1.2.06 v. Charlotte

**Doug Loudenback** · 01-01-2006, 08:44 AM

After a tough loss last night against Dallas (90-95) before yet another SRO crowd (just barely SRO at 19,170), the Hornets host the Charlotte Bobcats tomorrow night at the Ford Center.

The Hornets are now 12-17, 7-5 at the Ford. OKC game average is now 18,756, 7th in NBA, but we are creeping up against the 6th place Spurs (18,797 ... their capacity). If the BR game is counted, Hornets home attendance is 17,875, 10th in the NBA. With a sellout (19,163) against Charlotte, our OKC average will be 18,787, just 10 seats shy of the Spurs. As of today, we have 7 home sellouts, 3 SRO's in a row.

According to Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charlotte,_North_Carolina , Charlotte is 20th in population of US cities with 651,101 city limits and 2,067,810 metro population. "Charlotte is one of the fastest-growing cities in the nation and is also the second-largest banking center in the country, trailing only New York City in terms of headquartered assets."

The Bobcats are in 4th place in the SE division of the Eastern conference, behind lowly (7-12) Atlanta. Only the Miami Heat (18-13) has a winning record in the SE conference (Magic, Heat, Wizards, Bobcats & Hawks). At 10-20, the Bobcats aren't having a good year and are only 4-11 on the road. Their road wins are against Philly (11/2, 110-93); New Jersey (12/14, 91-83); Chicago (12/20, 105-92); and Atlanta (12/27, 93-90).

Their biggest win this year is their home win against the Indiana Pacers, 122-90, on 11/16. The Bobcats have done better in the most recent games - 4-2 in the last 6 games, 5-3 in the last 8 but 5-9 in all of December. In their last game, 12/30 hosting Phoenix, they lost 100-110.

Like the Hornets, the Bobcats really have no superstar, but they do have 5 players averaging better than 10 points a game. Per game averages are: #3 Gerald Wallace (6' 7", Alabama), 13.5 points, 6 rebounds; #4 Kareem Rush (6' 6", Missouri), 13.4 points, 2.7 rebounds; #50 Emeka Okafor (6' 10", Connecticut), 12.9 points, 10.1 rebounds; #22 Brevin Knight (5' 10", Standford), 12.6 points, 3.3 rebounds; and #7 Primoz Brezec (7' 1", Slovenia), 11.0 points, 5.7 rebounds.

When playing at home, the Bobcats are 19th in the NBA at 16,564 per game. They play in the new 20,500 capacity Bobcats Arena in downtown Charlotte:

Let's fill up the Ford and have NO fan letdown tomorrow night at the Ford Center! GO HORNETS!

**John** · 01-01-2006, 12:16 PM

Over this homestand, we'll see how well OKC supports the NBA.

Home games on the 31st, 2nd, 4th, 6th, 10th.

I think tomorrow's game against Charlotte is the biggest test, as the Heat/Shaq will pack the Hive, as will Portland if not just for the fact its on a Friday night, and Detroit's lone trip to OKC will result in a sellout.

Let's get a couple W's!

**windowphobe** · 01-01-2006, 03:52 PM

The Hornets of course originated in Charlotte, but I doubt this will bring any additional buzz to the Bobcats game. (And while they were there, they played in a far-less-studly arena.)

**BDP** · 01-02-2006, 04:07 PM

Let's get a couple W's!

We need to get them now. I understand the draw of the big names, but the next few weeks could get them back to .500, if they take care of business and possibly pull off an upset. If the crowds are savvy, they'll pick up on the fact that its these games where we can get some much needed equity in the W column. I think the wins against the Suns and the Spurs in December were huge. It puts us in a position to get to .500 in January. Maybe better....

**Doug Loudenback** · 01-02-2006, 04:34 PM

Originally Posted by BDP

We need to get them now. I understand the draw of the big names, but the next few weeks could get them back to .500, if they take care of business and possibly pull off an upset. If the crowds are savvy, they'll pick up on the fact that its these games where we can get some much needed equity in the W column. I think the wins against the Suns and the Spurs in December were huge. It puts us in a position to get to .500 in January. Maybe better....

Agreed!

There appear to be many tickets still available for tonight's game against the Bobcats, judging by my experience this morning. I had to go downtown to do a little work this morning so I swung by the Ford Center to buy 3 tickets for tonight's game. SEVERAL choices were available (to get 3 in one place). I got 3 in Section 112 for $50/ticket, though many pricier and cheaper tickets were available in that configuration (3).

So, tonight's game will probably break our sellout string, sad to say. I'm hoping that it will be above 18,000 ... but we shall soon see.

Regardless, GO HORNETS!

**BDP** · 01-03-2006, 10:27 AM

I'm hoping that it will be above 18,000

I think it was 17.6. I went. It was fun as usual. The Bobcats really are a no-name team with their key players out. Add it being Monday night and it wasn't a big draw I guess. I do know, however, that in manyt markets 17.5+ is a good night when Charlotte is in town. It'll be interesting to see how the Portland game goes.

It was weird not seeing Smith or Anderson at all.

**Doug Loudenback** · 01-03-2006, 01:22 PM

I certainly enjoyed the game (see pic below). It was my son and grandson's (age 11) 1st game and they both had a great time.

Before the game, my grandson noticed the pair below which had escaped my attention (I am surely slipping). He said, "Hey Paca, look over there"! (I have yet to figure out where that name came from.) Naturally, after this great gift I was duly appreciative. More about that when I post more pics later, but here's a starter ... I think I need to take him with me to every game!