The State [imgl]http://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20051005/capt.ncsd10410051930.bobcats_camp_ncsd104.jpg[/imgl]FORT MILL ? The first time Raymond Felton predicted the Charlotte Bobcats would make the NBA playoffs this season, he was talking to a bunch of eighth graders at a Charlotte middle school. The second time was this week in front of grown men and women holding tape recorders and television cameras. Obviously, he means it. ?I?m not backing down from what I said,? the former Latta High and University of North Carolina point guard said during the second-year team?s media day. ?I wasn?t saying it to be bold. I wasn?t saying it to be cocky. I was saying it to be confident to my teammates. That?s the type of mentality I?m trying to bring to my team.? Bobcats coach Bernie Bickerstaff likes the bravado of Felton, the fifth pick of the 2005 NBA Draft. It?s a welcome contrast from the attitude many of the team?s critics had during their first season. ?Everybody put it down last year that we would have the worst team in the league,? Bickerstaff said. ?Everybody was wrong.? The Bobcats finished 18-64, five games ahead of the Atlanta Hawks in the Southeast Conference standings. They won as many games as the New Orleans Hornets, the team that left Charlotte a few years ago. So why not shoot for the playoffs? ?I don?t have any problem with people feeling that way,? Bickerstaff said. ?What the hell? Let?s go for it.? Bickerstaff pointed out that 2004 first-round pick Emeka Okafor told a group of kids hoping to win a trip to a Bobcats game last season they should strive to make straight A?s so they could come see him dunk against Shaquille O?Neal. It didn?t happen, but the 6-foot-10 forward would say the same thing again today. ?Everybody?s making a big deal about what Raymond said about the playoffs,? Okafor said. ?I don?t think there is anything wrong with it. You have to be positive. ?Whether we make the playoffs, who knows? But you work to end up 82-0.? Felton?s first challenge with the Bobcats will be to earn playing time. For the first time since he was a child, he will be battling from behind for a starting spot. Brevin Knight, perhaps Charlotte?s best player a year ago, enters camp as the starter. ?I?ve already had conversations with Brevin,? Bickerstaff said. ?Raymond will get minutes.? That Felton is confident comes as no surprise. He and former Tar Heels teammate Sean May, selected by Charlotte with the 13th pick, are coming off a national championship season. They bring the same type of mentality that Okafor, last year?s NBA rookie of the year, did after he helped Connecticut win the NCAA title. ?It makes sense that you build a winning team by drafting players that know how to win,? Okafor said. Source
Hahaha is all I have to say. This is a 2nd year team in a very competitive Eastern Conference. They have unexperienced players also. I think its the right thing to say but not public. He shoudve said it privately within his teammates.
That's a pretty stupid guarantee to make for somebody that's never experienced a second of NBA action.
I couldn't help but think of Superstar mode in Madden 06, when I read this. If it works he's gonna be glorified by the media. If they don't make the playoffs, which is probably going to happen, then he'll look like an idiot and maybe even labelled as a smack talker.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Chutney:</div><div class="quote_post">I couldn't help but think of Superstar mode in Madden 06, when I read this. If it works he's gonna be glorified by the media. If they don't make the playoffs, which is probably going to happen, then he'll look like an idiot and maybe even labelled as a smack talker.</div> He's not talking any smack. Its a guarantee to make the playoffs. He wants his teammates to work hard. Although the bobcats are still building just like the houston texans are, they can still win some games because of their talent. I also dont think the media is going 2 remember this anyways. Charlie Villanueva guaranteed that UConn was going 2 repeat as ncaab champions but they didnt and the press didnt say anything. BottomLine, its better for Felton to say their going 2 make the playoffs instead of saying we're going 2 have a bad season and lose alot of games.
I don't see the problem. The Bobcats have a nice team this eyar and I see them actually fighting for a spot so they may live up to his guarantee.
Yeah, it isn't stupid. The kid's got confidence, I like that in a rookie. But even from a Bobcats' fan's point of view, we aren't making the playoff till maybe 06-07 season. But glad to hear that he has confidence, and if we actually do, then I'm going to be even more of a Felton fan then before.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Psycho Drama:</div><div class="quote_post">Yeah, it isn't stupid. The kid's got confidence, I like that in a rookie. But even from a Bobcats' fan's point of view, we aren't making the playoff till maybe 06-07 season. But glad to hear that he has confidence, and if we actually do, then I'm going to be even more of a Felton fan then before.</div> I understand having confidence but he has overconfidence. The Bobcats are still building and still dont have the leadership and experience on the team. Its a good thought to have but keep it personal because if you dont make it and chances are they definetely will not, then he will look like a dummy and be laughed at because of it.
Bobcats have a nice looking roster full of underrated players like Emeka, Gerald Wallace, Brevin Knight, Rush, and that other guy no body even remembers, Keith Bogans. Felton's got guts to say that, but I think the Bobkittens will just miss the playoffs by a few games if they're team chemistry is the same and everybody plays better than they did last year with the time they've had to improve. Im expecting big things from Emeka, Primoz, and Rush.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting GotSkillz92:</div><div class="quote_post">I understand having confidence but he has overconfidence. The Bobcats are still building and still dont have the leadership and experience on the team. Its a good thought to have but keep it personal because if you dont make it and chances are they definetely will not, then he will look like a dummy and be laughed at because of it.</div> Oh relax, stop trying to put him down. At least he has goals, and you know he's trying to improve his game.
He predicted the playoffs, not gauranteed lol. I think it's good for him to try and instill confidence in himself and his teammates. Every critic is placing them as a lowly team, so they have to create their own hype and confidence. I see nothing wrong with what he said. Go Bobcats, ha.
its their 2nd year...all guys in their 20s! i dont know how u can gaurantee a playoff spot. the most games would probably be around 30 games...no more than that. raymond felton might not even start.
guys you guys dont get it he is just saying it to be positive and confident i like that in him this would make his team-mates show some confidence
