33-year old Nazr Mohammed is the starting center for the Bobcats this year but they have been watching his minutes. Mohammed has started all 6 games so far this year for the Bobcats and he is averaging 16.5 minutes, 8.0 points, 4.2 rebounds and 0.2 assists per game. He is also shooting 52.6% from the floor so far this year. For the 2/3 of the game that Mohammed is not on the basketball court the Bobcats tend to go small and it often hurts them inside. The Bobcats are going to need to go out an deal for a center that can give them 25-30 minutes a night or they are going to be watching the playoffs this year on T.V.

23-year old point guard D.J. Augustin is off to a outstanding start for the Bobcats this year. He has started 3 games for the Bobcats so far this year and he is averaging 40.3 minutes, 17.0 points, 3.0 rebounds and 5.3 assists per game. Augustin has been a deadeye shooter from three point range so far as he is 8 of 13 from that distance (61.5%). The Bobcats need Augustin to keep up the good work as they need another good offensive option behind Stephen Jackson and Gerald Wallace if they are going to make it back to the playoffs in 2010-11.

32-year old shooting guard Stephen Jackson was a godsend for the Bobcats this season after coming over in a trade early in the year from the Warriors. Jackson was the best offensive player on the team in 2009-10 for the Bobcats. He played in 72 games (all starts) for the Bobcats last year and he averaged 39.3 minutes, 21.1 points, 5.1 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.6 steals per game. Jackson has now played in 680 games (589 starts) in his NBA career and he is averaging 33.2 minutes, 16.1 points, 4.0 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.4 steals per game. Jackson didn’t play a lot in his first 2-3 seasons so I think he still has a lot left in the tank for the Bobcats and that is good news.

Gerald Wallace was the main reason why the Charlotte Bobcats made the playoffs this season, proving that he is one of the best all-around players in the NBA.  Whether it was scoring, rebounding, or shutting down a star player on the opposing team, Wallace did it all for the Bobcats this season.  On the season he averaged 18.2 points, 10.1 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 1.5 steals, and 1.1 blocks.  He shot 48% from the field, 37% from three, and 78% from the free-throw line.  Averaging a double-double in points and rebounds is no easy task in the NBA, especially when you are only 6’7″ and 220 lbs.  He is the size of a shooting guard, but he rebounds and blocks shots like he is a power forward.  Wallace’s abilities get overlooked a lot in this league, but he truly is one of the best all-around players in the game right now.  His numbers prove that.  I’m sure new owner Michael Jordan appreciates everything that Wallace does on the court, because Wallace does whatever it takes to get the win.  Bobcats’ fans can’t be too disappointed in their first-round exit in the playoffs, because the Bobcats (and almost every team) had no answer for the Magic’s Dwight Howard.  They should be proud of their winning season and Wallace’s great year, and the future is bright with the duo of Wallace and Stephen Jackson, along with that guy MJ calling the shots now.

Forward Gerald Wallace has been outstanding all year long for the Bobcats. He has played in 66 games (all starts) for the Bobcats this season and he is averaging 41.8 minutes, 18.5 points, 10.5 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 1.6 steals and 1.2 blocked shots per game. Wallace has stayed pretty healthy this season so his awesome stat line and the Bobcats’ record shouldn’t surprise anyone.

25-year old starting point guard Raymond Felton will never be the kind of guy who can carry a team to the promised land. But, not being a pure pass-first point guard is a good fit for the Bobcats. Felton has played in 63 games (all starts) for the Bobcats this season and he is averaging 32.7 minutes, 11.7 points, 3.7 rebounds, 5.4 assists and 1.6 steals per game. The Bobcats don’t have a lot of outstanding offensive players on the team so it doesn’t hurt that Felton wants to make sure that he gets his points every night.

Tyrus Thomas has been playing well since joining the Charlotte Bobcats, but unfortunately for them it has not resulted in many wins.  The Bobcats are only 2-5 since Thomas joined the Bobcats, but you can’t put the blame on Thomas’ production on the court.  It may have to do with the Bobcats giving up a lot of depth at the guard position with Flip Murray and Acie Law gone.  Thomas has been more productive with the Bobcats than he was with the Bulls, and in 7 games with the Bobcats he is averaging 13.6 points, 8.1 rebounds, 3.0 blocks, 1.4 assists, and 1.1 steals.  He is also shooting 52% from the field.  In 29 games with the Bulls this season he was only averaging 8.8 points, 6.3 rebounds, 1.7 blocks, 1.1 assists, and 1.4 steals.  He came off the bench in Chicago, just like he has been here with the Bobcats, and he is getting similar minutes (23 mpg in Chicago, 27 mpg in Charlotte).  This is a good sign for the Bobcats, but they need their guards to step it up.

The trade that brought shooting guard Stephen Jackson to the Bobcats earlier this season was a stroke of genius as they got a good player for pretty much nothing. Jackson has played in 48 games (all starts) for the Bobcats this season and he is averaging 40.7 minutes, 21.9 points, 5.1 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 1.9 steals per game. The Bobcats were a good defensive team when Jackson came over in the trade but he has really helped boost the offense which will give them a good chance of making the playoffs this year.

Power forward Tyrus Thomas and center Theo Ratliff are both making good first impressions with the Bobcats. Thomas has played in 2 games off the bench for the Bobcats so far and he is averaging 28 minutes, 10.5 points, 11.5 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 5.0 blocked shots per game. Larry Brown wants to start giving Thomas even more minutes but he hasn’t learned the whole offense yet which makes his numbers even more impressive so far. Theo Ratliff has played in 2 games off the bench for the Bobcats so far and he is averaging 15.0 minutes, 1.0 point, 2.5 rebounds, 0.5 assists and 1.0 blocked shot per game. The Bobcats wanted to improve the defense and rebounding in these two trades and they look to have been successful so far.

The Bobcats could decide to move Gerald Wallace to small forward and start Tyrus Thomas at power forward. That would improve the defense and rebounding of the team. If they decide to go that route then Boris Diaw will be the sixth man which was a role he filled so well with the Suns as he played all five positions on the court. Diaw has played in 52 games (all starts) for the Bobcats this season and he is averaging 35.4 minutes, 10.5 points, 4.9 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game. The Bobcats might decide to bring Diaw off the bench because they traded Flip Murray to the Bulls. Murray was instant offense off the bench and Diaw is a better player than him. Or the Bobcats could just bring Tyrus Thomas off the bench and leave Diaw in the starting lineup. Time will tell what the Bobcats decide to do.