Did you catch the NBA All-Star festivities this past weekend? The dunk contest was garbage, but the game was a high-scoring nail biter.

Now with the second half of the season set to start, let’s look back at what worked and didn’t work for the Charlotte Bobcats (26-25).

Likes:

1. Stephen Jackson Trade: Hands down, acquiring Jackson was the best move in the franchises’ short history. He’s the go-to-guy the Bobcats have looked for, and his swagger has infused the team with attitude and confidence as they look to make their first postseason appearance.

2. Home Record: The Bobcats have done a great job protecting their home court, with a 19-6 record at Time-Warner Cable Arena. With only 16 home games scheduled in the second half, Charlotte has got to do even better, especially since the road hasn’t been kind to them.

3. Gerald Wallace: The last original Bobcat has continued to get better each year, and it all came together this season. Trade the teams leading rebounder? No problem. Wallace, a small forward, simply picks up the slack, snagging a career-high 10.9 boards a game (seventh best in the league) while tossing in 18.8 points per game. His All-Star selection and being named to the U.S.A. Basketball pool of players who could represent America in the World Championships this summer is just the beginning of what could end up being a great season.

Dislikes:

1. Tyson Chandler Trade: If the Stephen Jackson trade was the best move, then the one that brought Chandler here could be the worst. Don’t get me wrong, drafting Adam Morrison over Brandon Roy in 2006 was terrible, but there’s so much more at stake this season with all of the playoff talk. Chandler was damaged goods when he came from the New Orleans Hornets for Emeka Okafor, and so far he’s played only 27 games, averaging a meager 6 points, 6.7 boards and one block. Economically it made sense as Bob Johnson seeks to slash costs. Beyond that, Chandler’s so-called “athleticism” that head coach Larry Brown covets hasn’t made a difference in the team’s push for a playoff spot. Will that change in the next 41 games? I doubt it…the Bobcats better hope backup center Nazr Mohammed continues to play well.

2. Road Record: Charlotte started the season with only three wins away from home, though they showed signs of improvement as the All-Star break got closer, winning four of their last seven road games. If the Bobcats want to stay in the postseason hunt and attempt to secure home court advantage in the first round, they’ll have to do a much better job than 7-19 on the road.

3. Attempted Sell of the Bobcats: Commissioner David Stern confirmed to the Charlotte Observer this weekend that the sale of the team is imminent and respect that. Apparently, Johnson is tired of losing millions of dollars each year, and he’s ready to cut his ties, despite the possible historical ramifications of this season. I’m not concerned about Johnson leaving, but I’m anxious to see who will be the new owner. If Michael Jordan doesn’t win the bid (Charlotte Observer sources say he is in the running), who knows what happens to the Bobcats in the near future -- on the court and off? The front office and coaching staff could change dramatically, which could mean a step back for the Bobcats on game nights. Johnson hasn’t been the most visible and active owner in Charlotte, but I knew what to expect with him at the helm. The team can’t afford a big shake-up.

Damon Ford is a former journalist who is now a public relations professional working in the public and private sectors in Charlotte.

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