The never ending plight of Charlotte Bobcats - NBA Feature
Charlotte Bobcats and failure are two words that have become synonymous this season. They are currently holding the record of 7-49 and are cemented at the last position not only in the Eastern Conference, but also the league.
Michael Jordan, the majority owner of the franchise, has failed miserably as an executive. His grand plan of rebuilding the team around youth doesn’t seem to be coming together at all, and in the pursuit of this questionable dream,
he has traded away most of his assets. In the midst of this complete disarray it is even surprising that they banked 7 victories.
After trading experienced players like Gerald Wallace and Stephen Jackson during the course of the last one year, the Bobcats were left with Corey Maggette, D.J. Augustin, Gerald Henderson, rookies Kemba Walker and Bismack Biyombo,
and Boris Diaw as the only players who could have made some impact this season.
However, such was the plight of the Bobcats that Diaw refused to be the part of the organization anymore and requested a trade during the mid season. That request was acceded to Diaw headed to the San Antonio Spurs.
While Corey Maggette was sidelined through most of the season due to injuries, the younger lot, especially the two rookies, took time to settle into the bigger stage and the result was that the Bobcats kept getting pounded right
from the start of the season. Had Maggette been fit early in the season, when the teams were in the process of sorting out the weaknesses of the new look Bobcats, the North Carolina franchise would have been able to score some more victories.
The other fact, which perhaps the Charlotte front office forgot to consider while making numerous trades since Jordan took over, was that the ultimate crop which they left behind is highly undersized. Biyombo at 6 ft 9, being
the starting centre, is a testament to that fact and the result is that the Bobcats are currently on a 13 game losing streak and on the verge of bettering their franchise worst 16 game skid, one which they accomplished earlier this season.
For Coach Paul Silas Bobcats’ never ending plight has turned into his worst nightmare.
It's been so hard," Coach Paul Silas said earlier this season. "I've had sleepless nights."
The franchise is currently working on to redefine the word ignominy. After losing 17 games by at least 20 points they will be finishing the season with 0.106 winning percentage and will be at par with 1972-73 Philadelphia 76ers,
who finished the non lockout shortened season with a 0.110 winning percentage.
For Silas and the North Carolina fans, the season has been one to forget. All they can hope now is to find a messiah in the next NBA draft, in which they will definitely get a lottery pick.
But, given the scouting abilities of MJ – case in point the selection of Kwame Brown as the number one draft pick in 2002 – that prospect also seems in jeopardy.
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article do not represent Bettor.com’s editorial policy.
Tags: