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CHARLOTTE BOBCATS 2007-2008 SEASON ANALYSIS
Michael Jordan played the game of basketball with such a rare combination of confidence, ferocity, and skill that he is now often referred to as the greatest player in NBA history. Unfortunately for him and the entire city of Charlotte, Jordan (part owner of the squad) has done NOTHING to improve the lowly Bobcats in his years with the team. The franchise is suffering through another horrendous season due to nonstop bad decision making and bad luck: * BAD LUCK – The 2004 NBA Draft: The Orlando Magic couldn’t decide between Emeka Okafor and Dwight Howard, but they ultimately made the correct decision and selected Dwight Howard with the first pick. The Bobcats (in possession of the second pick) took the next best player, Okafor with little hesitation. Howard went on to solidify his status as one of the top big men in the League within a couple of years; however, Okafor has yet to cross the line from solid center to NBA star. * BAD DECISION MAKING – The 2006 NBA Draft: The Bobcats’ most notable screw up occurred when they decided to “Draft the Stache” (Adam Morrison) with the 3rd pick in the 2006 NBA Draft (when they could have snagged current NBA All Star Brandon Roy, up-and-coming athlete Rudy Gay, or ever-improving post stud LaMarcus Aldridge). Morrison had a very sub-standard rookie season and has sat out his sophomore year due to injury; Roy, on the other hand, was named the 2006-07 NBA Rookie of the Year and became an NBA All Star in only his second season in the Association! CHARLOTTE BOBCATS -- TOP 3 PLAYERS1. Jason Richardson — 21.8 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 3.1 apg, 1.4 spg, .7 bpg, 40.6% (3p%)
Charlotte decided that they wanted to “win” now; therefore, they decided to swap FUTURE (Brandan Wright: a lengthy small forward that is loaded with potential and athleticism) for PRESENT (Jason Richardson: a 20-point scorer /tremendous baller who possesses surreal athleticism and a feathery 3point shot). This move has made the Bobcats more competitive this year, but they still are not good enough to make the playoffs—even in the soft Eastern Conference. Charlotte ended the year with a record of 32-50; let’s just say that the whole trading their future to have a more experienced squad this season was a dreadful choice by Bobcat management.
2. Gerald Wallace – 19.4 ppg, 6 rpg, 3.5 apg, 2.1 spg, .9 bpg
Gerald Wallace never takes a night off. Heck, the man exerts so much EFFORT AND ENERGY every minute he’s on the floor that it makes you wonder if he is on some sort of adrenaline supplement! Since he plays with this recklessness at all times, he is able to dominate both offensively and defensively.
3. Emeka Okafor – 13.8 ppg, 10.7 rpg, 1.7 bpg, 53.5% (FG%)
Coming off a fabulous senior year at UConn. in which his team won the NCAA Championship, expectations were soaring for his future in the NBA. It wouldn’t be totally fair to suggest that Okafor has been a disappointment thus far as a professional; however, he clearly has not lived up to all of the hype. Emeka Okafor is an especially dazzling defender and rebounder, and he constantly hustles while he is playing. Fortunately for Charlotte, his career is still young and he has plenty of room to improve in the future. As Natasha Bedingfield would say (or should I say sing?), “The rest is still unwritten.”
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