Verrier and Bonnell on last night's win over Kings

[CarolinaPanthers8789]

ESPN's Justin Verrier's take

LAS VEGAS -- The stains and scuff marks left behind from the worst season in NBA history aren't removed so easily, especially in a nippy auxiliary court, in pro basketball-deprived Sin City, in the middle of July, against the almost-equally malignedSacramento Kings.

But if only for a day, the Charlotte Bobcats shifted the conversation in their Las Vegas Summer League opener with something the bulk of their starting lineup here hadn't laid eyes on in nearly five months: a win.

And it was what they were saying, before and after a 121-87 victory in the nightcap from Cox Pavilion, that will probably matter most once the games begin to matter again.

"It counts," Kemba Walker said authoritatively. "It counts. It counts. We playing basketball. The streak has ended. To me. I lost 23 straight games and we got this win tonight. It's -- it counts. I don't care what anybody has to say. It counts to me."

After three games left the crowd in a noticeable lull, and left this bleary-eyed day-tripper running toward the nearest caffeine dispensary, the representatives for a city that once housed the Hornets franchise created a palpable buzz almost instantly in the 30 or so rows of red seats that surround the court on UNLV's campus. Mostly through the strong vocal chords from their shy first-round pick.

Picking up fellow first-rounder Thomas Robinson at midcourt on a press, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, the 2012 draft's No. 2 overall selection, smacked his hands together and barked at Robinson. New Bobcats head coach Mike Dunlap said Kidd-Gilchrist ended up on the burly power forward only because of rotations and his prized rookie's comfort guarding positions 1 through 4 & but not before Dunlap flashed a big grin and chuckle.

Whether it was his clear competitive streak or a chance to face off against a player he had bested just 102 days earlier in the NCAA national championship game -- one who many thought might be a better pick for the Bobcats in Round 1 -- Kidd-Gilchrist seemed to relish the opportunity.

Robinson, who slid to the Kings at No. 5, struggled a bit early, particularly when Kidd-Gilchrist's lanky limbs were impeding his path. The Sacramento forward went on to finish with 21 points on 5-for-11 shooting with five rebounds and eight turnovers -- hardly the burst-on-to-the-scene debut some here in Vegas expected against the team that looked over him in the draft, but a respectable one nonetheless.

However, his defender's outpouring of raw emotion breathed life back into the downtrodden team. That is, after shaking off some pregame nerves, according to his coach.

"He sets the tone for everybody else," Dunlap said. "He's a locker room guy in that he doesn't use a lot of words. But he has an impact with his voice and he also backs it up with his energy."

Playing with the enthusiasm of a kid hopped-up on sweets, Kidd-Gilchrist flew around the court for the better part of his 12 first-half minutes, in which he totaled 15 of his 18 points and three of his seven rebounds. He even tweaked his ankle a bit in the early going by attacking the rim with such energy.

He ran the break, finding fellow rookie Jeffrey Taylor for a crisp alley-oop pass with 3:59 to go in the first. He ran a stolen pass back to the rim and, almost in slow motion, his intent known from the moment he got his hands on the ball, rose up over Rob Kurzfor a highlight slam.

He ran everywhere. That's his only setting.

And it's something last year's two lottery picks can appreciate.

"I told somebody earlier that we're a lot alike, just at different positions," said Walker, who last year joined Charlotte months removed from a national title win. "We're both really intense, hard workers. We just hate to lose. It's great to have another guy on the team like that."

Walker finished just 4-for-12 from the field, but he buzzed around the court and pushed the pace, to Dunlap's delight. While Bismack Biyombo largely hasn't been heard nationally since being selected last year, when he was really only buoyed by one strong performance at the Nike Hoop Summit, he put his deep baritone to use early and often. After the second unit forced a shot-clock violation, it was Biyombo (12 points, 6 rebounds) who led the bench in applauding them.

They would do so again just before the final buzzer sounded, with Walker on his backside, clapping furiously.

"Last season's out the window," Walker said. "It's a new year. New coach. New jerseys. New everything, man. We're a new team."

Not exactly. After all, three-fifths of the team's summer league starting lineup played heavy minutes for the Bobcats last season.

But it's a start.

Charlotte Observer's Rick Bonnell's take

Observations from Charlotte's Friday night win over Sacramento.

• If the Charlotte Bobcats can maintain anything like the fast tempo of Friday’s first half, this will get interesting. Likewise, if rookie Michael Kidd-Gilchrist can make threes like he did, it will be rough keeping him off the rim.

The Bobcats rolled over the Sacramento Kings, never trailing in a 121-87 opener in the Las Vegas summer league. Kidd-Gilchrist had 18 points and eight rebounds. Byron Mullens had 20 points and seven rebounds.

• Second-round pick Jeff Taylor (17 points) was billed as a shooter and he didn’t disappoint, making 7 of 10 and 3 of 4 3-pointers. Key element for Taylor – he has a quick, one-motion release, so he doesn’t need much separation to get off his shot.

• The Bobcats are waiting for answers from free-agent power forwards Kris Humphries and Antawn Jamison. If neither of those possibilities works out, Carl Landry could be an option to fill the Bobcats’ last inside roster spot.

A 6-9 power forward, Landry was productive when healthy for the New Orleans Hornets last season, averaging 12.5 points, 5.2 rebounds and 50 percent shooting from the field. The problem has been injuries: He’s missed at least 25 games each of the past three seasons (one with the Sacramento Kings, the last two with the Hornets).

• Gastonia’s Hassan Whiteside threw down a nasty first-quarter dunk on Mullens.

• Kidd-Gilchrist could be up there with Gerald Wallace in best finisher on the break. Showed great body control on a reverse layup in transition. Finishes strong with either hand.

• Fans keep asking if Kidd-Gilchrist will wear jersey No. 14. Bobcats say he hasn’t made a final decision on a jersey number.

• Former North Carolina star Harrison Barnes had a spectacular debut for the Golden State Warriors in a victory over the Los Angeles Lakers’ summer league team. Rookie Barnes scored 23 points off 13 shots, making all four of his 3-pointers.

Barnes was criticized as a Tar Heel for not driving enough, setting for jump shots. That wasn’t the case Friday – he scored on reverse layups, dunks and transition baskets.

[rico6]

Great read, amd Taylor is definitely Jared Dudley-esque with 10x more athletic ability and explosiveness. He'd easily be a 10 year starter on any other team.

He's one I'm definitely going to follow this year... well along with the other Cats lol

[SOJA]

I feel like we really got a steal with Taylor

[thatlookseasy]

Jeff Taylor seems like one of those guys the Spurs seem to find every year. He plays good defense and can hit 3s to spread things out on offense. Even if he doesnt grow much as a player, he is good enough to step in a fill a useful role right now