<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">NDIANAPOLIS - Yes, they're 0-5. But no, this wasn't more of the same. Missing arguably their two best players this preseason -- Gerald Wallace and Raymond Felton -- the Charlotte Bobcats looked respectable, almost inspired, in a 109-96 exhibition loss to Indiana. They probably could have won this one, had they run all the gas out of Emeka Okafor's tank. In his 26-plus minutes, he hit 6-of-7 shots for 14 points and grabbed eight rebounds. Considering the foul-filled mess that was Okafor's preseason, this was progress. "I thought it was a lot better. He didn't go away after that third foul (in the first half.) Instead, he challenged the next (defensive) play," coach Bernie Bickerstaff recalled. "Emeka will be OK because of his pride. He just needs conditioning." That's what happens when you miss most of last season and the following summer, rehabilitating a severe ankle injury. But Thursday Okafor was explosive, grabbing five offensive rebounds and blocking two shots. "I said, `Stop thinking about it and just go!' " he recalled. "Today's game was the start of something good."</div> Source
