The Bobcats didn’t play any offense (they shot 39.7%) from the floor nor did they play any defense (the Mavs shot 54.7% from the floor) and that was the reasons they got their butt handed to them in Dallas last night. Tyrus Thomas led the way for the Bobcats in this game with 22 points and 6 rebounds in 30 minutes off the floor. Gerald Wallace only shot 5 of 14 from the floor but he still finished up with 16 points, 9 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 steals last night. Stephen Jackson was a tad off in this game as he only had 14 points, 3 rebounds and 4 assists. Boris Diaw (12 points) and Nazr Mohammed (10 points) all pitched in offensively last night for the Bobcats. The Bobcats start the season 0-1.

The Bobcats will be without backup small forward Dominic McGuire for the next six weeks with shin splints. Eduardo Najera & Matt Carroll will likely see a small bump in minutes while McGuire is out of action. McGuire wasn’t expected to have a big role with the Bobcats this season so he won’t be missed too much while he is out of action.

The Charlotte Bobcats were 44-38 last season but everything seemed to break right for them last year. While I really like Stephen Jackson & Gerald Wallace I don’t think they have enough talent around them to make it back to the playoffs in 2010-11. I would have to bet the under (39.5 wins) if forced to make a bet on the Bobcats this year. They are 125-1 to win the NBA Championship and I don’t think that’s a bet worth making.

70-year old head coach Larry Brown has been a miracle worker in his NBA career. That is the reason why he was elected to the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2002. Brown is the only coach in history to win a NCAA Championship (Kansas) and a NBA Championship (2003 Detroit Pistons). Brown led the Bobcats to a surprising 44-38 record (53.7%) during the regular season but they were swept in the playoffs by the Orlando Magic in the first round. Brown has a 79-85 (48.2%) record during the regular season in his two years with the Bobcats. Losing Raymond Felton & Tyson Chandler are both gone and the replacements are a bit iffy so Brown will have his work cut out for him this year now that expectations are higher. Brown has a career record of 1,089-885 (55.2%) during the regular season and he is 100-93 (51.8%) during the playoffs.

33-year old Nazr Mohammed will likely be the starting center for the Bobcats by default this year. He played in 58 games (29 starts) for the Bobcats last season and he averaged 17.0 minutes, 7.9 points, 5.2 rebounds and 0.5 assists per game on 55.3% shooting from the floor. He has now played in 696 games (303 starts) in his NBA career and he has averaged 18.0 minutes, 6.9 points, 5.4 rebounds and 0.4 assists per game. Mohammed will likely produce but the Bobcats will have to monitor his minutes to keep him fresh all year long.

28-year old DeSagana Diop is a decent defensive player and rebounder but he’s one of the worst offensive players in the NBA. Diop played in 27 games (0 starts) for the Bobcats last season and he averaged 9.7 minutes, 1.2 points, 2.4 rebounds and 0.2 assists per game. He has now played in 536 games (83 starts) in his NBA career and he has averaged 14.3 minutes, 2.1 points, 3.8 rebounds, 0.4 assists and 1.1 blocked shots per game.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE BOBCATS CENTERS IN 2010-11: D-

The Bobcats have a lot of talent with upside at power forward. 28-year old Boris Diaw will probably start here and he’s very versatile as he can literally play anywhere on the court. Diaw played in 82 games (all starts) for the Bobcats last season and he averaged 35.4 minutes, 11.3 points, 5.2 rebounds and 4.0 assists per game. He has now played in 541 games (351 starts) in his NBA career and he has averaged 30.0 minutes, 9.6 points, 4.8 rebounds and 4.0 assists per game. Diaw will probably still play at least 30 minutes a night this year for the Bobcats but he will play more than one position. He might even be the center when the Bobcats decide to play small.

24-year old Tyrus Thomas has a huge upside and that’s the reason the Bobcats brought him back. Thomas played in 54 games (3 starts) for the Bobcats & Bulls last season and he averaged 22.6 minutes, 9.4 points, 6.2 rebounds, 1.0 assist, 1.2 steals and 1.6 blocked shots per game. Thomas has now played in 279 games (95 starts) in his NBA career and he has averaged 20.4 minutes, 8.0 points, 5.2 rebounds, 0.9 assists and 1.4 blocked shots per game. Thomas is like a younger version of Gerald Wallace but he needs more heart to reach his potential which is huge.

