December 13, 2007

The national spotlight shines on Charlotte this weekend as ESPN will broadcast Friday’s contest against the Orlando Magic with tipoff scheduled for 8 p.m. at Charlotte Bobcats Arena. This will be the first all-access game being broadcast by ESPN this season.

The Bobcats have had success against the Magic in front of a national television audience before and will be hoping that history repeats itself this weekend.

Charlotte defeated Orlando 99-89 on December 14, 2006 in front of 17,751 rowdy fans and a national television audience watching the Bobcats first-ever nationally broadcasted game on TNT.

As was the case last season, the Magic enter Friday’s contest leading the Southeast Division with a 16-7 record – good for second best in the Eastern Conference, trailing only the Boston Celtics (18-2), despite riding a three-game losing streak heading into their contest in Charlotte.

In order for the Bobcats to come away with the win in this one, Emeka Okafor’s battle in the paint against Dwight Howard could be the key. Okafor and Howard have had an ongoing rivalry since being drafted No. 1 (Howard) and No. 2 (Okafor) overall in the 2004 NBA Draft, and Okafor got the best of Howard on center stage last year.

The Bobcats big man finished with 13 points and 11 rebounds, but even more impressively, held Howard to just four points and four rebounds in the final 36 minutes of play after Howard recorded six points and eight rebounds in the first quarter.

Okafor will have to be up to the task against Howard, who is having his best season as a pro. He currently ranks first in the NBA in double-doubles (19) and rebounding (15.1), tied for third in blocks (2.80) and 10th in scoring (23.0 points).

However, Okafor has impressed as well this season. He is tied for ninth in the league with 12 double-doubles, is tied for ninth with 2.00 blocks and is averaging a double-double (13.9 points, 10.9 rebounds).

But the Bobcats won’t just need a good game from Okafor – a total team effort will be required to earn the win, especially from their core group.

Gerald Wallace currently leads Charlotte with an average of 18.3 points and 2.00 steals, while also bringing down 4.9 rebounds, dishing out 2.0 assists and blocking 0.95 shot. Jason Richardson follows with 16.5 points, 5.6 rebounds and 2.7 assists, while Raymond Felton is averaging 15.5 points, 6.7 assists and 3.2 rebounds while running the point.

Everyone will have to contribute to get past a Magic starting lineup that consists of five double-digit scorers – Howard, Rashard Lewis (19.2 points), Hedo Turkoglu (18.3), Jameer Nelson (11.85) and former Charlotte Bobcats player Keith Bogans (10.2).

It should be an exciting night of Bobcats action when the cameras start rolling on ESPN, so make sure to get your tickets today.