Usually when you ask the question “where’s the fire?” that means hey slow down and take your time there is no rush. Why is everybody being so hasty? We have plenty of time. Let’s enjoy ourselves. So when the Charlotte Bobcats (3-5) are asked “where’s the fire?” I think that slow down and take your time this season might be the message that they are receiving.
When I ask, “where’s the fire?” I want to know where the players’ fire is. I want to know why they are not passionate enough to bring the effort required to match the amount of talent on the team. This team has what it takes to compete but when the Bobcats believe from the start that they are outmatched they play like they are outmatched.
Now I will admit that there are bursts of effort that come in the third quarter of most games. That is usually preceded by being blown out in the second quarter.
Is depth or lack of depth for better terms the reason? Is the lack of a true team leader the reason? Is coaching the reason? Is MJ the reason? Is it the new uniforms, the million dollar salaries, being on an expansion team, low attendance? Maybe that’s it. The fans are not coming out and the team needs that to get motivated for 48 minutes.
I am not in the locker room or in the players’ heads. I don’t have the answer to this daunting question. I can only ask it. Where is the fire? Winning begets winning. Fire and passion attract fire and passion. Somebody on this team has to step up and stop worrying about their own stats and contract and fire this team up. Everything else will fall into place. Winning through pure effort will ensue. “Play harder than your opponent” is one of Larry Brown’s teaching points.
Who is the leader on this team? I have already asked if that was Gerald Wallace. I am not sure it is. Is it Raymond Felton? Who will emerge? When you win the fans will come. The crowd will be there to sustain the team when they are catching their second wind. Where’s the fire?
Is MJ the problem? Subconsciously he could be. The standard is so high with him that his coaching maybe heavy handed so he stays upstairs and allows Brown to do his job. When he does come to a practice or a game, players are still in awe of him and play differently. His players are nervous because they know he is evaluating or “judging” them. The opposing players are even more hyped to play well in front of him to impress him. That raises the competition for the Bobcats.
Is coaching the problem? Most likely. You can argue that coaches can’t suit up. Coaches can’t put passion into a player. Players either love the game or they don’t. I would agree with that. However coaches can build and infuse a sense of team and unity, a sense of oneness and purpose. Coaches can put together a plan that can work if the team buys in. They need to have them prepared to know the opponents strengths and weaknesses. They can have the team prepared and knowledgeable about when to run and when to set up. I don’t see a lot of play calling from the bench. I see a lot of yelling in time outs. The Head Coach is more passionate than the players are. The funny thing is Larry Brown is so laid back and smooth in his press conferences that you are not sure if the team is taking on that personality. The coach must use this 25 years of NBA coaching experience to ask “where’s the fire”?
