Lauer Sounds Off: National Spotlight On

April 4, 201312:50 PM EDT

Lauer Sounds Off: National Spotlight On

By Scott Lauer
April 4, 2013
bobcats.com

Scott Lauer is the radio play-by-play voice of the Charlotte Bobcats. His column will appear on bobcats.com on Thursdays throughout the season. The opinions expressed here are his own and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Bobcats organization.

On Wednesday night, I came home after the exciting Bobcats win over the Sixers (Charlotte came back from 16 down in the second quarter) and watched ESPN’s Dodgers vs. Giants baseball game. They had a promo for the NBA games coming up on the network, and it featured the Friday night game (with an 8 p.m. start) showcasing the Bobcats and Heat! They had headshots of LeBron James of Miami and Kemba Walker of Charlotte enhancing the promo read. The network chose the game when the Heat winning streak was active and wanted to carry a potential 31st win of the streak on their airwaves. Unfortunately for Miami, they lost to Chicago last week, short-circuiting the second-longest winning streak in NBA history at 27 games.

Too bad for them, but the nationally televised coverage is a blessing for our organization. It’s a rare chance for the country to watch the Bobcats young talent and soak in the atmosphere at Time Warner Cable® Arena. Kemba Walker and Gerald Henderson have formed a tandem in the back court that has electrified the home fans frequently, including last night. Henderson pumped in a game-high 24 points and Walker had a double-double with 17 points and 10 assists, while adding five first half steals.

They’ll host the best in the league tomorrow – Miami has earned 58 wins, in their quest for a repeat. The best player on the planet – LeBron James – will be in the building, with Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh acting as ridiculous supporting pieces. James only knows arenas to be filled when he’s involved – anywhere he goes, they sell out. His evolution is one of an incredibly gifted player who fades in the clutch, to that of an incredibly gifted player who has the chance to be considered the best ever. He dispelled the notion of not being able to be big time in playoff games with a head-shaking burst last spring/summer while guiding the Heat to the title. He has shaped his game to that of a good outside shooter, but more importantly, a post player with a series of moves while maintaining a passing eye. He has no weakness. He can fall out of bed, and go for 25, 7, and 7. He’s shooting an eye-popping 55.0 percent!

Ultimately, we will all be witnesses to the MVP of the league on Friday. The entire nation has that opportunity through the ESPN coverage. If you haven’t purchased tickets yet, you’ll be missing out. It will feel like a playoff atmosphere. The best player on the best team with ESPN network’s coverage and a packed house. I guarantee some kids who watch on Friday will secure memories of watching James and recount them many years later. Don’t be surprised if the Bobcats absorb the energy in the building and use it to their advantage, as well.