Tyler Zeller's historic night (and why he gives UNC the best shot at a Final Four berth)

Not nearly enough will be written about Tyler Zeller's 20 point, 22 rebound performance about Ohio, not with the way North Carolina escaped the Edward Jones Dome with a win.

Zeller's 20-22 line (which also included four blocks) was the fourth 20-20 performance in the last 30 years of the NCAA tournament. Great, great post players have left their mark on the NCAA tournament over the years, but only three of them did what Zeller did Friday night.

Even Zeller was impressed.



What's more impressive, what makes the feat even more meaningful for Zeller was the other three names. Here's the company Zeller joined with his game last night:

• Tim Duncan -- Considered by some (including myself) to be the greatest power forward to play the game. In 1997, Duncan scored 22 points and grabbed 22 rebounds against St. Mary's. Even more impressive was that Duncan put those numbers up against 7-foot-3, 345-pound center Brad Millard of St. Mary's. 

• Joe Smith -- Smith never quite lived up to the hype of a No. 1 draft pick after he was taken by Golden State in 1995, but he played 16 years in the NBA. But during his senior year at Maryland, the year he was named the Naismith Player of the Year, Smith scored 31 points and brought down 21 rebounds in a tournament game against Texas. 

• Hakeem Olajuwon -- One of the best centers to ever play in the NBA. Olajuwon went for 21 points and 22 rebounds in a 1993 tournament game against Louisville, the same year UNC beat Michigan for the NCAA title. Olajuwon played for Houston, then went on to have a great career in the NBA with the Houston Rockets.

Zeller's name included on that list says more than enough. Usually very humble, Zeller's first reaction when told about it was simply, "Dang." 

To be fair, if there was a game for Zeller to post 20 rebounds in, it would be against Ohio. The Bobcats had one player taller than 6-foot-8, but he didn't start and he was still two inches shorter than Zeller. 

Zeller attributed a lot of his success to his height.

"On the boards, I think that was a huge advantage we had," he said. "Being able to have John (Henson) and me down there, I mean, you're always looking for him and then I can sneak in and get one every once in a while. It was a great advantage for us."

Without Kendall Marshall, North Carolina was a different team. Fewer fast break points and a lack of offensive creation were just some of the problems the Tar Heels ran into. And by the looks of things in St. Louis, Marshall appears still very questionable for UNC's game against Kansas. Though, it is hard to imagine the point guard won't give it a shot with a Final Four trip on the line.

If Marshall doesn't play, UNC will need Zeller. The Tar Heels obviously can't have another 3-for-16 performance from Harrison Barnes, and it's not really likely that Reggie Bullock will be as clutch as he was Friday, but if UNC wants to beat Kansas, Zeller must be big again. 

He has been North Carolina's most consistent player down the stretch and for much of this season. 

Marshall said he's simply UNC's leader.

"The steps that he's made as a player each year, I mean, he's a senior," Marshall said. "He knows that this is his team. He wants to lead us and we have no problem letting him. The effort he puts in every day is just a testament to show what kind of player he is. I'm extremely happy for him.We wouldn't be where we are without him."

Zeller doesn't need 20 and 22 against Kansas to be effective, he just needs to do the little things he's done all year. For example, when Stilman White stole the ball in the second half and was pushing for a fast-break layup, Zeller followed him and gathered it once Ohio blocked White's layup. He cleaned up other messes too, like a few 3-point attempts from Barnes. If nothing else, Zeller's minutes showed how big his presence was in the paint against Ohio. He played 90 percent of the available minutes (40 out of 45). Williams took him out of the game and stuck him back in front of the scorer's table often within the same minute.

He was a difference-maker. 

The center deserves plenty of love for his game against Ohio. Duncan, Smith, Olajuwon and now Zeller. It's incredibly impressive. 

It won't come as easily against the Jayhawks' talented frontcourt, but UNC will likely need its steady big man even more Sunday. Right now, he's about the only certain thing for Sunday's game on the UNC end.

LeBron knows himself, and that's all that matters

There are people in this world who will never forgive LeBron James for leaving Cleveland, even if only for the way he did it.

Don't be one of them.

LeBron made a poor decision to air his decision on T.V., perhaps, but that shouldn't define him at this point.

