November 10, 2012; Charlotte, NC, USA; Charlotte Bobcats guard Kemba walker (15) signals his team as he brings the ball up the court during the game against the Dallas Mavericks at Time Warner Cable Arena. Bobcats win in OT 101-97. Mandatory Credit: Sam Sharpe-US PRESSWIRE

I believe that the Charlotte Bobcats need a legitimate low-post threat to take them to the next level. Kemba Walker is having a great season. Michael-Kidd Gilchrist is coming along well. In addition, the Bobcats have reliable shooters in Sessions and Williams. However, the question mark for the Bobcats is someone who can control the low-post. Utah has a few gems Paul Millsap, Enes Kanter, Derrick Favors, and Al Jefferson. I doubt that the Jazz would be willing to part with Jefferson or Millsap. However, that could change. What concerns me is the player or players that Charlotte has as trade bait. Despite his big contract, Tyrus Thomas is the first player who comes to mind. Minnesota’s Derrick Williams would also be a good fit in Charlotte, as well as Denver’s Kenneth Faried. It seems as though Michael Jordan is committed to changing the atmosphere in Charlotte. Let’s hope that he continues to change this team for the better.

Nov 03, 2012; Dallas, Tx, USA; Charlotte Bobcats center Byron Mullens (22) looks to drive past Dallas Mavericks small forward Shawn Marion (0) during the first half at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-US PRESSWIRE

Tonight, the Charlotte Bobcats will face the Dallas Mavericks. Both teams look completely different than last season. For starters, Charlotte’s Brendan Haywood is playing against his former team tonight. Haywood won a championship ring with the Mavericks two seasons ago. In addition, the Maverick’s leading scorer is someone not named Dirk Nowitzki. O.J. Mayo leads the Mavericks in scoring with 21.6 points a game. The Dallas Mavericks are ranked second in scoring in the NBA. Dallas is also ranked 12th in rebounds per game, and 8th in assists per game for the entire NBA. The Charlotte Bobcats are ranked 6th in scoring in the NBA. Although the Bobcats are ranked 30th in points allowed in the NBA, they seem to be on the up-and-up.

Tonight’s game will be a tough one for the Bobcats. The Mavericks have several veteran low-post players in Kaman, Brand and former Tar Heel Brandan Wright, who are playing well with the season. The key to tonight’s game will be for the Charlotte Bobcats to control the boards, and forcing turnovers. Tonight’s premiere match-up will be Gerald Henderson versus O.J. Mayo. Gerald is known for his defense. Slowing down Mayo will be huge for the Bobcats.

October 9, 2012; New Orleans, LA, USA; Charlotte Bobcats guard Cory Higgins (11) drives past New Orleans Hornets guard Brian Roberts (22) during the fourth quarter of a preseason game at the New Orleans Arena. The Hornets defeated the Bobcats 97-82. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-US PRESSWIRE

On this upcoming Friday, the Charlotte Bobcats will travel to the Bayou to face the New Orleans Hornets. The key matchup will be between the starting point guards for each team, Charlotte’s Kemba Walker and New Orleans’ Greivis Vasquez. This game also includes a couple of former championship teammates in Michael Kidd-Gilchrist and Anthony Davis. Unfortunately, we will not see these two individuals face off due to Davis sustaining an injury last week.

The Bobcats are coming off a loss to the Phoenix Suns on Wednesday night. In this game, the Bobcats were out-rebounded 50-39. Charlotte must control the post in order to beat the Hornets. The Hornets are ranked 10th in rebounding, averaging 44 rebounds a game. The Hornets are also ranked 2nd overall in points allowed.

Mike Dunlap continues to experiment with his starting lineup. Wednesday night, Kemba Walker, Jeffery Taylor, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Byron Mullens, and Brendan Haywood started the game. Dunlap played 10 players the entire game. As long as the Bobcats can minimize turnovers and control the low post, they will be victorious.

November 2, 2013; Charlotte, NC, USA; Charlotte Bobcats guard Kemba Walker (15) pulls up to shoot during the game against the Indiana Pacers at Time Warner Cable Arena. Mandatory Credit: Sam Sharpe-US PRESSWIRE

Last night, the Charlotte Bobcats were led by Kemba Walker, who scored 30 points. Kemba was on fire last night. In fact, several of the Bobcats were hot. Gerald “Hendo” Henderson finished with 18 points. Ramon Sessions had 11 points, and Ben Gordon had 10 points in the win. Although Michael Kidd-Gilchrist did not perform well offensively last night, on the defensive side he blocked a shot from Indiana’s 7’2″ center, Roy Hibbert. This block was instrumental in a run by Charlotte. The Bobcats are a different team this season. They forced 19 turnovers from the Indiana Pacers last night.

Bobcats’ head coach, Mike Dunlap, started Kemba at the point guard. So far so good with Coach Dunlap because he won his first game as the coach of the Charlotte Bobcats. Last season, the Bobcats lost their last 23 games to finish the season at 7-59.

