The Bobcats are like a donut as they have a big whole in the middle (center). Just thinking out loud I wonder if they might put 2nd year point guard D.J. Augustin on the block. The 22-year old Augustin played in 80 games (2 starts) for the Bobcats last season and he averaged 18.4 minutes, 6.3 points, 1.2 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game. He was a huge disappointment for the Bobcats after turning in a solid rookie year. He has now played in 152 games (13 starts) for the Bobcats (2 years) in which he is averaging 22.2 minutes, 8.9 points, 1.5 rebounds and 2.9 assists per game. Personally I would keep Augustin but you never know what Michael Jordan and the Bobcats have up their sleeves.

Veteran shooting guard Larry Hughes has not helped the Bobcats much since signing with them last month. He has played in 10 games (0 starts) for the Bobcats this year and he is averaging 17.7 minutes, 6.2 points, 2.3 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game. Hughes is only shooting 26.1% from the floor with the Bobcats so maybe he should start passing more. Signing Hughes looks like a waste of time and money.

Tyson Chandler was supposed to give the Bobcats a lot of rebounding and solid D but he hasn’t done either in 2009-10. Chandler has played in 40 games (25 starts) for the Bobcats this season and he is averaging 22.7 minutes, 6.0 points, 6.4 rebounds, 0.3 assists and 1.0 blocked shot per game. He has been hurt most of the year but he’s back now. The sad thing is that Chandler is getting outplayed by Theo Ratliff right now.

The Charlotte Bobcats are 2-6 in their last eight games, including an embarrassing (2nd) loss to the 6-54 New Jersey Nets, and their recently stagnant offense is to blame.  In those six losses, they averaged only 88.8 points and their top players like Gerald Wallace, Stephen Jackson, Raymond Felton, and D.J. Augustin all shot the ball poorly.  Wallace is averaging just 9.7 points in his last three games, Jackson has been turning it over too much and is shooting 41% during this eight game span, Felton is shooting 29% from the field in his last six games, and Augustin has hit only 22% of his shots in the last eight games.  Those are all some pretty pathetic numbers and these guys are the Bobcats best offensive players.  If the Bobcats are going to get themselves out of this funk and get into a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, all of these players need to step up their game big time.

Charlotte Bobcats point guard Raymond Felton has been an impact player since his rookie campaign in the 2005-’06 season where he averaged 11.8 points, 5.6 assists, 3.4 rebounds, and 1.3 steals.  Felton really stepped it up in his sophomore season, and has played pretty consistently since then.  In those three seasons he has averaged around 14 points, 7 assists, 3.5 rebounds, and 1.5 steals.  Felton’s numbers are down this season, and they are more like his rookie numbers with averages of 12.1 points, 5.1 assists, 3.5 rebounds, and 1.7 steals.  Felton’s minutes are down about 5 minutes per game as compared to the last three, so that is a big reason why.  I say he is playing his best basketball though, as he is shooting the ball much better than he ever has and is averaging a career high in steals (1.7) and a career low in turnovers (2.2 per game).  He is shooting 45.3% from the field and 40.4% from three.  His previous career highs in shooting percentages was 41% from the field in ‘07-’08, and 35% from three in his rookie season.  The Bobcats should start giving Felton more minutes, not less.  Felton did sprain his ankle during practice yesterday, but it doesn’t seem to be too serious and is a game-time decision tonight against Washington.  When Felton is healthy, he should be on the court as much as possible.