As for the rest of us? We're just disappointed when it comes to LeBron, and that is understandable. LeBron gave us so much to hope for when he was in Cleveland. The Michael Jordan 2.0 talks weren't that far off. Now, LeBron's game has plateaued. His shooting hasn't improved. He's still getting by on a hefty amount of skill and talent when the rest of us see potential for absolute greatness. It's like a movie that starts out on Emmy-pace, or at least amusing-pace, only to fizzle out after the first half. You know what I'm talking about, Funny People. 

The problem is that all the analysts were right about LeBron and how he'd fit on the Miami Heat, primarily the part about him and Wade clashing. The Heat will probably win the title next year, but LeBron cannot be the same LBJ that he was in Cleveland with Miami. It just won't work, and it's not best for the Heat.

In Cleveland, LeBron didn't have a No. 2 scoring option even close to Chris Bosh's level, let alone Dwayne Wade. He was the nucleus of that team, the best scorer and the best passer. Even when Jordan retired, Scottie Pippen led the Bulls to the 1994 Eastern Conference Finals. Think Mo Williams and/or Antawn Jamison could have done that with the Cavaliers?

Between the two, Wade is a better scorer, and it's probably better for the Heat to keep it that way. LeBron can still thrive as a distributor who averages 25 points per game. Wade, on the other hand, will not thrive nearly as much as a No. 2. They're both All-Stars, no matter who handles the bulk of the scoring, but that pinewood derby car is going to go faster if you put the bulk of your weight, or talent in this case with LeBron, in the back seat.

The thing that seems to bother us that LeBron is OK with that.

We've seen him carry a team. We've seen him do things that very few players in the history of the NBA can do. LeBron James is still the best player on the planet. When he's on, he's amazing. Trust me, I've seen it first hand. Heck, we've even seen him be a pretty darn good closer as well, just not in the 2011 NBA Finals.

Let's look at those stats. LeBron averaged 3.0 points per game in six fourth quarters, and up until the sixth game of the series, he had only scored 11 fourth quarter points.

Now let's look at the truth that only LeBron James seems OK with accepting: the Miami Heat don't need big fourth quarters from him every night. They don't even need him to score late most nights. We see this as some great tragedy, as if LeBron were a child who disappoints us by not wanting as much for himself as we want for him.

But LeBron understands something that many of us don't. It's something that's guided him through his decision to go to Miami and it's guided him since. He understands the the Miami Heat, and most importantly, he understands himself. 

There's a great line in The Departed. SIDE NOTE: I know, I know. You're thinking, "Yeah, there's a hundred great lines in The Departed." And you're absolutely right. That movie is pregnant with brilliant writing and acting. But the one I'm thinking of is when Leo's talking to the shrink about being in prison. Vera Farmiga (the shrink) is going through the meeting and checking off her to-do list of inquiry into Leo's life but she can't get anything out of him, because, let's face it, the guy's a pro...or really screwed up...or both. At this point we're figuring that out piece by piece. But she asks Leo about prison, and here's the interaction:

Farmiga: I looked through your file and I see you have a record of assault. What was it like for you in jail? 

Leo: You wanna hear about the showers?

Farmiga: Did something happen to you?

Leo: No. (a beat) You sit there with a mass murderer. A mass murderer. Your heart rate is jacked, your hand...steady. That's one thing I found out about myself in prison. My hand doesn't shake, ever.

This is why we loved Dirk Nowitzki and hated LeBron James in the NBA finals. This is why a grossly overpaid Eli Manning eventually got the money he did after stringing together the best four-game stretch of his career when it mattered most. This is why Dave Roberts will always have a place to stay in Boston.

There are tons of great cops who never had to go through anything like Leo did in The Departed. But few of those cops could keep a steady hand.

Here's the big question we face about LeBron: will it matter to us if his hand still shakes with a few rings on it?

Amore, I mean Amare Stoudemire

I've really come to love Amare Stoudemire over the past few seasons.

It has nothing to do with the fantasy basketball numbers he brought my team. Nothing to do with the crossover he put on Pau Gasol in game three of the Western Conference Finals (I am still looking for when Amare super-glued Pau's shoes to the floor somewhere between 0:10 and 0:12). It's not for his athleticism or his comments regarding Lamar Odom (who I'm beginning to think really was just lucky), or can somebody really just be that good one day and then so much worse another? Nope, none of that.

