This isn't Quantum Physics: The closer you get to the basket, the better your chance of putting the ball through the hoop.
So, with the Charlotte Bobcats averaging an additional 12.6 points in the paint since their recent trade, is it any wonder they're a respectable 4-4 in that span?
The NBA tracks points in the paint as any basket scored within the lane, so it's a good measure of how well a team drives and posts up. Before the trade with the Phoenix Suns, the Bobcats averaged 35.13 points in the paint – near the bottom of the league.
Since the trade, the Bobcats average 47.75 points in the paint. If they did that over the full season, they'd likely lead the NBA in the category.
Things changed when Boris Diaw, Raja Bell and Sean Singletary became Bobcats. Specifically, power forward Diaw's ballhandling – particularly as an interior passer – remade a team that was too dependent on jump shots.
The biggest beneficiaries have been center Emeka Okafor and small forward Gerald Wallace. Since the trade, Wallace averages 20.7 points on 61 percent shooting and Okafor averages 17.9 points on 58 percent shooting.
“We're learning, in practice and all, that (Diaw) takes more pride in passing the ball than taking his own shot,” said Wallace.
“He's that threat where we can throw him the ball in the post, and he” offers multiple options, Wallace continued. “And Emeka is becoming so much more open on the block.
“I think some teams are still trying to figure out what style we play.”
Tonight's opponent, the New York Knicks, hasn't played the Bobcats since Nov. 5. Back then, the Bobcats were living off their jump shots. Now the big men are working harder to get open because they know they'll be rewarded.
“Our big men are driving a whole lot harder, sealing a whole lot harder (because) we're getting them the ball,” said point guard Raymond Felton.
“It's not that (Okafor) wasn't getting it before. But maybe he wasn't rolling (to the basket) as hard, maybe he wasn't sealing as hard. Now he's doing those things, (so) he's scoring, and he understands that.”
INJURY UPDATES: Shooting guard Raja Bell (groin strain) took some shots at practice Monday and said he felt better than he anticipated. However, coach Larry Brown said he's reluctant to use Bell tonight, over concern Bell might worsen the injury by playing too soon.
Matt Carroll seems a logical candidate to start in Bell's place, but Brown could also go small, inserting either of two point guards, D.J. Augustin or Sean Singletary.
Augustin has been limited by a left ankle sprain that lingered longer than expected.
“I can't really explode off my left side, I can't cut too much in the lane,” he said. “I did this in college a couple of times, and it lasted three or four days. This time it's persisted because you have less time to recover” between NBA games.
