Last year's edition of the Charlotte Bobcats were just hideous with a 7-59 record that resulted in the dismissal of their head coach and the hiring of Mike Dunlap as the new head coach. The Bobcats chairman Michael Jordan is hoping that Dunlap can change the team's losing culture.
The hope is that the number two overall draft pick Michael Kidd-Gilchrist will develop into a star or at least a very good NBA player. The team also signed Ramon Sessions and Brendan Haywood in the offseason. Session should compete for the starting point guard position and Haywood should be a capable backup at this point in his career, but on the Bobcats he is likely a starter.
The Bobcats traded Corey Maggette to the Detroit Pistons for high volume shooter Ben Gordon. He should provide the team with some offensive output. Point guard Kemba Walker should improve in his second year. Last season he averaged 12.1 points and 4.4 assists per game. If he doesn't step up his game Session will take his spot.
The Bobcats were so bad last season that anything they do this year will likely be a mammoth improvement. The starting lineup will likely go through many variations as Dunlap figures out the ins and outs of his team.
According to NBA 2K13, The Bobcats will improve a lot compared to their 2011-12 season. The Bobcats' win percentage will increase to .321 compared to last year's .106 winning percentage. But they still will be one of the NBA's worst teams ranking fourteenth in the Eastern Conference. The good news is that rookie Kidd-Gilchrist comes in third in the Rookie of the Year voting and gives the team some hope for the future.
Here is how the game simulates the Bobcats' season:
Regular Season Record: 26-56 Fourteenth in the Eastern Conference
Top scorers: SF Michael Kidd-Gilchrist 13.4 PPG, SG Ben Gordon 14.6 PPG, PG Kemba Walker 18.7 PPG
Leading rebounders: SF Michael Kidd-Gilchrist 7.7 RPG, PF Tyrus Thomas 8.6 RPG, C Brandon Heywood 9.6 RPG
Assist Leader: SG Gerald Henderson 2.9 APG, PG Ramon Sessions 5.6 APG, PG Kemba Walker 6.0 APG
Playoff Opponents
Round 1: Did not qualify
Round 2: Did not qualify
Conference Finals: Did not qualify
NBA Finals: Did not qualify
You check out our review of the game here and read about Jeremy Lin's player rating here.
Check out our other NBA 2K13 team previews:
Miami Heat
Oklahoma City Thunder
San Antonio Spurs
Boston Celtics
Los Angeles Lakers
Philadelphia 76ers
New York Knicks
Brooklyn Nets
Chicago Bulls
Los Angeles Clippers
Minnesota Timberwolves
Portland Trail Blazers
Cleveland Cavaliers
Washington Wizards
Denver Nuggets
Phoenix Suns
Houston Rockets
Orlando Magic
Atlanta Hawks
Memphis Grizzlies
New Orleans Hornets
Dallas Mavericks
Milwaukee Bucks
Detroit Pistons
Charlotte Bobcats
Toronto Raptors
Indiana Pacers