Amare Stoudamire is Steve Urkel. Period. That's all I need to love him. When he shows up to press conferences he's well groomed, wearing a boring sweater that fits him like a wetsuit and donning those big-ole glasses. He's well-spoken and almost acts a little timid. A la Steve Urkel.

But minutes before all those press conferences, Amare is a beast on the court, the absolute opposite of his dweeby alter-ego. Sure he's got glasses on but he owns those glasses. Look at the man hold his jersey up (in the clip) like he just pulled Excalibur out of the ground. This isn't Steve Urkel. This is Stefan Urquelle.

C'mon all you Family Matters fans, show your true colors. Gimme a high-pitched, swelling, "Hidey ho neighbor!" or a, "Did I do that?" It's just like the show. Stefan is this impressive, cool, smooth guy and Steve is a clumsy nerd who's just a considerate guy. I'm here to tell you that I think the Amare-Steve-Urkel is delightful and I'm glad that Amare-Stefan-Urquelle seems to have room for him. Question is, whichever team signs him next year, which Amare will they get?

I'm reminded of a time Steve once tried to make himself become Stefan permanently in Family Matters, but eventually he realized how great he is. I'm hoping Amare realizes the same because I don't think I would like him without both personalities.

Picking apart the LeBron dilema

My God, where to start?

There are so many issues with this franchise. The team isn't good enough and they aren't getting much better. Mike Brown seems to be as effective at coaching as Zydrunas Ilgauskas would be at running a marathon. And then there's all the LeBron James free agency questions. The last time there was an unknown this big it was if the world is flat or not. So now the question is what happens next?

If you're the Cleveland Cavaliers, disecting this situation is like trying to pick apart a Jenga tower. One wrong move and the whole thing comes crashing down. Like it or not, James has the franchise and entire city on a leash. What do you do about Mike Brown? He seems to have a good working relationship with James. If you fire him now does James leave? Do you fire him at all? The answer is yes, and this leads me to one of James' biggest thorns in his side: his loyalty.

There's no question that James is a very loyal guy. He loves Cleveland, and it seems that he and his teammates like each other. But James can't let that hold him back from what's best for him. Mike Brown isn't the best coach. He's not even close. How he managed to win coach of the year I'll never know. I never thought he had much to do with it. He just isn't going to make the Cavs a NBA Championship team.

So let's recap. Mike Brown = bad. Got that LeBron? I know you like the guy, but right now you two are on a one way street and he isn't helping you at all. So then there's the problem of the team. The Cavaliers are a team with one superstar and a few decent guys. The problem isn't a lack of talent, it's a lack of determination.

I know James wants to win a championship. I'm sure Antawn Jamison would like it. Mo Williams probably thinks it would be cool and Shaq wouldn't mind adding another to his resume. But I have yet to see any of them willing to do what it takes to win it. The only exception would be James, but even he doesn't always show it. Saluting celebrities before the game or whatever he's doing doesn't make me think that he's in a "do or die" mode.

And then of course there's James' decision. I hate to say it Cleveland fans but I don't see James returning next year. Let's face it, James has a better chance of winning with other teams. I mean, the Bulls already have Derrick Rose, a good supporting cast and room for at least one more guy. The Knicks could grab a few. The Nets may have John Wall, and they could bring in James and at least one other top tier free agent. Can you compete Cleveland?

Sure you can, like Calvin Borel in a high jump.

Look, I'm rooting for you Cleveland, well second to Prince James coming to Charlotte (my favorite team). It would be nice to see him stay and win there but it just isn't going to happen. This is how the world works. So here's how I think this summer is going to unfold: LeBron is going to New Jersey.

Not many people are talking about it. Avery Johnson mentioned it as a possibility on Mike and Mike in the morning. Remember his relationship with Jay-Z? He's a part owner of the Nets. Remember New Jersey's new owner, Mikhail Prokhorov? You think James won't like playing for a rich party boy? Sounds to me like it's just up his alley. The Nets already have a few good guys you can work around in Brook Lopez, Devin Harris and Chris Douglas-Roberts. They are building a new stadium in Brooklyn that will be available in two years. And by then, with the cap space they have, (and a assumed first pick), they could have the best team in the NBA.

