Andrew Kasmarek, Mitch Pratt and Charlie Tritschler are getting you ready for the NBA season. The previews feature all sorts of information to get you ready for the start of the season.
As the Charlotte Bobcats head into their final season being known as the "Bobcats" (Michael Jordan announced they'll go back to being named the Charlotte Hornets starting in 2014 after the New Orleans Hornets changed their name to the Pelicans, in case you weren't already aware), the team is finally primed to make another run at the Eastern Conference playoffs.
The Bobcats signed free agent big man Al Jefferson in an effort to become a playoff team right now. Some people see this as a curious move but, at some point, you have to stop rebuilding, and look to get better. I actually like the team they've got, when I think about it. I'm a fan of Jefferson's dominant offensive game, despite his defensive shortcomings. "Big Al" sprained his ankle but is targeting the season opener as a return date. Jefferson, paired with talented rookie big man turned stretch four, Cody Zeller, and established stretch four, Josh McRoberts, is a frontcourt I can get behind as a good frontcourt complimentary of one another. I love Kemba Walker's intangibles along with his tangible skills. He's a winner (a winner in the sense that Tim Tebow is a winner, but work with me) and a good leader. SG Gerald Henderson is fairly underrated and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist can only get better.
The X-Factor: C Al Jefferson - In my opinion, Jefferson's post game and rebounding should/will jive well with the outside shooting of Walker, Henderson and McRoberts. The way he commands the right block is something to behold. He can do it the entire game and when you need to grind out points in late game isolations, he's your man. Assuming he stays healthy (ankle injuries for big men can linger), Jefferson's impact will be obvious.
The Big Question: Are the young Bobcats ready for a playoff run? - The Bobcats have one playoff appearance in their nine years of existence, back in 2009. They quickly bottomed out and went into rebuild mode and by bottomed out, I mean they bottomed out to the tune of the worst winning percentage of all time in the strike shortened 2011-12 season when they went 7-59. As I previously stated I like a bunch of their pieces and I think raw center, Bismack Biyombo, may be primed for a Larry Sanders-esque breakout season as a rim protector and garbage collector. He looked fairly decent (for once) this preseason. I think they can put it together and find themselves in the mix come March.
Key Additions: C Al Jefferson, head coach Steve Clifford - I've already slobbered about Big Al enough. New head coach Steve Clifford has been around a while and now gets his first crack at an NBA head job. He comes with an endorsement from Stan Van Gundy, whom Clifford worked under for five years in Orlando and was probably a big part of the development of Dwight Howard. I still believe that Mike Dunlap was let go prematurely but Clifford seems like a capable replacement.
Key Departures: F/C Byron Mullens - Mullens is a stretch four/five that can shoot threes at a nice clip for a big man (32 percent). He signed with the Los Angeles Clippers in the offseason. He'll probably be on the floor in L.A. to bang threes alongside Blake Griffin when DeAndre Jordan is on the bench and alongside Jordan at the four when Blake is on the bench.
Bobcats Draft: PF Cody Zeller, SF James Southerland (undrafted rookie) - Zeller is going to be a skilled big man that can step out and hit a jumper or two to compliment Big Al's low post game. He should crack the starting lineup fairly soon. Southerland somehow went undrafted. He has good size for a small forward and can shoot the lights out from beyond the arc. He should be a nice rotational piece for Steve Clifford.
Prediction: The Bobcats should be in the mix for one of those up-in-the-air, ever so coveted final three spots in the East once the Heat, Bulls, Pacers, Nets and Knicks shake themselves out. The Bobcats, Raptors, Wizards, Pistons and possibly the Bucks (just because Herb will do whatever it takes) will be in this tier of fringe playoff teams.
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