If last night’s game is any indicator to how this season will go, then the Bobcats will win a lot more than seven games. I have a good feeling about this team. I smell….PLAYOFFS!

December 21, 2010; Charlotte, NC, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard James Harden (13) prepares to drive past Charlotte Bobcats guard Gerald Henderson (15) during the game at Time Warner Cable Arena. Mandatory Credit: Sam Sharpe-US PRESSWIRE

Contrary to what some people think, I am not shocked that James Harden was traded. However, I do question the fact that Oklahoma City traded James Harden to a team located in the Western Conference.  Maybe OKC isn’t intimidated by Houston….yet. I guess that they assume the Rockets will not be a problem since Jeremy Lin is their point guard. If they feel this way, then I hope that they face the Rockets in the playoffs.

I wonder if the Charlotte Bobcats tried to get James Harden. He would have been a perfect fit for Charlotte. Although Charlotte already has Ben Gordon, as owner I would have done whatever was necessary to get James Harden. Needless to say, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist would have been untouchable.

Charlotte has an opportunity to change the future of this franchise this season. I think that they should play hard and try to win as many games they can. Do not focus on tanking the season to earn the number one pick in the 2013 NBA Draft. Play hard and earn the respect of key players, so they will want to play in Charlotte. In my opinion, the Bobcats are two players away from changing the outlook of the Eastern Conference.

Oct 23, 2012; Raleigh, NC, USA; Miami Heat small forward LeBron James (6) drives between Charlotte Bobcats point guard Cory Higgins (11) and point guard Kemba Walker (15) in the first half at PNC Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark Dolejs-US PRESSWIRE

Yesterday, I had a chance to catch the Miami Heat play the Charlotte Bobcats at PNC Arena on the campus of North Carolina State University. Let me start off by saying this. The traffic was horrible! I did not arrive at the game until halftime. I was delighted to see that the Bobcats are moving in the right direction.

After this game, I feel as though Mike Dunlap can build around this core: Ramon Sessions, Kemba Walker, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Bismayck Byombo, Dajuan Summers, Jeffery Taylor, Reggie Williams, and Gerald Henderson. I did not mention Ben Gordon because he didn’t play last night; however, he is a part of the core as well. The problem with this core is that there is not a center in this rotation. The Bobcat’s best option at the center position is Bismayck Byombo, who is 6’9″ 240 lbs.

The point guard position is still up for grabs, in my opinion. I feel as though the offense runs more smoothly through Ramon Sessions. Sessions is also a better shooter. However, Kemba Walker penetrates the defense better. Charlotte could use Kemba at the shooting guard position on the second team to backup Ben Gordon, however.

When it comes to shooting, the Bobcats have several shooters in Gordon, Williams, and Sessions. Reggie Williams showed his range last night. Williams hit a few 3s last night from deep. He should see some considerable playing time on the second team. Jeffery Taylor played a lot during the first half. From what I heard (since I missed the first half), he performed quite well.

On the defensive side, Bismayck had a nice block on a dunk. He also did a decent job defending in the post. Charlotte needs a center, who can command the post. Right now, the Bobcats are lacking this.

Michael Kidd-Gilchrist showed that he is a nice slasher, and not scared of playing against big name stars like LeBron James. All in all, the Bobcats are moving into the right direction.

October 9, 2012; New Orleans, LA, USA; Charlotte Bobcats forward Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (14) against the New Orleans Hornets during the second half of a preseason game at the New Orleans Arena. The Hornets defeated the Bobcats 97-82. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-US PRESSWIRE

On October 23rd, 2012, the Miami Heat and Charlotte Bobcats will have an exhibition game at the PNC Arena located in Raleigh, North Carolina. I am looking forward to checking out the 2012 NBA World Champion Miami Heat. With their recent acquisitions in Ray Allen and Rashard Lewis, who were former teammates with the Seattle Supersonics, I expect for the Heat to repeat.

Nevermind them, though. In my backyward literally, I get to catch a glimpse of the 2013 Charlotte Bobcats. I will have a column on Wednesday, in regards to grading how the Bobcats performed against the Heat. I really want to see Michael Kidd-Gilchrist. No one really knows how talented this young man is. Is he going to be another Shawn Marion or Gerald Wallace? Who knows. I say this because his game is VERY similar to theirs. He may be the best power forward on this team, although his position is small forward.

I also am excited to see Ben Gordon. Last time I watched Ben play in person, he was a member of the 2004 Connecticut Huskies basketball team that went on to win the national championship against Georgia Tech. While I was living in Buffalo, New York, I had the opportunity to watch UCONN against Vermont during the NCAA Tournament. Ben Gordon has always been a beast on the basketball court. His stint with Detroit did not work out because they did not know how to use him. Oh well, too bad for them. This guy still has a lot of basketball left him. He can score and create his own. In addition, he is also a decent defender.

Last but not least, I want to see how well Ramon Sessions. I don’t care if he is the starter or 6th man. In my eyes, he is the best point guard on the Bobcats roster. His versatility at both guard positions will be instrumental in the Bobcats’ push to make the playoffs.

July 16, 2012; Washington, DC, USA; President Barack Obama (l) talks with Vice President Joe Biden (r) during the first half of the game between team USA and team Brazil at Verizon Center. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-US PRESSWIRE

2012 marks the year of another presidential election. I got the idea of this column from the fact that President Obama loves to play basketball. In November, he will be going one-on-one with Mitt Romney for the starting role as the POTUS, also known as the President of the United States.

Basketball and politics have  a great deal in common. There is always someone who is offensive. Likewise, there is always someone on the defense. A little over a week ago, the United States witnessed a debate between the current president, Barack Obama, and his Republican opponent, Mitt Romney. Some people are torn between who actually won the debates. To be honest, I am one of the those people. I already have an idea of who will get my vote. Although he will get my vote, I disagree with his stance on a few issues. He gets my vote because for the most part, I think he is the better choice out of the two.

It is so easy to go with the politically correct answer, but educated people know the numbers when it comes to healthcare, the nation’s deficit, in addition to various other issues. For the most part, Democrats are going to support President Obama. On the flip side of this discussion, the majority of Republicans are going to support Mitt Romney. Then, you have individuals who are Independents. They may stay neutral.

The next several weeks will be an exciting time for our country. We will be bombarded with numerous ads from both candidates, and you may get in an argument or two at work over who should be the next president; similar to the North Carolina/Duke discussions that you have at work. One thing for sure: someone is going to win the election, and become the 45th President of the United States. Possibly, we may have a new POTUS, or the current POTUS may continue. Do yourself and everyone else a favor. Get educated on issues, register to vote, and no matter how hard it is, choose a side.

Oct. 1, 2012; Tarrytown, NY, USA; New York Knicks point guard Raymond Felton speaks to the media at the MSG Training Facility. Mandatory Credit: Debby Wong-US PRESSWIRE

Well, the New York Knicks made a smart decision by bringing former Charlotte Bobcat, Raymond Felton back to Madison Square Garden. New York Knicks’ coach Mike Woodson has  tabbed the former Tar Heel as the starting point guard over Jason Kidd. Now, before you get happy keep in mind that this news does not mean that Felton is better than Kidd. I wrote a piece on starting versus coming off the bench several months ago. Several players, notably Manu Ginobili, James Harden, and Jason Terry, have made a career coming off the bench. All three of them have been very successful doing so.

Jason Kidd prefers to be on the floor during the last six minutes of the game. This upcoming season will mark the first time that Kidd has come off the bench, rather than starting. This may turn out to be a great thing for both Felton and Kidd, because Felton gets to re-build his career. The last time Ray Ray was a Knick, he was averaging 17 points and 9 assists a game. Then, he was dealt to Denver to backup another former Tar Heel, Tywon Lawson. Kidd gets to see the game unfold, by being the sixth man. Expect to see both of these players on the floor at the same time, also. Kidd can guard point guards, shooting guards, and small forwards. Felton played a great deal of shooting guard, while he was a donning the orange and blue in the Queen City.

The Knicks seem like they are changing the dynamics of their team. Now, if they could only trade Amare’ Stoudemire. He is not a good fit in New York.

Apr 26, 2012; Charlotte, NC, USA Charlotte Bobcats dance teams performs during a timeout during the second half against the New York Knicks. The New York Knicks defeated the Charlotte Bobcats 104-84 at Time Warner Cable Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-US PRESSWIRE

Mike Dunlap is emarking on the start of his first season as the head coach of the Charlotte Bobcats. I do not think that the Bobcats will play as bad as they did last season. At the end of the 2012 season, their record was 7-59. Now, the Bobcats have a legit scorer in Ben Gordon, a promising defender in Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, an underrated and savvy defensive player in Gerald Henderson, young talent in Reggie Williams and Jeffery Taylor, and interesting low-post players in Bismayck Byombo and Tyrus Thomas. Thomas is interesting, merely because he has the potential to be one of the top power forwards in the league. Bismayck is young and still developing his game. Although the Bobcats picked up Brendan Haywood during the off-season, they possess versatility in what kind of game they can play. I think that Charlotte’s most skilled lineups will be their small ball lineups. I envision Kidd-Gilchrist playing a lot of power forward. At 6’7″ 228 lbs., MKG has the perfect size to guard small forwards and power forwards. He has the same build as Shawn Marion, and the same skill set minus the ugly shooting form that “The Matrix” has. Hence, this is why I call MKG, “The Matrix: Reloaded.” He is the Bobcat’s version of Shawn Marion. Charlotte has a chance to pose match-up problems with every team they play.