Now you say, "What about New York?" I thought about that and I think the Knicks would be the second place team in the LeBron race. The Knicks just don't have quite the options New Jersey does and the biggest difference is that round-one pick.

The Bulls? Not gonna happen. You think LeBron wants to build his legacy in a city that will always be Michael Jordan's city? He isn't going to put himself in the shadow of Jordan more than he has to. Trust me LeBron has a much bigger ego than you think he does. Remember how he "spoiled" you Cleveland? I bet that when James leaves we'll hear about a few of his flaws from the teammates who took a back seat during his reign with the Cavs.

I can't predict the future. I'm only 20 years old. But I'll bet the house that I'd like to own one day that James will end up in Jersey.

NBA Mock Draft Version 1.0

With the NBA Draft a little over a month away, now is a good time for me to put out my Mock Draft of the entire first round. I'm not posting all 30 picks right now, but I'll add the remainder day-by-day. So let's just get right to it shall we?

Round 1, Pick 1 - New Jersey Nets
John Wall - 6'4" PG
NBA Comparison: Derrick Rose
Analysis: Very agile, very athletic point guard with great size. Wall will be an elite point guard within his rookie season. My favorite for Rookie of the Year. His comparison is with fellow Kentucky guard Derrick Rose, but Wall could be even better. He has elite court vision and play-making ability. Sorry Devin Harris, but the Nets aren't going to pass on this prospect.

Round 1, Pick 2 - Minnesota Timberwolves
Evan Turner - 6'7" SG
NBA Comparison: Joe Johnson
Analysis: It's hard to ignore the numbers Turner put up last season at Ohio State. He isn't a great athlete but he's long and can shoot. I don't see Turner being a star or even a team's number-one option, but he could be a great second option in Minnesota or anywhere else.

Round 1, Pick 3 - Sacramento Kings
Derrick Favors - 6'9" PF
NBA Comparison: Al Horford
Analysis: Favors has a ton of upside. He's has good size and great athleticism. Favors has a  good mix of post moves but he needs to work more on his face-up game. Favors has a tendency to take plays off, but when he's on, he's tough to defend. Good rebounder, good defender. Favors should add some much-needed depth to Sacramento's frontcourt.

Round 1, Pick 4 - Golden State Warriors
DeMarcus Cousins - 6'11" PF/C
NBA Comparison:  Andrew Bynum
Analysis: Cousins has potential to be a 18-10 guy. He's tall and strong. He's a little shorter than Andrew Bynum, but like Bynum, Cousins hasn't shown he can be consistently dominant. But I don't see the Warriors passing on him. Cousins is an upgrade at either the PF or C position and he has the athleticism to run in that offense.

Round 1, Pick 5 - Washington Wizards
Wesley Johnson - 6'7" SF
NBA Comparison: Danny Granger
Analysis: I really like Granger as a prospect. He's got excellent athleticism, a good shooting touch, good ball handling skills and is a good passer too. It's possible Johnson could become the second best player from this draft. He's going to be a good NBA player, the question for him is "how good?" But Lord knows the Wizards need something.

Round 1, Pick 6 - Philadelphia 76ers
Greg Monroe - 6'10" PF
NBA Comparison: Poor man's Pau Gasol
Analysis: There's a lot to like about Monroe. He's tall, has a decent mid-range shot, and a good post game. Monroe is an excellent passer for a power forward which is what draws the Gasol comparison. I wouldn't expect Monroe to dominate a game, but he can be a great teammate. He's one of my favorites in this year's class.

Round 1, Pick 7 - Detroit Pistons
Al-Farouq Aminu - 6'8" SF
NBA Comparison:  Marvin Williams
Analysis: Aminu is a good all-around small forward. From watching him at Wake Forest, I don't see him becoming a dominant player but he has the skills to score from the outside in. The Pistons could use a good jolt of young talent, but I'm not willing to bet on Aminu just yet.

Round 1, Pick 8 - Los Angeles Clippers
Cole Aldrich - 6'11" C
NBA Comparison: Zydrunas Ilgauskas
Analysis: I'm not sold on Aldrich. He had a decent year in a decent basketball conference. I also hate to compare him to big Z but I just can't watch the guy run without thinking about Ilgauskas. Size is appealing and Aldrich has it, but don't expect great things from him.

