The Bobcats were quite a dissapointing team this past season. They had very high expectations coming off of the addition of Jason Richardson to shore up that two spot they desperately needed adressed, and keeping the corp that was ever improving every game. Unfortunately thing’s didn’t quite reach what was expected, and a loosing season followed.

With that came change and more change is certain to follow. The change so far, maybe most important of all that can and will be done, was the changing of coach’s. Now the Bobcats will learn to play the right way, with Larry Brown as the new coach. He is the only person in history to have ever won the NCAA title, and an NBA title, so his credentials for coaching are definately there. Now we just speculate what will happen.

First thing we need to do, is have a look at the team and how it will fit Larry Brown as a coach. In that, I must say this is a team for him, a team that can match what his Pistons team was like. Tough, gritty, has defense around it, and will play the right way. Downlow he has his anchor, who in my opinion is a top 3 or 4 low post defensive player in the NBA, Emeka Okafor. With him, he will have his Dikembe Mutumbo/Ben Wallace type defensive presence to make this as good of a defense as possible. On the wings he will have Gerald Wallace, who can play solid defense and bother shots. This team has the defensive pieces to make this a team for him to like.

 Then offensively, he has the guys that can hit the three, that can drive to the rim, and that can score downlow. He will have the balance and versatility to make this a team he will love even more. Most of all offensively though, he has a point guard that knows how to play the right way, and he can continue to teach him to play the right way. Felton is as willing and able of a passer as young players can get, with that University North Carolina background. I really believe Larry Brown will love having Felton to coach, and this is a team built for him.

However, the places aren’t finished yet. They need more to make Larry Brown happy. A big man that can play the 5 as a starter is very well needed. Emeka Okafor is a natural power forward, and will play much better there. Getting a center to go next to him would be amazing. They need Sean May, who is their best scoring big man healthy. They also need a defensive presence on the perimeter to come off the bench. Right now the only defensive presence they have is Gerald Wallace. Having someone to come in and keep playing solid defense will be a must, if Larry Brown is to stay happy.

First and foremost is making sure to re-sign restricted free agent Emeka Okafor, the centerpiece of their defense. Then the question becomes who could be good to have for them? I think a stab at Trevor Ariza or Maurice Evans who will be a free agent would help to continue that defensive presence off the bench for them. Both are solid defensively, both are active, and both have played in an offense that teach’s the back door cuts so they will be helpful offensively. Both are great additions to the bench for them. For the big man, they should be looking in the draft, if they are low enough. If high enough Brook Lopez, if lower, Roy Hibbert shouldn’t be gone. Adding him would really help. If they could add that big in the draft, and then piece together either Ariza or Evans, this is a team that can already compete for a playoff spot. Then it just takes some tinkering, and playing together before this team becomes a stud team.

Overall, this is a team that should mesh with Larry Brown, and Brown should mesh with them back. They are cut out for each other, everyone plays the right way, and I see Larry Brown being very happy with this team provided they make some smart money decisions. In the future I am excited to see where they head with Brown as the coach and Jordan as the president.

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