Walking Through Time

Diaw's passing, unselfish play praised

Richard Walker — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 03:18:20 GMT

When the Charlotte Bobcats traded away leading scorer Jason Richardson, the team ranked last in the NBA in scoring average. Well, while the Bobcats still rank last, there's little doubt Boris Diaw's addition in the trade has helped make the team's offense run smoother.

Diaw has emerged as a scorer, facilitator and central figure in the Bobcats' offense in a mere six games.

After averaging 8.3 points, 3.8 rebounds and 2.1 assists in 21 games for Phoenix, his numbers have soared for the Bobcats

And the Bobcats themselves are averaging nearly four more points per game for the season -- no doubt bolstered by a 112-83 victory at Memphis Dec. 19 where Charlotte set franchise records for shooting percentage in a half (72.2 percent) and a game (65.8).

Bobcats coach Larry Brown has given Diaw -- and an unconventional backcourt that starts point guards Raymond Felton and D.J. Augustin -- with improving his team's offense.

“I think, since I've been here, the biggest concern I've had is we settle for jump shots,” Brown told The Charlotte Observer. “That started changing a couple of weeks ago when we really started playing Raymond and D.J. together. Before that, we didn't have much dribble penetration and Emeka (Okafor) wasn't a post threat. Now we have a third ballhandler (in Diaw) and that has changed us a little bit. We understand we don't have to live by the jump shot.”

Teammates recognize Diaw's impact.

“He so spreads the defense out because of the way he can create,” forward Gerald Wallace told The Charlotte Observer. “He can rebound, he can run the break, he passes on the break. That puts so much pressure on the defense.”

Added guard Matt Carroll: “He's such a great playmaker that he gets shots for everybody.“He's so improved our interior passing, getting Emeka easy buckets with his vision. You start scoring inside and it opens up the outside, too. So it affects everybody just right.”

Even rival coach Ed Tapscott of the Washington Wizards has noticed a change.

"The guy that stands out to me is Boris Diaw," Tapscott said when asked how the trade has made the Bobcats different. "He's about as good a facilitator you will find that's not a point guard."

-- to 15.0 points, 8.3 rebounds and 4.3 assists in six games.

Bobcats attendance woes continue

Richard Walker — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 23:40:06 GMT

No matter what moves or non-moves the Charlotte Bobcats have made, there is little to no buzz surrounding the franchise in the city.

Tuesday's game was liberally estimated to have been attended by 11,225 fans at four-year-old Time Warner Cable Arena, lowering the seasonal average to 13,443 per game -- or 28th in the 30-team NBA. Only Memphis and Sacramento are drawing worse this season.

And the Bobcats' average is based on the number of tickets sold because in the Dec. 1 home game against Minnesota where an arena-low 9,285 fans paid for tickets, a source within the organization said the turnstile count was a paltry 4,003.

Players and coaches have had little to no reaction to the subpar attendance, but one longtime league observer offered this all-to-true assessment of the situation: "What a bad combination: A bad team, a bad economy and bad ownership."

The attendance figures have continually slipped since the team moved to the state-of-the-art arena in downtown Charlotte. And following budget slashing just before the season, it's hard to imagine majority owner Bob Johnson or anybody else is happy with the continued downward attendance trend.

After averaging 14,431 in the first year of the team at the since-imploded Charlotte Coliseum, attendance peaked in the inugural year of the arena of 2005-06 at 16,366. That was good enough for only 22nd in the league that season.

The numbers slowly but surely have plummeted ever since -- to 15,549 (and 27th) in 2006-07, to 14,717 (and 24th) in 2007-08 and then this year's low-water mark.

Big Bobcats trade finally goes down

Richard Walker — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 05:56:32 GMT

Is it high stakes fantasy basketball or legitimate moves that will help round the Charlotte Bobcats into shape?

That's the question after the Bobcats acquired Boris Diaw, Raja Bell and Sean Singletary from the Phoenix Suns and it appears they will sign veteran free agent forward Juwan Howard.

Ever since Bobcats veteran coach Larry Brown began complaining during training camp about the team's need for better perimeter defenders and better low-post scoring options, most around the team expected a deal to be made.

Wednesday was finally that day. The day before reports began circulating of the team's interest in Howard.

To get Diaw and Bell -- veteran defensive-minded perimeter players -- the Bobcats dealt away leading scorer Jason Richardson (18.7 average) and promising second-year forward Jared Dudley. To sign Howard, the team likely will cut either Singletary or veteran forward Dwayne Jones, whom the team signed three weeks ago.

Brown still thinks more moves could be forthcoming. “We still have too many (perimeter) guys," Brown said before Wednesday's blowout loss at New Orleans. “Talking to (part-owner) Michael (Jordan) when I took this job, I don't think he thought (the roster) was a perfect situation. I wouldn't be surprised if other things happen down the road. You're trying to get better, and sometimes that means you lose assets.”

In the short term, it's hard to imagine the team is discernibly better. In the long-term, there are salary cap benefits -- but not until the summer of 2010 -- or the summer stars like LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh could become free agents.

Improving Bobcats?

Richard Walker — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 03:37:33 GMT

The Charlotte Bobcats are playing better, much better than before.

Some of it has to do with the schedule since they've been at home 13 times in their first 18 games and recently they've played lesser teams. But some of it has to do with adjustment to new coach Larry Brown.

"Early, I wasn't really happy with the effort," Brown said after Wednesday's 103-97 victory over Oklahoma City improved the team to 7-11 overall after four wins in its previous six games. "I didn't think we were playing as hard as we could. Maybe that was the guys being unsure of what we wanted or thinking too much. But I do see a lot of improvement and the guys are trying to play together."

Brown singled out Gerald Wallace, Raymond Felton and Emeka Okafor for their play of late.

But, Brown also added, "A lot of guys are getting better."

Wallace continues to play with the energy he's played with since he was an expansion selection off the Sacramento Kings roster in the summer of 2004. Felton's improvement seems to coincide with the pairing of him with another point guard, D.J. Augustin, in the backcourt. And Okafor has delighted Brown and Bobcats players with his solid post play -- and improved free throw shooting.

Since 36 of the last 64 games will be on the road, there's a good chance the schedule will catch up with the Bobcats.

But this much is clear: The team appears to have adjusted to what Brown is teaching.

Or as Felton puts it: "He's tough on his point guards, but he's tough on everybody. But it will make us a better team in the long run."

Felton a combo guard?

Richard Walker — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 13:48:03 GMT

Could it be that Raymond Felton is simply a combo guard?

With Felton now starting alongside fellow point guard D.J. Augustin, it appears Larry Brown is the third coach in Felton's NBA career who thinks the former lottery pick performs better when he's paired with another point guard. In Felton's first two seasons, coach Bernie Bickerstaff often paired Felton with Brevin Knight. Even last season, when Felton played more exclusive point guard than ever before under one-and-done coach Sam Vincent, Felton was paired infrequently with Jeff McInnis and Earl Boykins.

The irony in all of this is that Felton was part of the great point guard draft of 2005 that included Chris Paul and Deron Williams. Paul (Wake Forest) and Williams (Illinois) weren't exclusive point guards as collegians for their teams like Felton. And yet, as pros, Paul and Williams have thrived in the point guard role while Felton has been switched in and out of that role countless times.

Felton and Augustin were first paired together in the lineup together in a Nov. 21 loss at Atlanta. And the duo has seemed to thrive -- at least statistically -- in the games since.

Felton, predictably, says he's willing to do whatever it takes to make the team win and has no problem playing with a player many felt was drafted to eventually replace him. In truth, having both guards in the lineup at the same time has helped offset what Brown feels are athletic deficiencies on his team. But it'll be interesting to see how Bobcats' management feels. Does the recent switch make Felton more available for trade? And, if Felton remains with the team through the season, will the franchise make any attempt to re-sign him long-term since he has the opportunity to become a restricted free agent?

Brown: Player movement imminent

Richard Walker — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 03:43:09 GMT

Charlotte Bobcats coach Larry Brown didn't mince words before Tuesday's disastrous home loss to Dallas. He expects a lot of player movement in the next few weeks and thinks his team will be involved.

Brown thinks December 7 -- or the first day players signed in the offseason can be traded -- is a date to watch.

"I get the feeling the pool is going to get larger this year because so many guys signed," Brown said. "I think you could see some movement on our part and others."

Who would the Bobcats move and who would the Bobcats want in return?

Well, most around the organization feel the decision has been made that of the team's three most attractive players -- guard Jason Richardson, center Emeka Okafor and forward Gerald Wallace -- Wallace is the most tradeable. And since Brown has been saying since he got the job last April that he wants three point guards, two perimeter defenders and two post-up scorers, that would be places to start.

Does that seem too long a list? Certainly, the Bobcats (3-7 entering Friday's game in Atlanta) have many needs.

Charlotte made some moves Wednesday and appears poised to make some more.

