04/21/2010 - 11:14
Looking to Steal Game Two
by Devon Jeffreys

The Charlotte Bobcats fought hard to overcome a 22-point deficit in Game 1 of their first round playoff series only to fall short on Sunday night.

Now, Tyson Chandler says, is the time for the Bobcats to refocus and try to steal Game 2 in Orlando before heading back to Charlotte for Saturday's Game 3.

"We're going to build on the things that we did positive in the game and take away our mistakes a little bit. If we limit our mistakes, we have a chance," Tyson said. "We're definitely going to make some adjustments and come back trying to steal one out here."

Charlotte committed 16 turnovers to Orlando's nine on Sunday and the Magic scored 17 points off of those 16 giveaways. Cutting down on turnovers could cut out potential scoring opportunities for the hot-shootin Magic. But TC also thinks the Bobcats will modify their strategy in Game 2.

Collapsing on Dwight Howard limited the Orlando big man to just five points, but the bolstered interior defense allowed the perimeter players to launch a plethora of outside shots. The Magic took full advantage, scoring 39 of their 98 points from beyond the arc with a three-point shooting percentage of 43.3 percent.

Comparatively, the Magic made just 20 shots from inside the perimeter, accounting for just 40 of those points, one more than they got from three-point range. They also sank 19 of 27 free throws.

"We have to make some adjustments. You can't lose and then keep the same game plan," Tyson said. " We have to do better on the pick and roll. Our game plan was to help out in other ways and that didn't work out. They spread the floor well and other guys weren't able to get over. They were getting so many wide-open threes. We have to make it a point of emphasis to try to slow down the ball with our bigs and help in other ways."

One key to changing the game for Charlotte will be slowing the pace down and imposing their will on Orlando early. In the first half of Sunday's game, Orlando scored 59 points as they kept the tempo high from coast to coast throughout the half. In the second half, Charlotte slowed the game down considerably and forced Orlando play what TC describes as their style:

"We have to grind it out, play defense and force them into tough shots," Tyson said. "You can't make adjustments when they're just going up and down the floor and just firing threes. We weren't getting any time to break. When you slow the ball game down and get to the free throw line, you can talk to each other and get some feedback."

If the Bobcats can keep the score closer to their season averages in the points scored and allowed columns, Tyson believes they'll have the opportunity to take Game 2.

"We want to keep it low, keep the pace slow and start running them off some of those threes," Tyson said. "We feel like we have a chance. The only thing that we have to do is continue to compete, possession by possession and give ourselves a chance at the end of the game. That's all you can ask for on the road."

Game 2 of the first round playoff series between the Charlotte Bobcats and Orlando Magic tips off from Amway Arena in Orlando at 7 p.m. and all the action can be seen nationwide on TNT.