Round 1, Pick 9 - Utah Jazz
Ed Davis - 6'9" PF
NBA Comparison: Brandon Wright
Analysis: OK, the comparison is too easy to make. Two lanky athletic guys with good up-side but without much of a mid-range game. Davis is going to have a hard time in the NBA without a face-up game. He isn't going to tower over guys like in college. Still, a pretty good pick at nine for the Jazz.

Round 1, Pick 10 - Indiana Pacers
Ekpe Udoh - 6'10" PF
NBA Comparison: Lamar Odom of late
Analysis: Udoh has a lot of potential. He can score inside or create off the dribble. He's most likely going to be an average Odom, not an explosive one. The Pacers take Udoh, hoping he develops into something special but it's a gamble at best.

Round 1, Pick 11 - New Orleans Hornets
Patrick Patterson - 6'8" PF
NBA Comparison: J.J. Hickson
Analysis: Patterson would fit in well in New Orleans. He can shoot , he's smart, and he can carry his own in the paint. Emeka Okafor has been playing as an undersized center his whole career so there's no reason he couldn't continue to do it. Patterson could add some depth to the frontcourt.

Round 1, Pick 12 - Memphis Grizzlies
Xavier Henry - 6'7" SG
NBA Comparison: John Salmons
Analysis: Henry has an NBA ready body. He's a good all-around player that put up good numbers on a really talented team. Henry has the size to play small forward as well. I see Memphis going small here and taking a guard. It may take a few years but Henry could be effective in the NBA.

Round 1, Pick 13 - Toronto Raptors
Hassan Whiteside - 7'0" C
NBA Comparison: JaVale McGee
Analysis: Raw, raw, raw. Whiteside has as much potential as anyone in the draft but he is only 20 years old and he is as raw as they come.  But let's be serious, Chris Bosh isn't staying in Toronto and the Raptors are going to look for someone to fill the whole. Whiteside could benefit in his development from playing with Andrea Bargnani. If Whiteside plays well enough to start, Bargnani could move to the four and Toronto would start two seven-footers.

Round 1, Pick 14 - Houston Rockets
Donatas Motiejunas - 7'0" C
NBA Comparison: Andrea Bargnani
Analysis: Motiejunas is an interesting prospect out of Lithuania. He's a true seven-footer with a soft touch. He's prefers to play a finesse game instead of banging on the inside. His European-style game would allow him to play alongside Yow Ming or behind him, but that's assuming he pans out. Motiejunas, like Whiteside, is still very raw.

Round 1, Pick 15 - Milwaukee Bucks
Avery Bradley - 6'3" SG
NBA Comparison: Monta Ellis
Analysis: Bradley is undersized and not a great passer. At times he tends to force things offensively and doesn't have great court vision. That said, Bradley is an offensive lightning bolt. He can score quickly and shows a lot of potential to continue doing that in the NBA. The Bucks are pretty old at shooting guard and Bradley could be a good addition, assuming he isn't snagged before pick 15.

Round 1, Pick 16 - Minnesota Timberwolves
Daniel Orton - 6'10" PF/C
NBA Comparison: LaMarcus Aldridge
Analysis: At Kentucky last season, Orton averaged 13.2 minutes, 3.4 points, 3.3 rebounds and 1.4 blocks. The only decent stat there is his blocks-per-game. So why do people think he could be a lottery pick? Two words: athleticism and potential. The NBA Draft is such a gamble already that taking a leap of faith on this guy really isn't that big a leap. He could be very good. He can run the floor and would be a decent addition to the Timberwolves.

Round 1, Pick 17 - Chicago Bulls
Gordon Hayward - 6'8" SF
NBA Comparison: Hedo Turkoglu
Analysis: So its no secret the Bulls will be lobbying for LeBron James, and Hayward is a guy that could do well with LeBron or even Dwayne Wade. Hayward can shoot the ball well, has a high release and a quick one. Hayward is an adequate ball-handler but not explosive. He's going to excel when the defense is rushing to meet him, making him a great kick-out option for a Wade or James type player.

