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.

The Bobcats are looking for a veteran big man to help the team and they are dangling 2nd year point guard D.J. Augustin as trade bait. Augustin is having a terrible year for the Bobcats as he has played in 46 games (0 starts) in which he is averaging 17.8 minutes, 5.6 points, 1.1 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game on 35.8% shooting from the floor. But, teams might look past his horrible stats this season because of how well he played as a rookie last year. In his rookie season, Augustin played in 72 games (11 starts) for the Bobcats and he averaged 26.5 minutes, 11.8 points, 1.8 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game. He also shot 43.9% from three point range last season which is outstanding. Trading Augustin does carry a risk as he can make the Bobcats sorry they traded him down the road.

Back-up SG/SF Stephen Graham has been so-so this season for the Bobcats. He has played in 40 games (4 starts) for the Bobcats this season and he is averaging 10.6 minutes, 3.5 points, 1.7 rebounds and 0.4 assists per game. It’s doubtful that Graham would step up if the Bobcats needed him to play more minutes so he will have to settle for about 10 a game.

The Charlotte Bobcats were very excited when they acquired Boris Diaw in a trade from the Phoenix Suns last season, and he did not disappoint.  In 59 games with the Bobcats last season Diaw averaged 37.6 minutes, 15.1 points, 5.9 rebounds, 4.9 assists, 0.8 steals, and 0.7 blocks on 50% shooting and 42% from three.  Diaw has been inconsistent this season and his stats have had a big drop-off compared to last season despite getting nearly the same amount of playing time.  In 35.1 minutes per game, he is averaging only 10.5 points, 4.8 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 0.7 steals, and 0.6 blocks on 46% shooting and 33% from three.  Diaw really needs to step it up if the Bobcats want to have success in the second half of the season.  At 22-22, the Bobcats are currently the 7th seed in the Eastern Conference, but if they want any chance of making it out of the first round they are going to need to get themselves up at least a spot or two come playoff time.  Diaw could be the difference-maker for them, he just needs to start playing like he did last season.

In his rookie year last season it looked as if D.J. Augustin was ready to push Raymond Felton to a new city in 2009-2010. The Bobcats were smart to bring Felton back because Augustin has been heaving enough bricks towards the rim to build a house. Augustin has played in 28 games (0 starts) for the Bobcats this season and he has averaged 18.2 minutes, 5.6 points, 1.1 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game. Augustin is only shooting 34.3% from the floor this year and that is why his minutes are way down this year for the Bobcats. They simply can’t afford to play him much until he starts taking better shots and making some of them.

Back-up shooting guard Flip Murray looks like he’s trying to build a house with all of the bricks that he has been heaving up towards the rim this season. Murray is only shooting 33.7% from the floor, 23.6% from the three point line and 62.3% from the free throw line this year. Murray has played in 21 games (1 start) for the Bobcats this season and he is averaging 19.7 minutes, 8.1 points, 2.2 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game. Murray won’t be getting any more minutes than he is getting right now until his shooting improves because his offense is the only thing he has to offer a basketball team.

The Bobcats need Tyson Chandler to pick up his game. He has played in 17 games (all starts) this season for the Bobcats and he is averaging 25.1 minutes, 6.5 points, 6.8 rebounds, 0.5 assists and 1.5 blocked shots per game. The Bobcats are a very small team so they need Chandler to get up to about 10 rebounds a game for them to really play up to their ability as a team. It’s hard to believe that he will be able to do that based on his play so far this season. The Bobcats would be in much better shape right now if they never made the trade with the Hornets and still had Emeka Okafor who is vastly superior as a player to Tyson Chandler.

The Bobcats thought that point guard was going to be a team strength with Raymond Felton and D.J. Augustin. But, they are both heaving up bricks at a alarming rate as Felton is only hitting 36.8% of his shots from the floor but he is better than Augustin who is hitting only 33.3%. Felton has played in 14 games (all starts) for the Bobcats this season and he is averaging 10.3 points, 3.0 rebounds, 4.9 assists and 1.4 steals per game. Felton needs to play better or the Bobcats are going to continue to struggle on offense this season. Augustin has played in 14 games (0 starts) this season and he is averaging 20.7 minutes, 6.1 points, 1.4 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game. He was going to be the Bobcats’ point guard of the future but he won’t be if he doesn’t start playing better.

Raymond Felton has been shooting bricks at an alarming rate in December and it’s killing the offense. Felton has only hit 30.4% of his shots from the floor this month and that just won’t get it done. He has played in 5 games this month and he is averaging 30.6 minutes, 9.8 points, 2.2 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game. If Felton doesn’t improve his shooting the Bobcats will have a tough time scoring points.

The Bobcats must have forgot how well Walter Herrmann played at the end of last season because they have planted him on the bench. Lack of playing time has probably hurt his shooting a little bit because he hasn’t had enough time to get in sync. Herrmann has played in 12 games so far this season for the Bobcats and he has averaged only 10.8 minutes, 3.8 points, 2.3 rebounds and 0.3 assists per game. Herrmann is only shooting 34.7% from the floor and he’s a much better shooter than that.