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Morrison, Bobcats open season at home vs. Pacers

Nov 1, 2006 - 3:03 PM Indiana (41-41) at Charlotte (26-56) 7:00 pm EST

CHARLOTTE, North Carolina (Ticker) -- The time has come for rookie Adam Morrison to begin proving why he was a franchise pick in the 2006 NBA Draft.

Morrison and the Charlotte Bobcats open the season against the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday.

After leading the nation in scoring (28.1) during his junior year at Gonzaga and finishing as runner-up to J.J. Redick for the Naismith College Player of the Year Award, the 6-8 sharpshooter Morrison was selected third overall by the Bobcats.

In the preseason, Morrison struggled in the eight exhibition contests, averaging nearly 12 points while shooting just 36 percent from the floor. Charlotte hopes he can find his stroke since it was tied with Houston and Golden State for last place in field-goal percentage (43.3) last year.

A healthy Emeka Okafor and Sean May will return to join the battle alongside Morrison. Okafor played in just 26 games due to a left ankle injury and May missed 59 contests because of an injured right knee.

While the Bobcats hope to rebound from an injury plagued 2005-06 campaign, the Pacers try to overcome an offcourt issue, which took place just before the preseason.

On October 6, swingman Stephen Jackson fired five shots into the air outside of an Indianapolis strip club after he was reportedly punched in the mouth and struck by a car. He was charged with felony criminal recklessness and a pair of misdemeanors for his role in the disturbance.

As far as additions to the team, Indiana brought back Al Harrington following a trade with Atlanta for a future first-round pick and sent Austin Croshere and Anthony Johnson to Dallas in exchange for Marquis Daniels, Darrell Armstrong, Rawle Marshall and Josh Powell. With the 17th overall pick, the Pacers drafted Shawne Williams out of Memphis.

Charlotte and Indiana split its four meetings last season, with the Bobcats winning both meetings here.