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SPORTS/U|t ClarlMtt
Thursday, December 15, 2005
Bobcats rookies learn
hard lessons of losing
Continued from page 1C
national college champion to a
second-year NBA franchise
that loses on a regular basis
isn't the easiest of transitions
“It's definitely difficult los
ing so much,” May said,
“because you’re not used to it.
I think we lost 16 games my
fi^hman year, but I only
played in two of those losses.
We lost 11 my sophomore
year. So this is tough now,
because you don’t know how
to react to those situations.
But it’s a learning process,
and you have (veterans) and
other guys who have been
through the same experiences
that you have.
“When my dad (Scott)
played in Cliicago (in the late
19708), they lost 40-8ome
games — and 15 straight. And
he tells me, ‘You’ve got to just
keep plugging away and try to
change what you’re doing
wrong ’ That’s what we’re try
ing to do here.”
During the three seasons
Fdton, a point guard, and
May, a power forward, were in
Chapel Hill, the Tar Heels lost
a total of 31 games. By the
time the rookies had their
talk Monday, the Bobcats
already had lost 16 of their
first 21.
“Off the court, you just kind
of go your own way, do your
own things,” May said. “But
that’s why they have phones.
I call (Felton) and say, ‘Hey,
man, what was wrong with
us today? What happened?
We talk every day But when
we’re not in the gym, he nor
mally goes to his house (in
Ballantyne), and I go to mine
(in South Park) or to the hotel
room You just kind of get
your alone time. But today
was good because we just got
to sit by ourselves and talk
about things. That helps a
lot.”
Felton and May aren’t regu
lar starters, but their early-
season play should keep
Bobcats fans optimistic about
their futures. At the begin
ning of the week. May, a for
ward who underwent knee
surgery before the season,
was averaging 8.8 points and
5.1 rebounds in 17.8 minutes
per game. Felton was averag
ing 6.7 points, 3.9 assists and
1.1 assists in 18.7 minutes
per game, although his shoot
ing (31 percent) has been
shaky
“There are tough times,
there are great times, but
that’s how it is for a rookie,”
Fdton said “That’s just how
it is. Pm still eiyoying it. This
is where I want to be. This is
what I want to do for the rest
of my life.
^ “We’re kind
of struggling
right now, but
we’ve got plen
ty of time to
make it a great
season. What
I’ve got to do is
work on mak
ing myself a
Bickerstaff
better player, and I believe
that will help the team in the
long run.”
Bobcats coach and general
manager Bemie Bickerstaff
isn’t worried about his two
first-round draft picks
“The disadvantage for Sean
and Raymond, as opposed to
some of the other rookies, is
that the other rookies eue get
ting substantial minutes,”
Bickerstaff said. “And our
rookies aren’t. ... I definitely
see them getting more play
ing time. You can count the
guys on one hand who have
come ri^t into this league
and excelled. But I think both
of them are doing fine.”
From pee-wees to the pros, read
about your teams and athletes in
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