subject: Charlotte Bobcats Tickets - 2010-11 Season Preview [print this page] The Charlotte Bobcats are coming off the best season in franchise history, as the team made it to the postseason for the first time in 2009-10. Head coach Larry Brown has turned this group into one of the best defensive teams in the NBA, which remains a recipe for success even in the modern era of the league. Charlotte Bobcats tickets are becoming more and more desirable as the team improves, but securing a postseason berth for a second consecutive season is not going to be easy in an improving Eastern Conference.
The Bobcats have always been a solid defensive squad under Brown, but the addition of Stephen Jackson via trade early in the 2009-10 campaign significantly bolstered their offensive attack. Jackson averaged 21 points, five rebounds and four assists per game in 72 contests for Charlotte last season, giving the team a legitimate go-to option. Jackson's versatility makes him a dangerous player that can attack defenses in a variety of ways. He and Gerald Wallace form the bulk of the team's offensive firepower. Wallace is coming off a career year in which he averaged 18 points, 10 rebounds, two assists and more than a steal and a block per game. Wallace's focus on the boards was evident from the get-go last season, as he hauled in double-digit rebounds consistently throughout the season despite standing just 6'7".
The Cats will definitely miss point guard Raymond Felton this season, as he left for New York via unrestricted free agency. The team drafted D.J. Augustin in the Top 10 two years ago to eventually replace Felton, but the former Texas Longhorn has struggled to assimilate into the NBA. Augustin has been in and out of Brown's doghouse throughout his two seasons with the team, but will be looked upon to be the starter in 2010-11.
The Bobcats did make a savvy free agency move in getting former Top 5 pick Shaun Livingston on the cheap to back up Augustin. Livingston was a tantalizing high school talent that showed significant promise with the Clippers before blowing out his knee in a horrific injury a few years back. The 6'7" point guard has been slowly working his way back and actually played very well for the Wizards down the stretch last season. If Augustin falters, don't be surprised to see Brown hand the reins over to Livingston.
One thing that has consistently been lacking in Charlotte since the team's inception is a low post presence on the offensive end, and it doesn't look like that will change. Tyrus Thomas is still an intriguing talent, but he seems destined to be more of a defensive weapon than anything else. Unless the team finds a way to score more points inside, it's going to be difficult for them to take the next step in their development as a unit.
The Bobcats could see a regression in their progress in the East this season, mostly due to Felton's departure and the overall improvement of the conference this offseason. They'll play good defense, but it's hard to see them making too much noise without a big man that can consistently get buckets down low. They won't be anyone's doormat, but I see them as a borderline playoff team at best.
