Game Preview: Miami Heat vs. Charlotte Bobcats

Hello All, Wednesday night the Heat (32-31) will travel to Charlotte to play the Phantom Hornets Bobcats (30-31). The Bobcats beat the Heat 104-65 in Charlotte on January 20^th. After the beat down last time around, the Bobcats have cooled off and the Heat is in the middle of one of its better spells of the season. The Bobcats have taken out the Lakers and the Warriors the last two times out, but before that they had lost 4 of 5. The Heat has won its last 3 after losing 4 straight. PROJECTED STARTERS Heat Bobcats PG Arroyo R. Felton SG Wade S. Jackson SF Richardson G. Wallace PF Beasley B. Diaw C O’Neal T. Ratliff When these two teams get together, the key for the Heat is to slow down the wing tandem of Stephen Jackson and Gerald Wallace. Wallace had 20 and 10 for the Bobcats last time, and Jackson had 24 points. They are the type of long, athletic wings that give the Heat fits, and to make it worse they attack the glass with vengeance, particularly Wallace, who averages 10.5 boards per game from his small forward position. STATISTICAL BREAKDOWN (Stats from Statsheet.com; 3/8/10) Effective Field Goal % The Heat is 18^th in the league at 49.1%; the Bobcats are 22^nd at 48.8%. EDGE: Even Turnover % The Heat is 4^th in the league at 13%; the Bobcats are 30^th at 15.9%. EDGE: Heat Offensive Rebound % The Heat is 20^th in the league at 25.9%; the Bobcats are 18^th at 26.2%. EDGE: Even Free Throw Rate The Heat is 18^th in the league at 29.4%; the Bobcats are 3^rd at 34.3%. EDGE: Bobcats KEY TO THE GAME As was said, the Heat has to control Wallace and Jackson. Each has had a ten rebound game against the Heat this season, and Jackson has lead the Bobcats in scoring in both meetings. Always guard the inbound passer.