[分享] 5 Steps: Fixing The Bobcats
http://www.hoopsworld.com/Story.asp?story_id=19387
One of final teams to be eliminated from playoff contention late this season,
the Charlotte Bobcats (32-46) whirlwind season is about to come to a close.
Charlotte fired head coach Larry Brown after a 9-19 start and traded away
Original Bobcat Gerald Wallace just a season after making the playoffs for
the first time in franchise history.
Injuries down the stretch to key contributors prevented the Bobcats from
making the postseason again this season, but that could be a blessing in
disguise as younger players got some quality experience over the last month
of the season.
Here's what Charlotte needs to do in order to set themselves up for next
season and beyond:
1. Embrace Youth Movement
This team, as currently constructed, does not have the talent to compete for
a NBA title. Michael Jordan knew this, that's why Gerald Wallace is gone and
this team is moving in a younger direction. The Bobcats simply weren't going
to contend with a core of Wallace, Stephen Jackson and Boris Diaw.
Now the Bobcats must see what they have in their younger players, starting
next season. There should be no Kwame Brown or Boris Diaw in the starting
lineup next year with younger, and possibly better, players waiting in the
wings.
Charlotte must feature a starting lineup of Tyrus Thomas (24 years old), D.J.
White (24), Jackson (if he's still on roster), Gerald Henderson (23) and D.J.
Augustin (23). If they're able to resign Dante Cunningham, he should be the
sixth man and both draft picks the Bobcats possess should be NBA-ready (see
#3) and be able play roles off the bench starting next season.
Henderson, Augustin and Thomas have all shown flashes of elite-level play;
while both White and Cunningham have shown they can be strong, gritty
contributors on both ends of the floor. Four of these five (Thomas was mostly
injured down the stretch) have had significant playing time together since
the trade deadline, now it's time to see if they can play significant roles
on a consistent basis by growing together in camp and playing together for a
full season.
By going with a youth movement, Charlotte would not only have an entertaining
product on the court every game, but could also have a chance to compete for
a playoff spot in a very suspect Eastern Conference.
2. Upgrade At Center And Power Forward
Whether it's through the draft or free agency, Charlotte must get more
production from the 4 and 5 spots on the court on a nightly basis.
Charlotte was 20th in the NBA in rebounding per game this season (40.6 per
game) and 20th in offensive rebounding (10.4). That was with Gerald Wallace
(8.2 rebounds per game) playing 48 games with the team. Without him, the
Bobcats leading rebounder is starting center Kwame Brown at 6.7 boards per
contest.
Brown and power forward Boris Diaw combined to average 18.5 points and 11.8
rebounds through 78 Bobcat games this season. Those stats would be great if
it was one player doing that sort of damage. A contending team's bigs must be
more productive than that.
Plain and simple: Brown and Diaw are not going to cut it as a prospective
playoff team's starting center and power forward combo. Brown had a good
season with Charlotte, and would be a solid backup, but he is not a starting
center in this league. At this point in his career, Diaw would be more
adeptly used as a combo-forward off the bench that can do a little bit of
everything - but isn't a starter on this team.
While Tyrus Thomas taking over at the starting power forward position solves
one conundrum, Charlotte must fill the gaping hole at center either through
the draft or free agency.
3. Draft NBA-Ready Players
Charlotte will have two picks in the draft coming up later this year, one
(their own) that will be a top-15 pick and another (from the New Orleans
Hornets, via the Portland Trail Blazers in the Gerald Wallace trade) in the
20-30 range depending on how the Hornets finish.
Over the team's last two drafts (no picks in 2010), Charlotte did a good job
of drafting players in that top-15 range (D.J. Augustin, Gerald Henderson),
but failed to draft in impact player in the 20's (Alexis Ajinca).
This year, the Bobcats must draft players that they not only will keep (only
two active players on roster originally drafted by 'Cats), but that can make
an impact immediately on a team in desperate need of a talent infusion.
Current mock drafts suggest the Bobcats could draft point guard Kemba Walker
(UCONN), forward Terence Jones (Kentucky) or center Jonas Valanciunas
(Lithuania) with their early pick.
4. Spend Wisely In Free Agency
When the free agency period commences, the Bobcats will have roughly $10
million to play with depending on the new collective bargaining agreement.
After signing their two first round picks, Charlotte likely won't have enough
money to lure a big-name free agent.
Last season, Charlotte brought in both Shaun Livingston and Kwame Brown on
the cheap. Neither player is a starter in this league, but both are solid
veterans that can do the little things necessary for a team to succeed.
First on the agenda in free agency, Charlotte must resign Dante Cunningham.
Coach Silas has touted him as an important part of the team's future, and the
front office should plan accordingly.
In terms of needs, Charlotte must bring in a true center (either through
draft or FA) that has some scoring ability, along with another veteran wing
with size that's a good defender and quality outside shooter. Charlotte got
some good values on the scrap heap last season, they'll have to do it again
this year without much cap space.
5. Bobcats Must Get Offensive
Charlotte's biggest downfall this season was it's inability to put the ball
in the basket. The Bobcats ranked 29th out of 30 teams in the NBA in scoring
this season, averaging just 92.9 points per contest.
This is a team that, especially down the stretch with Stephen Jackson ailing,
was completely inept on the offensive end.
Here's are two things that might ensure the Bobcats have a more productive
offense next season:
1. Coach Silas will be able to properly install his own offense. Silas was
relegated to keeping previous coach Larry Brown's system after taking over
the team 28 games into the season, but next year he'll have a full training
camp to teach the players his system.
2. Guys like Gerald Henderson and D.J. Augustin will each have another season
under their belt and will be looked upon to provide more offense from the
get-go than they were at the beginning of this season. Henderson especially
must be given a chance to be The Guy for Charlotte as he's really come into
his own to end the season. The problem is, as Augustin told me recently, the
Bobcats normally don't run direct plays for Henderson. This has to change
next season.
Upgrading the roster will help offensively as well, but the biggest increase
in production at that end of the floor should come from the players on the
current roster maturing and growing into a large role. These guys have the
ability to be a respectable offensive squad, it's time to put in the work
this offseason to make it happen.
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If the Bobcats can draft well, sign a few reasonably priced veterans and a
few of these young guys can play they like have in spurts this season on a
consistent basis next year, this team could snatch the 7th or 8th seed in the
Eastern Conference. Beyond that, this team must start making better personnel
decisions if they want to be an elite team in the East in the future.
Read more NBA news and insight:
http://www.hoopsworld.com/Story.asp?story_id=19387#ixzz1J6QwHxQs
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