CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) -When this city was awarded an expansion team two years after the Hornets bolted town, there was little excitement. Not even Michael Jordan becoming a part-owner created buzz.
Six years in, the Bobcats have never been to the playoffs and the crowds still are thin. But there are things you can no longer say – they’re not boring and certainly no pushover.
With a Hall of Fame coach, a newly acquired scorer with much-needed swagger and an emerging player on the cusp of being an All-Star, the Larry Brown-led Bobcats are acting and looking like a legitimate playoff contender.
Consider their accomplishments since the calendar flipped to 2010: victories at Cleveland and Miami, and a surge that’s pushed their home record to 14-4. Gerald Wallace had an acrobatic, game-winning putback at the buzzer against Memphis last Saturday, and Stephen Jackson went for a franchise-record 43 points in Tuesday’s victory over Houston.
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After remaking the roster to Brown’s liking with five trades involving 15 players over the past 14 months, the versatile Bobcats (17-19) sit in seventh place in the Eastern Conference entering Friday’s home game against San Antonio.
“We have good people. There’s no jealousy here,” said Brown, in the second year of his record ninth NBA head coaching job. “Stephen is an unusual personality, but he’s a great teammate and he’s a good guy.”
Jackson’s acquisition on Nov. 16 from Golden State was the riskiest move Jordan has signed off on since becoming the team’s managing partner in 2006. A superior talent, Jackson had been feuding with Warriors coach Don Nelson. His past includes his role in the infamous brawl in Auburn Hills, Mich., and being accused of firing a gun into the air outside a strip club.
He’s been a model teammate so far in Charlotte, giving the Bobcats multiple scoring options.
“Gerald Wallace needed another guy to take some of the pressure off him,” Jackson said. “I fit in good in that role. I did it for Baron Davis (at Golden State). I made it easy because I’m easy to get along with. I know what it takes to be a great teammate.”
It’s clear Jackson and Wallace have clicked. When they’re not needling each other – Wallace jumped onto Jackson’s back as he was doing an interview Thursday – they’re giving opposing teams fits.
Jackson arrived and 19.3 points since. Despite being just 6-foot-7, Wallace is fourth in the NBA in rebounding at 11.5 per game and a candidate for his first All-Star game.
“I always knew he played hard,” Jackson said. “But just to see the other aspects of his game. How great of a rebounder he is. How well of a teammate and a leader he is. How he plays hurt. He’s similar to me a lot.”
Jackson’s endless confidence was on display when he hit 15 of 22 shots and 10 of 11 free throws in the comeback win over Houston. He’s averaging 21.1 points in 27 games with Charlotte.
“He opens things up for everybody,” Brown said. “He’s a willing passer and a terrific passer. So if you double him and you’re open he’ll get you the ball. And he’s a much better defender than you can imagine.”
The Bobcats allow a league-low 92.9 points a game. The problem has been the Bobcats score the same amount, which ranks 28th, and have a tendency to go on turnover sprees.
That’s subsided in their current stretch of five wins in six games that’s coincided with better play from power forward Boris Diaw. He had struggled with his role since Jackson arrived.
“I think we’re figuring out ways to utilize Boris now,” Brown said. “It’s obvious Raymond, Jack and Gerald have played at a high level. But my biggest concern is the amount of minutes we’re playing guys.”
t Charlotte get another power forward to spell Diaw. The Bobcats have so much depth in the backcourt thanks to veteran Flip Murray’s offseason signing that rookie Gerald Henderson hasn’t played since Dec. 28. But Charlotte is painfully thin up front.
“Rod is aware of that. Michael is aware of that,” Brown said. “Everybody is posturing themselves right now. A lot of people are maybe not being real fair in what they want. But I think as the time comes you’ll see some things happening around the league and hopefully we can improve.”
The Bobcats still have two West Coast trips and 14 sets of back-to-back games. It means a playoff berth is far from guaranteed.
For owner Bob Johnson, who has been losing millions and looking to perhaps sell the team, a playoff appearance would be a much-needed boost. Charlotte hasn’t hosted a postseason game since the Hornets’ last season here in 2002.
“It’ll be bigger to guys like Gerald who’s been here for six years. It’ll be bigger for coach Brown. It’d be good for the organization, for Mr. Johnson and Michael Jordan to get the playoffs, finally,” Jackson said. “And to the city, also. That’s what they’ve been waiting for. Hopefully, we can bring that here.”
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