Round 1, Pick 18 - Miami Heat
James Anderson - 6'6" SG
NBA Comparison: Steven Jackson but a worse ball-handler
Analysis: James Anderson may not slip this far but I don't see Miami passing on him. He's got good athleticism and can shoot well but his biggest weakness is handling the ball. Anderson will need to work on that but I don't know how much it will improve. He reminds me of Gerald Henderson last year but with more of a traditional shooting guard game.

Round 1, Pick 19 - Boston Celtics
Damion James - 6'8" SF
NBA Comparison: James Posey
Analysis: James has a NBA-ready body and good athleticism. In college, he excelled at everything a gifted athlete would, but he still has work to do with his ball handling and passing. He's only average in those categories. He's an above average shooter but hasn't shown a nice enough touch to make me confident in his shooting. James is a Boston player though, he just seems to fit in well there.

Round 1, Pick 20 - San Antonio Spurs
Eric Bledsoe - 6'1" PG
NBA Comparison: A lesser Aaron Brooks
Analysis: Bledsoe is another one of those guys with a lot of potential. He's quick, athletic and very aggressive. Bledsoe doesn't have great court vision and he isn't a great shooter. He really hasn't even shown he can be a true point guard, he's more of a scorer. But it's hard to ignore the great quickness and athleticism he has shown.

Why LeBron is his own greatest opponent

I'm not riding the Cavaliers bandwagon. I was never on that one. To be honest, I'm not even on the LeBron James bandwagon. Don't get me wrong, I think he's the best player in the NBA, but I don't think he's the best teammate.

Yeah, I said it. I'm calling out the guy who has averaged 8.6 assists-per-game over his career. In fact, he's on track to record the ninth highest assists-per-game average in the history of both the NBA and ABA. But he's also on track to lose in the NBA playoffs and fall short of his goal once again. I know what you're thinking. You're crazy Mark. Cleveland is nothing without LeBron. That's true, but give me a chance and I'll tell you why they'll never win until LeBron changes.

Now, before I incriminate myself, I think it's important that I note that Charles Barkley hinted at this in TNT's post-game show. I want to take what he said a step further.

This has been going on for over a year, but I think we saw a good example of it in last night's game against the Chicago Bulls. LeBron had 40 points on 16-23 shooting. On top of that, he had eight rebounds and eight assists.  He was hotter in the fourth quarter than asphalt in the middle of a Florida summer. He couldn't be stopped. But it's important to remember that there were two people who also took notice to this: The Bulls and LeBron's own teammates. That, is where the problem lies.

As good as LeBron is, let's face it, he won't be that good every night. Nobody is, and when LeBron isn't, he's going to need his teammates to make plays. He's going to need Jamison and Williams and Delonte West to step up. The Cavaliers don't want to become the LeBron show when they are in close games. Right now at the end of close games, LeBron takes the ball down the court, passes off, gets it back, and then jostles inside the three-point-line for five second before pulling the trigger on a low-percentage shot. When he does that, what are Williams and Jamison thinking? I guess I'll just try and get the rebound. Where should I stand? What exactly is that tattoo on Delonte's neck? 


With LeBron doing everything, the rest of his teammates will not feel their pressure to perform or much individual importance on the team. Barkley said LeBron needs to be building the confidence of his teammates and he's absolutely right.

Last year the Cavaliers lost to a better Magic team, and LeBron needs to understand that he can't win without his teammates. Could Jordan win without Pippen? Could Kobe win without Shaq or Gasol? No. And the analogy stretches beyond basketball. Jimmie Johnson can't win a NASCAR race without a great pit crew. Peyton Manning can't break any NFL passing records without receivers there to catch his passes. In almost every sport, it's a two-way street.

The great ones become great because they lead team's to championships. They don't win them themselves. If I'm Cleveland, I want LeBron taking the last shot every time, I just don't want him taking almost every shot before that.

Bobcats may be East's best chance at stopping Laker repeat

Who's the best team in the NBA? That's just one of those questions you can never be too sure off, well at least until early June when the champ is crowned. So let's just give the Lakers some credit. They are the defending champions and have themselves positioned in the same place they were last year. But if the Lakers make it back to the finals, there's one team they had better hope they don't meet: the Charlotte Bobcats.

