Herald Sun FORT MILL, S.C. -- Yeah, he said it. So what? Raymond Felton was talking to a group of youngsters at a middle school a few weeks ago when he said that his new team, the Charlotte Bobcats, would make the NBA playoffs this season. Charlotte, a second-year expansion team, wasn't exactly in contention during its inaugural season. Felton's prediction made headlines and raised eyebrows among those who follow the Bobcats, who went 18-64 in 2004-05. "I'm not backing down from what I said, regardless of who says whatever about it," Felton said at the Bobcats' media day. "I wasn't saying it to be bold, and I wasn't saying it to be cocky. I was saying it to be confident in my team and my teammates. That's the mentality that I'm trying to bring to the team. I'm trying to instill that in everybody on the team. That's why I came out and said that. "Even though I said that to some kids, I wanted to say that anyway. So I'm kind of glad that it came out the way it came out. I don't back down from anything that I say." The Bobcats drafted Felton No. 5 overall because of his quickness in the open court and his ability to make all the players around him better, but his toughness and confidence are intangibles that shine just as brightly as his on-court skills. Coach Bernie Bickerstaff loves that about Felton, who won the Bob Cousy Award last season as the nation's top college point guard. "I don't have any problem with people feeling that way," Bickerstaff said of Felton's prediction. "What the hell? Let's go for it." While the Bobcats might fall short of the playoffs this season, it would be unwise to bet against Felton for long. He knows a thing or two about rebuilding, having played a critical role in leading UNC's resurgence after an 8-20 season in 2001-02. The Tar Heels reached the NIT the next year during Felton's freshman season and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament in 2004 before winning it all in April. Felton is looking for similar progress in the pro ranks. "At every level, every step, you're going to go through the bumps and bruises," he said. "It's going to take stepping stones with everything that you do. And that's what we're going to have to do here -- take it one step at a time and one game at a time. You're going to win some games, and you're going to lose some games. You've just got to try to win more games than you lose." Source
hmmm. they either have to have a better record than miami or be better than the #2 team out of the TOTALLY STACKED central division. I LIKE THEIR CHANCES! Although Mecca and Brevin are a talented combo.
