Posted on Wed, Mar. 26, 2008

JAZZ 128, BOBCATS 106

Bobcats falter as Okafor struggles

Reduced playing time, production have center choosing words carefully

RICK BONNELL

rbonnell@charlotteobserver.com

SALT LAKE CITY --

His production is slipping, his frustration is building. But like Emeka Okafor said Tuesday, it's not his nature to complain.

So this guy, who's been known to carry a dictionary to broaden his vocabulary, was at a loss to articulate what's gone sideways of late, after the Charlotte Bobcats' 128-106 loss to the Utah Jazz at EnergySolutions Arena.

The Bobcats have lost six of seven, falling to 25-45. Asked how he could go four straight games without reaching double figures in scoring or rebounding, Okafor replied, "I'm not a big complainer, so I don't know how."

Then his voice trailed off before saying something he'd regret.

He's not playing well and he's not playing much. He finished with just under 27 minutes Tuesday and that's the most he's played in the past four games.

Even so, he was out of the game most of the fourth quarter when the Bobcats made a run to cut a 20-point deficit to three.

Is he tired?

"Tired from what?" Okafor asked, an apparent reference to his limited playing time of late.

So, does he want to be here next season, after turning down a multi-year extension last summer? He becomes a restricted free agent this summer.

"We'll see what happens," Okafor told the Observer.

Certainly the Bobcats need what Okafor typically delivers. He's historically their top rebounder, ranked among the best in the NBA. Rebounding was the overarching problem versus the Jazz, who finished the game with 49 rebounds to the Bobcats' 28.

No Bobcat had more than five rebounds. Okafor had two, along with four points, typical of his reduced productivity of late. "I don't really have a good answer," Okafor said when asked what's going on.

It's obvious what wasn't going on: The Bobcats gave up 20 offensive rebounds, helping the Jazz shoot 54 percent by game's end.

It's no surprise that the deciding play, after the Bobcats cut the Jazz's big lead, came off a Utah put-back.

Jazz forward Andrei Kirilenko missed a free throw with just under six minutes left. Teammate Carlos Boozer (28 points, 13 rebounds) grabbed the rebound, setting up Kyle Korver for the 3-pointer that pushed the lead back to eight. The Bobcats never threatened again.

"On a free throw, we fail to block out," coach Sam Vincent said. "They make a 3 and it's downhill" from there.

Charlotte	MIN	FG-A	FT-A	OR-TR	A	F	Pt
Wallace	33:39	7-13	4-5	0-1	4	3	21
Okafor	26:44	2-2	0-0	0-2	3	2	4
Mohammed	18:13	0-2	2-6	1-5	2	2	2
Felton	26:54	6-12	1-1	0-0	6	3	13
Richardson	37:25	8-16	6-6	1-5	0	6	26
Dudley	23:19	4-9	0-1	2-5	1	2	8
Carroll	23:05	4-10	2-2	1-3	0	1	10
Boykins	21:06	4-6	4-4	1-2	4	0	14
Hollins	18:56	0-1	6-8	1-3	0	3	6
Davidson	10:39	1-1	0-0	0-2	1	3	2
Totals	240	36-72	25-33	7-28	21	25	106

Percentages: FG .500, FT .758. Three-Point Goals: 9-19, .474 (Richardson 4-8, Wallace 3-5, Boykins 2-2, Dudley 0-1, Carroll 0-3). Team Rebounds: 9. Team Turnovers: 21 (28 PTS). Blocked Shots: 4 (Hollins 2, Mohammed, Richardson). Turnovers: 19 (Richardson 7, Wallace 4, Boykins 2, Mohammed 2, Carroll, Davidson, Dudley, Okafor). Steals: 10 (Felton 3, Wallace 3, Richardson 2, Carroll, Dudley). Technical Foul: Defensive three second, 1:13 second.

Utah	MIN	FG-A	FT-A	OR-TR	A	F	Pt
Kirilenko	30:16	7-10	2-4	2-4	3	4	16
Boozer	40:41	10-17	8-9	4-13	3	3	28
Okur	28:58	7-13	4-5	5-10	3	5	20
Williams	41:45	5-11	3-4	1-4	15	5	14
Brewer	31:29	6-9	3-4	2-4	2	1	16
Millsap	17:25	0-4	4-4	3-7	1	2	4
Price	6:15	1-1	0-0	0-0	1	0	2
Harpring	17:44	6-11	6-8	3-4	2	3	18
Korver	22:45	3-7	1-1	0-2	1	2	10
Collins	1:27	0-1	0-0	0-1	0	0	0
Miles	1:15	0-0	0-0	0-0	0	0	0
Totals	240	45-84	31-39	20-49	31	25	128

Percentages: FG .536, FT .795. Three-Point Goals: 7-15, .467 (Korver 3-5, Okur 2-4, Brewer 1-2, Williams 1-4). Team Rebounds: 5. Team Turnovers: 15 (19 PTS). Blocked Shots: 8 (Kirilenko 3, Boozer 2, Millsap 2, Okur). Turnovers: 15 (Brewer 4, Williams 3, Boozer 2, Harpring 2, Millsap 2, Kirilenko, Okur). Steals: 12 (Brewer 4, Korver 2, Williams 2, Boozer, Kirilenko, Millsap, Okur). Technical Fouls: Coach Sloan, 10:49 fourth; Okur, 10:07 fourth.

Charlotte	24	20	28	34	--	106
Utah	27	31	34	36	--	128

Att.--19,911 (19,911). T--2:16.

Officials--Dan Crawford, Eric Lewis, Rodney Mott.