Preview: Keys to Beat Heat
By Wesley Robinson, bobcats.com
November 30, 2013
KEY MATCHUP vs. HEAT: Gerald Henderson vs. Dwyane Wade
Charlotte will begin its two-game road trip on Sunday when it matches up against the former NBA Champion Heat at 6 p.m. in Miami. Gerald Henderson has stepped up and is averaging 14.1 points, 4.8 rebounds and 2.6 assists. Henderson scored 19 points on Friday against Milwaukee, reaching double figures for the eighth-consecutive game and the 15th time this season. Over the last eight games, Henderson is averaging 15.6 points, 5.0 rebounds and 3.0 assists, while shooting .393 from the field (43-for-108) and .804 from the free-throw line (33-for-41). Those numbers are up from the first three games of the season, when he averaged 9.3 points, 2.7 rebounds and 1.3 assists, while shooting .278 from the field (10-for-36) and .727 from the free-throw line (8-for-11). Henderson’s athleticism and explosiveness has helped him elevate his game during this eight-game stretch… Henderson should look to use his strengths, as he gets ready to match-up against Dwyane Wade, who is averaging 18.3 points, 5.5 assists and 4.6 rebounds this season. As we all know, Wade has tremendous scoring ability but its defensively where he continues to make his mark. He has recorded 674 blocks in his career. Since entering the league in 2003-04, no guard has more blocks over that span. He is also only the second guard 6-4 or shorter to reach the 600 block mark in NBA history - only Dennis Johnson (675) has more. If Henderson gets things going offensively and makes Wade work on the defensive end, it could be a benefit for Charlotte to earn a win.
SCOUTING THE BOBCATS
So far this season, the Bobcats are giving up only 92.4 points per game, which is the fourth-lowest average in the NBA. Last season, the team allowed 102.7 points per contest, ranking 29th in the league. In addition, the Bobcats are giving up the second-fewest fast break points in the league (9.9) and the second-fewest points in the paint (33.9)… The Bobcats have held their opponent under 100 points in 14 of their 17 games this season, the third-most such games in the NBA. They held the Bucks to an NBA season-low 72 points on Nov. 23, tying the third-lowest single-game total by an opponent in franchise history… With 44 points in the paint on Friday against the Bucks, Charlotte is averaging 41.1 points in the paint over the last seven games and is outscoring their opponents, 288-206, or by an average of 11.7 points. During the season’s previous 11 games, the Bobcats averaged 37.1 points and outscored their opponents by an average of just 1.6… After recording a season-high 23 points and 12 rebounds against the Bucks on Friday, Al Jefferson is averaging 16.2 points, 7.4 rebounds and 1.8 blocks in his last five games. Jefferson scored in double figures for the fourth-consecutive game and seventh time this season.
SCOUTING THE HEAT
Miami has compiled a 99-48 (.674) record in the Southeast Division. According to Elias, that is tied for the highest divisional winning percentage in the NBA since the league re-aligned the divisions prior to the 2004-05 season… Miami scored at least 100 points in each of their first nine games to start the season, the longest streak to start a season in franchise history, surpassing their previous record of three, which they did two times, during the 1994-95 and 1992-93 seasons. Additionally, including the final regular season game last season, Miami scored 100+ points in 10 consecutive regular season games overall from 4/17-11/15. The last time they accomplished the feat in 10-straight was during the 1993-94 season when they scored 100-plus in a franchise-best 14-straight times… LeBron James continues to lead his team in scoring with 26.1 points to go along with 6.7 assists and 5.9 rebounds in 35.2 minutes of play. James has currently scored in double-figures in 511 consecutive games, and in 233 consecutive games for the Heat, a new franchise record. Additionally, he ranks fifth among all-time consecutive double-figure scoring games in NBA history.
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