The 'Cats have dominated the Lakers in recent years, winning seven of the last nine meetings and holding a 7-5 series advantage all-time. Only one team has been more impressive against L.A. and that's the Celtics. This season, Charlotte lost an early nail-biter to the Lakers 99-97 but rebounded in February for a 98-83 romping. As the Celtics continue to wane it's looking more and more like Charlotte could be an issue for the Lakers, but that's assuming an almost impossible series of events would take place.

Now, I know Gerald Wallace is an All-Star, but Stephen Jackson is the Bobcat's real MVP. Ever since his first game with Charlotte, the Bobcats have gone 35-29 and currently sit with the seventh best record in the Eastern Conference. What's even more is the Bobcats tote an impressive 16-12 record against Western Conference opponents, while they make due with a 22-23 record conference record. With only nine games left on the Bobcats' schedule it's time to start looking at possible playoff scenarios if they are to even sniff the improbable task of reaching the NBA Finals. Below are the potential first round match-ups, and what will most likely be second and third round opponents as well.

vs. the Orlando Magic

The Magic and Bobcats have met four times this year, with the Magic taking three total and one in overtime. One of those losses came before Jackson arrived. Orlando features the toughest lineup the Bobcats could face in the first round, headed by Dwight Howard and Vince Carter. Jackson will be key no matter what team the 'Cats face. In the Bobcats' two losses to Orlando, Jackson averaged 14 points per game and shot a miserable 31 percent from the field. But in Charlotte's win, Jackson was 10-20 with 28 points.

The Magic are almost assured a second seed in the East with the way they've been playing and the Bobcats are one-and-a-half games away from avoiding the Magic in the first round. Charlotte won't want to run into this team if they can avoid it. Outlook: Magic in 6

vs. the Boston Celtics

The Celtics haven't looked too impressive recently, but don't count them out. Boston is laden with veterans, and they are a playoff team. Charlotte hasn't played a good game against Boston all season. In the three meetings between these two teams, the Celtics have won by 33, 18 and 24.  Charlotte has been improving steadily and Boston seems to have almost lost a step, but the Bobcats have never played well against the Celtics. 

If these two teams meet in the playoffs, don't expect it to be much different. Individually, the 'Cats could hang with with the Celtics, but Boston will have get that winning itch back in the playoffs. Outlook: Celtics in 5

vs. the Atlanta Hawks 

This is who Charlotte should hope to play. The Hawks are a talented team, but they rely too much on an inconsistent Josh Smith. The Hawks are a very good home team, like the Bobcats meaning that this series could come down to one road win. Charlotte hasn't beaten Atlanta yet this year, but the two teams play for a third time April 6. In the last meeting, the Bobcats lost by one point in overtime 93-92. That loss wasn't a case of one team getting outplayed, Atlanta just made the final play when it counted. 

This is Charlotte's best chance at a first round upset. The Hawks are younger and more athletic than the Celtics, but they are also younger and more inexperienced. One of two things have to happen for the Hawks to turn the corner: a decreased reliance on Josh Smith, or Josh Smith playing to his potential. This would be a close match-up. Outlook: Hawks in 7

vs. the Cleveland Cavaliers

Cleveland should win if the Bobcats meet them in the playoffs, but we know that the NBA playoffs is "where amazing happens." It would truly be amazing if the 'Cats won this series. Cleveland has two players that are better than any member of the Bobcat's roster in LeBron James and Antawn Jamison. But Charlotte is 3-1 against the Cavs this season, and 3-0 after picking up Jackson. In those three wins, Stephen Jackson shot 46.2 percent and averaged 22.7 points per game.

It's not probable, but Charlotte could knock off the Cavs. If they did, it wouldn't surprise me if LeBron jumped ship. Of course the outcome of this series will always be in James' hands. Even if Stephen Jackson plays lights out, LeBron could trump him. But, this could be an interesting series. Outlook: Cavs in 7

Playoff outlook

Charlotte will most likely not catch the Heat, who are on a five-game win streak, which means they will play the Magic. The Bobcats have had a good season and will most likely continue to grow on it, but don't expect the Bobcats to take a series against Orlando. And the only people happier than Magic fans about that outcome will be Laker fans.