First I’ll admit, I was wrong. I knew we would be better than last season, of course, but in no way did I think we would come out of the gate like Seabiscuit aiming for the triple crown. I’m surprised, but in a good way and that’s always a good thing.

I agree that anyone in their right mind that watches sports would ask, how can the worst team in their sport one season, be seen as a playoff contender the very next? If that person is you, I am here to answer that very question.

First remember, last season is over and today is a new day. With a new Coach, that seems to have his players full attention and cooperation, we are surely heading in a new direction. Yes, we just had a season we all want to forget, but that’s part of the business. We drafted well, we also traded and signed good free agents during the off season, and now we have some new quality pieces to add to our rebuilding puzzle. (We are still trading players after the season has started and I can’t remember the last time that has happened.) Is the puzzle complete yet? No it’s not, but I don’t think we have as many key pieces missing as some of you might. If I had to give a #, I’d say we are only about 2 pieces away from being a team that could possibly make the playoffs and get out of the first round. Here’s some key reasons why…

Never, let me repeat, NEVER, have I been this optimistic before the NBA training camp started. Honestly, I don’t know where to start. Well, let’s just start at the top. Micheal Jordan, hey what can I say? He truly made several outstanding decisions this offseason. Here’s the top four in my book:

1. Signed Coach Dunlap – I haven’t had the priviledge of meeting him yet, but I can already tell you, this guy is the real deal folks. He’s a runner and in great shape, so he leads by example, not with his chops. He has that Drill Sergeant look and demeanour, but is a people person at the same time. He will fire up the troops, and get them ready for battle!
2.  Great Draft  (even if it wasn’t his pick) he still allowed Cho to draft Kidd- Gilcrest and Taylor, arguably, our best 1+2 picks in any draft we’ve ever entered. (No knock on Kemba and Bismack, these are two future “very good” players, I just think these 2 guys will have a larger impact their rookie seasons than they did. Seeing all 4 of them on the court at one time during some game is something I’m really looking foward to. That’s when I’ll know, we are on our way!)

If you look back in NBA history, we can recall many hmmm moments in the NBA Lottery. Remember when Patrick Ewing became the saviour of the Big Apple? I’m also sure you remember Tim Duncan going to San Antonio to be one of the Twin Towers when the Admiral was near the end of his career. How about Lebron James going home to Cleveland, then Derrick Rose going home to Chicago? Then we have the most recent, when Lebron James took his talents to South Beach and the next thing you know, the #1 Pick goes to Cleveland?

Maybe these Cinderella stories are just coincidences, or maybe there is a little more to them than we will ever know. Either way, they happened and there is no turning back now. So let’s just focus on tonight and hope that we get the #1 pick.

If a hmmm moment happens tonight and goes in the Bobcats favor, I can give you 5 reasons why I think it might have happened.

Recently, season ticket holders received e-mail from whatever team they support. I won’t go into detail about the specifics of the letter; lets just say it was letting us know that the Lockout has begun!

I shouldn’t have been too shocked when I read it because I’ve been saying from day 1 the lockout was going to happen. Not because I can read the future, but because I could see what was at stake. No, this was not the same situation that the NFL just went through. (Honestly, I think both sides knew from day one they would open their season on time, they just needed time to work a few things out.) As we all found out, that’s exactly what happened. The NBA lockout, not that simple at all. Let me tell you why.

WHO WANTS WHAT?

Is this Lockout based on money? Yeah maybe a little, but its really based on something even bigger. (The players have already given back a lot of money to the owners, but the owners still are not happy.) You know what they want back even more than the money? P.O.W.E.R. aka C.O.N.T.R.O.L. If you don’t know what I mean, these two words might help: MIAMI HEAT! The commissioner and the owners goal is to make sure they never have another version of the “decision” happen again. Not because of the attention it brought because that is always a plus! It’s more about the consequences that came after Lebran James’s decision. (The Cavs went from a championship caliber team, to a YMCA team). The amazing part about the whole thing is that the owners could not do 1 thing to stop it! This is what the owners want to change, before they are willing to let the players come back and play. Their solution is a HARD salary cap. The players are saying, “not going to happen”. The owners are saying “yes it will, or the only dunking some of you will be doing will be dunking French fries in hot grease at Mickey D”s”. So fans, yes, WE HAVE A PROBLEM.

I know a lot of Bobcat fans are very upset about Gerald Wallace aka “Crash” being traded. That is totally understandable. He has been with us from the start and has been our best player hands down! There is no question, Crash will be missed. I just want to make sure before fans start burning their MJ Jerseys, they understand some of the possible reasons this trade might have been a necessary move.