2010-11 record: 34-48
Finish: Fourth in Southeast Division
Playoffs: N/A
Strengths: The Bobcats will make you work hard for points. They were that way under Larry Brown, and continue under Paul Silas. What the Bobcats lack in individual talent is compensated with group effort. And that's a good thing, since there's no one of All-Star fiber in Charlotte.
Challenges: The Bobcats finished next-to-last offensively, and points were hard to come by even before they sent Gerald Wallace packing at midseason. That's been the theme of this franchise since inception. Their leading returning scorer is point guard D.J. Augustin at 14.4 per game. And the irony: Michael Jordan, the owner, was a scoring machine as a player. Can the Bobcats find someone half as reliable? Does such player exist on the current roster? Most likely, no.
Outlook: Silas reinvigorated a team that made the playoffs a year earlier, but the Bobcats are likely back to square one in some regards. They lack a star player -- what else is new? -- and swagger. What the Bobcats need most is an identity, something to distinguish them from the pack of mediocre teams that, like Charlotte, are merely treading water.
This could make a difference: The Bobcats really need to nail down their No. 1 picks and free agency decisions in the future. That's the only way Charlotte can rise from the bottom. If rookie Bismack Biyombo becomes a stud, then great. If Jordan signs someone next summer when money becomes available, great. Otherwise, the Bobcats just hope to win over the home customers with hard work.
http://www.nba.com/news/features/2011-s ... index.html
