Versatile Diaw, Jackson can fill in blanks for Charlotte Bobcats

Stephen Jackson might have forced his way out of Golden State, but he got something with the Warriors that could be extremely valuable to the Charlotte Bobcats right now:

Time-tested versatility.

Warriors coach Don Nelson used Jackson at every position. That makes two Bobcats - Boris Diaw being the other - you can plug in to all five spots. With Gerald Wallace hurting, they might need just that.

Wallace missed practice Tuesday after spraining his left ankle in the fourth quarter of Monday's victory against the Sacramento Kings. The team says Wallace's availability tonight against the Miami Heat will be a game-time decision.

If he can't play or is limited, Jackson and Diaw become the fix-its. That's no big deal, Jackson said, reminding reporters Warriors coach Don Nelson once used him at every spot in the same night.

"All five," Jackson recalled. "I played center and everything in one game."

Jackson starts at shooting guard and Diaw at power forward, but they have essentially the same dimensions - 6-foot-8, with Diaw 20 pounds heavier at 235 pounds. They're long enough to play inside and skilled enough to be on the perimeter.

"It's nothing I'm unaccustomed to," Jackson said, when asked about playing some power forward, as Wallace does. "A lot of times in games, me and Boris switch so I end up guarding Boris' (man) anyway."

Wallace wasn't available for interviews Tuesday. Brown said Wallace felt a little better, but the coach didn't speculate on the likelihood of Wallace playing, as the Bobcats try to win a sixth consecutive game.

The Bobcats have been generally lucky with injuries this season. Three starters - Jackson, Diaw and Raymond Felton - have played every game (Jackson, starting with the Nov.16 trade). Wallace has missed one - a Dec.20 loss to New York, because of severe headaches.

"It's a little more difficult (replacing) Gerald because we're not really deep at the 4 (power forward) position," Brown said. "We've just got to hope that bench players, when someone gets hurt, they step up the way Nazr's done."

Brown was referring to the 12 starts center Nazr Mohammed has made while Tyson Chandler recovers from a stress reaction in his left foot. Chandler hasn't yet practiced, but there was a sign of progress Tuesday.

"He ran around the gym - first day he's actually run on the court a little bit," Brown said of Chandler. "That's a big, big step."