Jordan's influence leaves Bickerstaff's future in doubt

Basketball Betting Lines

02/12/2007 -

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) -Portland coach Nate McMillan chuckled when he walked into Charlotte's practice facility last week and saw no chairs or bleachers, items banned by Bobcats coach and general manager Bernie Bickerstaff.

``He hasn't changed,'' said McMillan, who played under Bickerstaff in Seattle during the 1980s. ``We had to stand up and be ready to practice. I was looking at our guys and they were trying to put their sneakers on standing up.''

The no-nonsense Bickerstaff has done things his own way since become the expansion team's top basketball man three years ago. But his power was reduced last spring when Michael Jordan became part owner with the final say on all basketball decisions.

Now, with the Bobcats struggling through an inconsistent season and an important summer of free agency ahead, Bickerstaff's future with the organization is uncertain.

While Bickerstaff has declined to talk about next season, several players back him, including rookie Adam Morrison.

``He's the guy who drafted me and believed in me,'' said Morrison, the No. 3 pick last year. ``I think people have to give him a chance, because we're really young. It's tough to count on so many young guys, night in and night out. He's doing a good job with what he's got.''

It's hard to gauge where Bickerstaff stands with Jordan, because Jordan hasn't granted an interview in Charlotte since last June. He has intentionally remained out of sight, even telling arena staff not to show him on the video board when he attends home games.

Jordan's contact with the players has also been limited.

``I've talked to him a little bit when he's been around, but other than that, nothing,'' Morrison said Monday.

While Bickerstaff no longer has the final say on personnel decisions, the moves he has made have allowed the Bobcats to assemble a decent group of young talent.

He pulled off a draft-day trade that allowed Charlotte to select Emeka Okafor. Charlotte has also drafted Raymond Felton and Morrison, and got leading scorer Gerald Wallace in the expansion draft.

Bickerstaff has resisted the temptation to try to win right away, hoarding draft picks and preserving salary cap space while preparing for this summer, when Charlotte will have the most flexibility as any team during free-agency.

``The young kids, they've got to get a chance to play, it's that simple,'' Bickerstaff said.

But Bickerstaff has sounded increasingly frustrated of late. He's criticized his young players for not spending enough time studying the scouting report. He's questioned the team's discipline, and was furious last Friday when a mental breakdown left Brandon Roy open for a tying 3-pointer in the closing second of regulation, helping McMillan's Trail Blazers to an overtime win.

``You have to deal with the players. You have to be fair, but you've got to have expectations for all of them,'' Bickerstaff said. ``You've got to coach for bad times, and that's why you have to treat everyone fairly.''

Bickerstaff was calmer on Monday, suggesting the team's recent rash of injuries is partly responsible for its current four-game losing streak.

``It's an ongoing process where you have to make changes,'' Bickerstaff said. ``Unfortunately, this is where we are.''

Bickerstaff's plan before Jordan arrived was to coach the team during the lean, early years, then hire a coach and become the full-time general manager when they became more competitive.

With Jordan now calling the shots, Bickerstaff may not get that chance. But it hasn't changed his style, which took 30 years in the NBA to mold. That means no chairs in the practice gym.

``Once you come to work, you don't sit down,'' Bickerstaff said. ``That's how I think you learn how to fight through fatigue. If you can't fight through fatigue in practice, you're going to go down on us when it's game time.''

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