The Bobcats aren't pushovers for the Raptors or anyone else these days. In picking Hall of Famer Larry Brown as the club's third head coach in as many years, basketball operations boss and part-owner Michael Jordan has a man known to implement quick fixes.
"We've struggled to find our identity," Jordan said. "I think the city is very hungry for a successful franchise. I don't want to put too much pressure on Larry, but I think this is the type of atmosphere that he enjoys."
With a win over New Orleans on Friday, the Hornets are 2-3 and getting some production out of six-foot point guard D.J. Augustin, who was chosen ninth overall in the 2008 NBA draft.
Toronto won nine of its first 11 games against the Bobcats, who entered the league in 2004, but have dropped two of the past three.
"We can't be looking past Charlotte to Boston (tomorrow's opponent)," Chris Bosh of the Raptors warned.
TRAILING A TRIAL
The Raptors have not held the lead in a game since 1:10 into the second quarter of their home loss to Detroit on Wednesday.
"You guys know more about that stuff than me," said an unperturbed Jose Calderon after his team trailed wire-to-wire in its loss to Atlanta on Friday. "Like I've been saying, it's early in the season."
HEIR JORDAN?
Jordan told the Charlotte Observer this weekend that he would like to become majority owner when and if Bob Johnson decides to sell the team. "When Bob wants to step aside, I have no problem stepping in and saying: 'Hey, look, I'd love to take control of this franchise', " Jordan said. "But Bob, he's not at that point now. He still enjoys owning the basketball team."
