Have the Bobcats Given Up on Sam Vincent?

Have the Bobcats quit on Sam Vincent? The possibility was first broached by the Charlotte Observer's Rick Bonnell late last month, and after the Bobcats played the Pistons on Sunday, it was brought up again by Detroit News beat writer Chris McCosky

If ever you wanted to know what a team looks like when it has bailed on its coach -- watch the Bobcats. They may never admit it publicly -- to do so would be occupational suicide -- but they have quit on Sam Vincent. That was one disinterested group of players we saw Sunday. They weren't boxing out on the boards, nor were they closing out on shooters. That's a deadly combination which led to the Pistons draining 12 three-pointers and enjoying a 23-8 edge in second-chance points. That lack of hustle and energy is not indicative of past Charlotte teams, who used to play their tails off for Bernie Bickerstaff, no matter how bad they were.

McCosky suggests that Vincent's lack of experience (he was an NBA assistant for just one year before getting the job) is responsible, and pins the ultimate responsibility on Michael Jordan for putting Vincent in a position to fail. For what it's worth, Vincent has already received the dreaded vote of confidence from owner Bob Johnson, though that probably has more to do with the fact that Johnson will be on the hook for paying Vincent for two more years after this one than anything else. Either way, Emeka Okafor has a big, big decision to make this summer.