How About Those Bobcats?

Via Lori L. Stalteri from Flickr

If the playoffs started today, the Bobcats would be the 4 seed in the east.  For most teams, their record after 10 games is inconsequential.  That's not the case for this Bobcats team though.  This is a team that won only seven games out of 66 attempts last season.  This year they are already 6-4.  Last season, they finished the year losing 23 straight games.  They were no longer playing to win games.  It was already determined that they would lose on a night in and night out basis.  To be able to change around that mindset in one off-season is a testament to the job that Mike Dunlap has done with this team. 


When Dunlap was hired, many NBA fans, including myself, were fairly unaware of him.  Dunlap did hold the respect of many smart basketball minds on the college and professional level though.  Expectations were tempered due to the talent level on this team, but many (including the respected Kelly Dwyer) were excited to see him be able to work on the rebuilding process, particularly under the new leadership of Rich Cho.

The difference that Dunlap has made on this team already is apparent.  First, the eye test: the Bobcats are far from the last team you'd want to watch on League Pass.  That in itself is a significant development if you were unlucky enough to watch this team play at all last season.  I think 90% of my Bobcats viewing from last season came on March 4th, when Deron dropped 57 on them.  This year, there are crazy finishes, buzzer beaters, and plenty of bad eastern conference teams that Charlotte will have a chance to win against.  Wins at home against a surprising Bucks team and in Minnesota show that Charlotte can occasionally beat decent teams.  As sad as that statement may sound to some of you, it's a step in the right direction for them.

This is a team that was last in the league in both offensive and defensive rating (points per 100 possessions) last season.  This year: they are 20th and 18th respectively.  They still have many of the same weaknesses: no outside shooting, they are way too young, and they give up way too many shots at the rim on defense.  The number 2 pick helps.  Though among his many talents, Kidd-Gilchrist does not help their outside shooting or give them any more NBA experience.  Their young core looks much stronger than it did at any point last season though.  Biyombo is causing havoc on the defensive end.  Kidd-Gilchrist does so many things besides score: 6.8 rebounds, 1.2 steals, 1.4 blocks.  Kemba looks like he's on track for a breakout campaign, and even Jeff Taylor looks like a solid complementary piece.

Where they have really improved though is in their mindset.  Although it is catalyzed by Kidd-Gilchrist, that mindset comes directly from the head coach.  As Kemba Walker has pointed out, "Toughness.  I think we get that from our leader, coach Dunlap.  He's really intense and we feed off of that."