34-year old Eduardo Najera will bring energy off the bench for the Bobcats when he gets in the game. He played in 33 games (3 starts) for the Mavericks last season and he averaged 14.6 minutes, 3.3 points, 2.3 rebounds and 0.4 assists per game. Najera has now played in 566 games (85 starts) in his NBA career and he has averaged 18.7 minutes, 5.2 points, 3.9 rebounds and 0.8 assists per game.

23-year old 2nd year man Derrick Brown will likely find P.T. hard to come by this year. He played in 57 games (0 starts) for the Bobcats last season and he averaged 9.4 minutes, 3.3 points, 1.4 rebounds and 0.3 assists per game.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE BOBCATS POWER FORWARDS IN 2010-11: B-

28-year old Gerald Wallace has improved to the point where he is one of the better small forwards in the NBA. He plays hard at both ends of the floor as he dives for loose balls and he’s a great rebounder despite not being the biggest guy on the court. Wallace played in 76 games (all starts) for the Bobcats last season and he averaged 41.0 minutes, 18.2 points, 10.0 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 1.5 steals and 1.1 blocked shots per game. He has now played in 544 games (406 starts) in his NBA career and he has averaged 29.8 minutes, 13.2 points, 6.1 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 1.5 steals and 1.0 blocked shot per game. Wallace gets better every single year and I expect it to continue in 2010-11 for the Bobcats.

25-year old Dominic McGuire will be in the hunt to back up Wallace in 2010-11 for the Bobcats. He played in 51 games (2 starts) for the Kings & Wizards last season and he averaged 6.0 points, 0.7 points, 1.5 rebounds and 0.2 assists per game. McGuire has now played in 200 games (60 starts) in his NBA career and he has averaged 15.4 minutes, 2.4 points, 3.2 rebounds and 1.2 assists per game.

30-year old Matt Carroll came over from the Mavericks in the Tyson Chandler deal. He played in 25 games (0 starts) for the Mavericks last season and he averaged 4.8 minutes, 1.8 points, 0.5 rebounds and 0.2 assists per game. Carroll has now played in 351 games (81 starts) in his NBA career and he has averaged 18.3 minutes, 7.5 points, 2.1 rebounds and 0.7 assists per game. Carroll has shot 39.5% from three point range is his NBA career so he could be an asset for the Bobcats this year.

29-year old Darius Miles has not played in the NBA since the 2008-2009 season with the Grizzlies but he’s in camp trying to make the Bobcats. Miles has played in 446 games (190 starts) in his NBA career and he has averaged 26.3 minutes, 10.1 points, 4.9 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.1 blocked shots per game.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE BOBCATS SMALL FORWARDS IN 2010-11: A

32-year old shooting guard Stephen Jackson gave the Bobcats a huge boost last season after coming over from the Warriors in a deal early in the year. Jackson played in 81 games (all starts) for the Bobcats last year and he averaged 38.6 minutes, 20.6 points, 5.0 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.6 steals per game. He has now played in 680 games (589 starts) in his NBA career and he has averaged 33.2 minutes, 16.1 points, 4.0 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.4 steals per game. Jackson will likely be the team leader in scoring in 2010-11.

22-year old Gerald Henderson will likely be the main backup to Jackson at shooting guard this year. Henderson played in 43 games (0 starts) for the Bobcats as a rookie last year and he averaged 8.3 minutes, 2.6 points, 1.3 rebounds and 0.3 assists per game. He only shot 35.6% from the floor last year and he will need to improve on that if he’s going to earn more minutes this year.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE BOBCATS SHOOTING GUARDS IN 2010-11: B+

The Bobcats have invited 22-year old point guard Javaris Crittenton to training camp. Crittenton didn’t play at all last season and he was one of the Wizards’ players who was part of the gunfight at the O.K. Corral (Wizards’ locker room). He has played in 113 games (10 starts) in his NBA career and he has averaged 16.4 minutes, 5.3 points, 2.4 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game. Hopefully he doesn’t pull a gun on Stephen Jackson this year.

UPDATE: (10/15/2010) – The Bobcats have released Javaris Crittenton.

The Bobcats have invited 28-year old small forward Darius Miles to training camp. Miles last played in the NBA in 2008-09 with the Memphis Grizzlies. Miles has played in 446 games (190 starts) in his NBA career and he has averaged 26.3 minutes, 10.1 points, 4.9 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.1 blocked shots per game. If Miles is sound health wise he could help the Bobcats off the bench this year. If he’s not healthy they will just cut him.