their toughest opponent in the East in the Miami Heat. In fact, only Emeka has the clear-cut advantage in the matchups, and the rest...well...do I have to mention that Shaq is the dominant center in the East? How about the fact that Dwyane Wade, in his previous game, notched his first triple double of his career? Aside from those two, Eddie Jones has found his shot, Damon Jones is the Heat's new threat from beyond the arc, Udonis has received his report card, and look mom...all A's.

The Heat and Bobcats will be looking to control the boards, especially the offensive glass. Emeka will get there before Brezec, so O'Neal will have to be sure that all shots off the rim fall in his direction. Otherwise, it could result in easy second-chance points for the Bobcats...and vice versa for Miami, where Charlotte really has no answer for Shaq in the paint outside of Okafor...but will Okafor keep Shaq from the rim this early in his career? I doubt it.

Stan Van Gundy is a huge factor in this game. Why? Well, if he decides to force Shaq out to defend the pick and roll each time, Emeka and Brezec may match their career highs in scoring. Otherwise, the Bobcats will have to rely on shooting...which may be a safer bet for the Heat. My suggestion for the Heat? Keep Shaq in the paint. As for the Bobcats, play Rush more in this game. If Rush gets hot, Shaq may be forced to step out of the paint...which could close the gap quickly for the Cats.

Now for the biggest questions: will Emeka get his 19th double double against the previous record-holder? Also, after the first triple double of his career, can Wade continue his Eastern Conference dominating and lead the Heat to a 14th straight win? Bet on both happening.

http://img159.exs.cx/img159/2803/predictions9pe.jpg
The Bobcats just don't have enough power to contend with the Heat. Inside power, and "fire power" from the arc...the Heat fit these to a "T" compared to the Bobcats. Van Gundy may not find a way to keep Okafor away from the rim, but the rest of the Bobcats will struggle...and the Heat will win their 14th straight game, 95-88.

[jbbReal Deal]

Blah...no fans?

Looks as if Charlotte's success this season is just watching Okafor get his consecutive double-doubles.

Nineteen, baby...push that record higher. Too bad the Bobcats were destroyed in the third quarter.

[elijahser]

thanx again for the preview, but no bein a bobcat fan also involves watching brevin knight get 9 assists a game and seein all them young talent doin good on their own, but its too bad that the 'cats just were crushed in the 3rd:( but the okafor record i think he will push it to at least 30;) if he goes higher than tha then the skys the limit:) he could get double doubles all his career maybe:D

[Buckets]

I havent checked the score yet for this game but the outlook doesnt look too great for Emeka's Bobcats. I mean there going against Dwyane Wade, and Shaq Diesel and the rest of the heat who are riding a incredible win streak and dont intend to make Charlotte the one to stop it. In the end I think it will be 111-92 for the Heat, Dwyane will play good, Shaq will to and Emeka will get his 19th or 20th straight double-double if im not mistaken.

[Bobcats]

Oh man, just as it looked we were going to come back, the Heat go on a run and destroy us. At least Okafor got another double-double.

-Go Bobcats

[jbbReal Deal]

113-90 Heat...

Okafor comes away with 17 points, 10 boards. Jason Hart had 14, 3 and 5...and Brevin Knight had 7 assists.

[elijahser]

this is i think the first game the bobcats have been really blown out?

anyways they'll in the next game vs. the cavs if i'm not mistaken?

okafor will get over 20 boards and over 5 blocks. he will also again set career highs in points scoring more than 30, but i'll leave all previews to brandon;)