Ladies and gentlemen, the Charlotte Bobcats may have just made the playoffs.
By acquiring Stephen Jackson from the Warriors, along with Acie Law for Vladimir Radmanovic and Raja Bell, the Bobcats may now be a playoff-caliber team. In fact, he may be the team's best player now.
This move makes a transformed team. Defense and running. Hmm. Sounds like the Warriors a couple years ago when they knocked the top-seeded Mavs out of the playoffs as an eighth seed. OK, I'm not saying they'll do anything on that level. But, Jackson makes the makeup of this team look better than most Bobcat teams before.
Think about it: Felton/Augustin, G-Force, Jackson and Chandler. That equals defense and agility. Not to mention the versatile Diaw.
On top of that, a happy Jackson is a rare mold of player. He can play 1 through 3, can score with nearly anybody when he's on and has plenty of basketball IQ. The only risk with him is keeping him happy. And he's happy - for now.
One good year out of Jackson could get the Bobcats in the playoffs, partly because it is the East - I know they're better right now, but it's early - and a playoff berth would help the organization as a whole. And, umm, help MJ's image as a non-player.
Anyway, Larry Brown is a smart coach, and he's got a good, smart group of players now. Get them to buy into it and it will pay off.
And, oh yeah, AI's back on the market. Not a good move now. The Bobcats have the playoffs as a realistic possibility now. They won't need AI to sell tickets now.
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