Posted on Wed, Jan. 23, 2008

A year ago, then-Charlotte Bobcats coach Bernie Bickerstaff reluctantly used Gerald Wallace at power forward and fans complained.

A year ago, Bickerstaff used Raymond Felton at shooting guard and fans complained.

New season, new coach, same decisions. Maybe it's about the roster, not the coach.

The first two months, first-season coach Sam Vincent resisted using Emeka Okafor primarily at center. Vincent tried various alternatives -- Primoz Brezec, Ryan Hollins, Nazr Mohammed -- but the reality was unavoidable: As the Bobcats are structured, Vincent has little choice but to start Okafor at center and Wallace at power forward.

"This is our most effective lineup," Vincent said. "It's effective because Gerald Wallace has the ability to match up with (a variety of) forwards. When that's different -- when (opposing front lines) are bigger, stronger, we can have some problems."

Maybe this would have been different had Sean May not been hurt or Hollins was more prepared to play. Wallace wishes it were different -- power forward places extra wear-and-tear on his 6-foot-7, 220-pound frame.

There is an upside: The typical power forward hates chasing Wallace all over the court. He can out-quick most of them. The San Antonio Spurs changed their lineup -- starting 6-7 Jeremy Richardson instead of 6-10 Fabricio Oberto -- Monday to match up with the Bobcats' small look.

But over time, this beats down Wallace. Bickerstaff worried about cumulative effect, so he was reluctant to use Wallace at power forward over an entire season.

Vincent is also managing the situation, but more with a focus on matchups than how many minutes Wallace logs in as a power forward.

"I think the (power forwards) who really present a physical challenge, we get him off" guarding them, Vincent said. "The Turkoglus (finesse forwards such as Orlando jump-shooter Hedo Turkoglu) don't bang on him much, (but) we don't leave him down there in difficult positions" against the bruisers.

The Felton situation seems to be self-correcting: Vincent starts Felton and veteran Jeff McInnis in the backcourt, to exploit McInnis' experience and organizational skills. But with Matt Carroll shooting better (56 percent in his past seven games), Vincent has been playing Carroll as much, if not more, than McInnis of late, leaving Felton as the primary ballhandler most of the game. He has had eight or more assists in seven of his past 11 games, so he's obviously getting a chance to dribble and pass. MAVERICKS at BOBCATS | 7 p.m., Bobcats Arena. TV: News 14