Thestate.comVladimir Radmanovic wasn't sure he'd even play against the Los Angeles Clippers 90 minutes before making his Charlotte debut.
The ex-Lakers forward not only became the Bobcats' NBA-high 23rd player Monday night, his 13 points and three fourth-quarter 3-pointers propelled Charlotte to a 94-73 win over the road-weary Clippers.
And as coach Larry Brown continues to tinker with his roster, he may have found an answer to the team's shaky outside shooting with Radmanovic, acquired Saturday from the Lakers for underachieving Adam Morrison and reserve Shannon Brown.
"It was so funny trying to talk to him through stuff," Brown said of Radmanovic, who had yet to practice with his new teammates. "We invented plays, but I was really happy that he struggled early and then had the confidence to come back and knock down some shots.
"It gives us another guy who has length and athleticism."
Emeka Okafor had 19 points and 16 rebounds for the undermanned Bobcats, who were missing starters Gerald Wallace (rib, lung) and Raja Bell (groin).
So they turned to Radmanovic, who had wanted out of Los Angeles after falling out of favor with coach Phil Jackson, to end a five-game losing streak.
Radmanovic fired up an early air ball, but eventually got comfortable in the fourth quarter. After Baron Davis' jumper cut Charlotte's lead to 67-63, Radmanovic hit two long jumpers during a 15-2 run. He added another 3 to put Charlotte ahead 88-70 with 4 minutes left.
"It took me a while to get that second wind, but overall I felt pretty good in there," Radmanovic said.
The ex-Lakers forward not only became the Bobcats' NBA-high 23rd player Monday night, his 13 points and three fourth-quarter 3-pointers propelled Charlotte to a 94-73 win over the road-weary Clippers.
And as coach Larry Brown continues to tinker with his roster, he may have found an answer to the team's shaky outside shooting with Radmanovic, acquired Saturday from the Lakers for underachieving Adam Morrison and reserve Shannon Brown.
"It was so funny trying to talk to him through stuff," Brown said of Radmanovic, who had yet to practice with his new teammates. "We invented plays, but I was really happy that he struggled early and then had the confidence to come back and knock down some shots.
"It gives us another guy who has length and athleticism."
Emeka Okafor had 19 points and 16 rebounds for the undermanned Bobcats, who were missing starters Gerald Wallace (rib, lung) and Raja Bell (groin).
So they turned to Radmanovic, who had wanted out of Los Angeles after falling out of favor with coach Phil Jackson, to end a five-game losing streak.
Radmanovic fired up an early air ball, but eventually got comfortable in the fourth quarter. After Baron Davis' jumper cut Charlotte's lead to 67-63, Radmanovic hit two long jumpers during a 15-2 run. He added another 3 to put Charlotte ahead 88-70 with 4 minutes left.
"It took me a while to get that second wind, but overall I felt pretty good in there," Radmanovic said.
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