The Bobcats released forwards Andre Brown and Linton Johnson -- players who had combined to play in six games so far this season -- and are linked to free agent post players Dwayne Jones and Antonio McDyess. Jones most recently played for the Cleveland Cavaliers, while McDyess was released last week by the Denver Nuggets after being acquired in trade from the Detroit Pistons.

Jordan power play?

Richard Walker — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 05:17:42 GMT

Did Michael Jordan play a leverage game with Charlotte Bobcats' majority owner Bob Johnson last week by saying he would be willing to buy a majority stake in the team?

Sure sounded like it based on what Jordan said in an exclusive interview with The Charlotte Observer.

"When Bob wants to step aside," Jordan told the newspaper, "I have no problem stepping in and saying, ‘Hey, look, I’d love to take control of this franchise.’ But Bob, he’s not at that point now. He still enjoys owning the basketball team.”

So while Jordan says Johnson isn't currently interested in selling, his comments would seem to confirm many of the rumors of Johnson's eventual sale of the team. After all, Jordan had the option of declining interest when asked if would like to become a majority owner and he should know better than most how willing or unwilling Johnson is to listening to offers.

And by saying he wants to by a majority stake in the franchise, Jordan has to know that he certainly have more celebrity than any other potential buyer.

Jordan, who had a stake in Washington Wizards ownership previously, bought into Johnson's team in June 2006. It has never been reported what Jordan paid or what percentage of ownership currently holds. Jordan has held the title of managing member of basketball operations.

Are May's days numbered?

Richard Walker — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 17:12:30 GMT

Are Sean May's days numbers with the Charlotte Bobcats?

Last week's decision to sit him until he's in better physical shape would seem to indicate that, even as coach Larry Brown thinks his franchise is only being fair to May.

"I think it's fair to him to be out there playing right now," Brown said. "It's not punishment or anything like that. We want to get him in the gym without any pressure. He's making progress and, hopefully, this is not a long-term thing."

Yet, when you consider that May has now played in only 59 of a possible 249 career games entering Friday's home game with New Orleans and has yet to have his contract extended for next season, it would be easy to think the Bobcats' patience with May has come to an end.

In the preseason, May started all eight games, averaging 5.1 points, 2.6 rebounds and 16.4 minutes per game. Numbers aside, he looked woefully out of shape and struggled shooting the basketball (33.3 percent).

Now that he's out of action indefinitely, it's hard to imagine he's going to be immediately incorporated back into the team's plan, much less the starting lineup, when he returns.

Is Johnson planning to sell?

Richard Walker — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 15:38:17 GMT

Charlotte Bobcats owner Bob Johnson has done his best to dispel rumors that he will soon be selling the team.

But employees -- both current and former -- are convinced recent layoffs to the team's work force are Johnson's way of saving as much money as he can before selling the team.

Johnson attended the team's preseason home game -- a loss to the Atlanta Hawks -- and had to be less than thrilled with the paltry turnout. Certainly, Johnson expected more in the fifth year of the franchise after paying the NBA $300 million for it in December 2002. And as of Wednesday night, the team was 1,500 tickets shy of selling out Saturday's home opener with the Miami Heat.

The bigger question might be in who would want the team and how much would they pay?

Certainly, the value professional sports franchises have continued to grow in recent years. But the value of Johnson's team hasn't grown based on valuations done by Forbes magazine.

Another question is where does part-owner Michael Jordan weigh in on the issue? Would Jordan find investors to buy out Johnson or would he sell out as well?

This much we do know: There may be more news off the court surrounding the Bobcats this season than on the court -- and that's with new coach Larry Brown, a Hall of Famer no less, guiding the team.

Winless and hopeless?

Richard Walker — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 17:25:10 GMT

The Bobcats just finished their first winless preseason, going 0-8 after Thursday's loss to the Los Angeles Lakers in Anaheim.

New coach Larry Brown has said there's lots and lots of progress being made, even it the record hasn't shown it.

But the numbers are quite ugly: 38.2 percent overall shooting percentage, 29.4 percent on 3-pointers and a 20.0 turnovers-per-game average.

How bad has the shooting been?

Only two players -- Adam Morrison (55.9) and Andre Brown (54.5) -- even shot 50 percent or better.

And three of the team's expected sharpshooters -- Matt Carroll (24.1), D.J. Augustin (24.3) and Raymond Felton (27.5) -- shot less than 30 percent.

So where do they go from here?

Most longtime NBA observers think Brown's teammates often take a step back before taking a step forward. But the Bobcats are likely to get off to a slow start despite having 13 of the first 18 regular season games at home if they can't start making more shots on a consistent basis.

The season opener is Thursday at Cleveland, with the home opener November 1 against the Miami Heat.