Paul Silas Thinks Some Bobcats Starters Have ‘Given Up’


The Charlotte Bobcats have only suited up for 11 games so far this season (losing nine of them in the process), and the emotional cracks within the locker room are starting to show. Reports the Observer: “These are troubling times for the Charlotte Bobcats. Shooting guard Gerald Henderson articulated that well following a 111-81 loss at Philips Arena Thursday. ‘If you’re going to give that performance, then you’re not better than the final score,’ said Henderson, who finished with 16 points. ‘That’s who we are.’ Hawks forward Josh Smith toyed with the Bobcats, finishing with 30 points and 13 rebounds. Even minus center Al Horford (out up to four months with a torn pectoral muscle), the Hawks grabbed every stray rebound. ‘Atlanta got as many offensive rebounds as we got rebounds,’ said coach Paul Silas. While that was an exaggeration – the Hawks had 20 offensive boards, the Bobcats 30 total – the point was valid. Silas is at a loss for how to get this team – losers of five straight and often in a severe talent deficit – back on track. Silas said his starters have ‘just kind of given up now. I don’t know what to say.’ Then he added, ‘I tell my players, we’ve got to learn from our losses. That doesn’t seem to be coming very quickly.’ There’s little time for correction. The Bobcats have home games tonight against the Detroit Pistons and Saturday against the Golden State Warriors. Power forward Boris Diaw, who Silas said had to excel for this team to succeed, went scoreless for the second time in this 2-9 season.”