Larry Brown hasn't had much fun this preseason. Injuries have robbed the Charlotte Bobcats coach from getting a good look at his new front line. No one has stepped up to provide needed depth at power forward and Brown is short $60,000 after tangling with the NBA's replacement referees. With the start of Brown's second season paired with managing partner Michael Jordan just a week away, the Hall of Famer's skills and patience will be tested as he tries to get the sixth-year Bobcats into the playoffs for the first time in the improved Eastern Conference. One thing is certain: Brown's second Charlotte team is much more to his liking -- and nothing like the unit that started last season. His famous tinkering was behind four trades involving 13 players. Only five players remain from the opening-night roster of last season. "Coach (Dean) Smith came last year to the first couple practices and he didn't think we'd win the ACC," Brown said. "I think he was probably right. I think this team is a little better than we were at the beginning of last year." That team began 7-18 before the flurry of deals brought Charlotte a playmaking power forward (Boris Diaw) and a defense-first shooting guard (Raja Bell). Players that weren't Brown fits -- Jason Richardson, Adam Morrison and Matt Carroll -- were jettisoned and the Bobcats recovered to be in the playoff race until a late-season fade coinciding with injuries to Bell and leading scorer Gerald Wallace. "We have a great team," ever-confident point guard Raymond Felton said. "I like our chances. Other teams got better, but we got better, also." While teams that finished behind Charlotte (35-47) last season improved, namely Washington and Toronto, the Bobcats made one major offseason move, dealing center Emeka Okafor to New Orleans for Tyson Chandler. But owner Bob Johnson's orders not to get into luxury tax territory prevented them from bidding for the top power forwards in the free agent market. The Bobcats have slogged through most of the preseason without Chandler, recovering from offseason ankle surgery, and Diaw (sprained ankle). The trio of Nazr Mohammed, DeSagana Diop and Alexis Ajinca have provided Brown with little confidence up front. "So disappointed in our big guys," Brown said after one of many exhibition losses. Brown was ejected from another game in Atlanta, was tardy leaving the court, and the NBA made him the example that criticizing the replacement officials won't be tolerated. Brown was hit with $60,000 fines and the cash-strapped Bobcats were also fined $60,000. Brown's attention has since turned to the 7-foot-1 Chandler, who vows to be healthy for the start of the regular season. Oklahoma City rescinded a trade for Chandler in February because of concerns over a toe injury. An ankle injury slowed him in the Hornets' first-round playoff loss to Denver, and Chandler then underwent surgery on his toe and ankle. He was fitted with orthotics and held out of the first six exhibition games, but Brown is confident Chandler will provide Charlotte with versatility up front. "He's more in line with some of the centers we see now," Brown said. "A lot of teams don't have a true center. I think Emeka is one of the true centers we have in the league. Tyson is more like that hybrid type." Brown believes Chandler will allow Charlotte to run more, and fit in with a team full of athletes. The slashing Wallace thrived late last season as he adjusted to Brown's system. The speedy Felton signed a one-year qualifying offer and is back sharing the point guard duties with D.J. Augustin. Diaw can bring the ball up the floor and is one of the better passing power forwards in the game. Rookie Gerald Henderson came equipped with an NBA body. Charlotte also signed guard Flip Murray just before training camp, giving Bell a backup and another option at point guard. Murray, who is out for the rest of the preseason with a shin injury, could also give Charlotte something it desperately needs: more scoring. While the Bobcats allowed only 94.9 points a game last season, ninth best in the NBA, they were last in scoring at 93.6 points. Then they traded Okafor, who averaged 13.2 points last season for Chandler (8.8 points). Involved, I think, with this group than maybe he had to be in New Orleans," Brown said. But will it be good enough for this troubled franchise to be in the playoff hunt, win over skeptical fans, give Brown a positive memory after his ugly departure from New York and give Jordan a rare accomplishment in his career as an executive? Brown is making no promises. "Had Raja been healthy at the year and Gerald, we might have had a chance for the playoffs. We were a much better team, I think, after the All-Star break," Brown said. "Whether that team would be good enough to make the playoffs this year I don't know."
