Dec. 19, 2012; Phoenix, AZ, USA: Charlotte Bobcats guard Kemba Walker (15) on the ground against the Phoenix Suns in the second half at the US Airways Center. The Suns defeated the Bobcats 121-104. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

December has not been a month to remember for the Charlotte Bobcats (7-19) in 2012.

Despite the all-star play of Kemba Walker, the Bobcats are winless in 14 games and allowing a league high 110.4ppg. It’s only right that the Bobcats face the Denver Nuggets (14-13), who are 7-1 at home this season and scoring 104.7ppg this month.

The Nuggets dynamic scoring attack is led by Danilo Gallinari’s 15.7ppg. While Gallinari is the team’s leading scorer, the Nuggets, like the Phoenix Suns, have multiple scorers capable of having big nights. The Nuggets have six players who average double digits in scoring and are an unpredictable team to deal with.

The Bobcats this season have struggled against teams with multiple scorers, who push the ball, and throw different looks at defenses with their offensive talent. The Nuggets are also a strong rebounding team, ranking first in offensive and total rebounding totals.

The Bobcats don’t share the Nuggets offensive success, but they are sharing their defensive struggles.

The Nuggets rank 25th in opp. scoring, and 27th in opp. three-point %. The Bobcats played another struggling defensive team in the Suns earlier this week, and it didn’t seem to be an advantage for the team.

The backcourt of the Bobcats could be a bit shorthanded tomorrow. Gerald Henderson is questionable with a right shin contusion, and Ben Gordon is battling soreness in his knee. This would give more minutes to Ramon Sessions, Reggie Williams and Jeffrey Taylor.

Players to watch:

• Danilo Gallinari, Nuggets: Gallinari got off to a slow start this season, but he’s finally starting to play well again this month. He’s averaging just under 16ppg and shooting 36% from three. Gallinari is an excellent three-point shooter, and with the way the Bobcats have been defending the three this season, this could be the game where he can solidify a return to his big-time shooting form. The Nuggets three-point shooting overall has been down this year, but Gallinari is always capable of going on big streaks. Michael Kidd-Gilchrist will get the task of guarding him, so hopefully they can contain him.
• Ramon Sessions, Bobcats: Sessions is finally starting to get back to his November production. He’s shooting 49% from the field and averaging 14ppg off the bench. Sessions has been a huge luxury to have off the bench this season. The Nuggets are a deep team, and if Gerald Henderson and Ben Gordon can’t go tomorrow, the Bobcats are going to need another good night from Sessions to have a chance.

Dec 3, 2012; Charlotte, NC, USA; Charlotte Bobcats guard Ben Gordon (8) talks to guard Gerald Henderson (9) during the game against the Portland Trail Blazers at Time Warner Cable Arena. Mandatory Credit: Sam Sharpe-USA TODAY Sports

There’s nothing like the big stage of Hollywood.

For the Charlotte Bobcats, their losing streak is a bad movie they’re hoping ends tonight against the Los Angeles Lakers.

The Lakers are coming off their second straight win at Philadelphia for a one-game stint back home, and hoping to for more encouraging signs tonight. Pau Gasol will return to the lineup, after missing games with knee tendonitis. Gasol has been cleared to play without any minute limits, as he’ll rejoin Dwight Howard to form a tough Lakers frontcourt.

Gasol is struggling this season, averaging just 12.6ppg, 8.8reb on 42% from the field with a 15 PER. A game against the Bobcats though could help him get out of his slump, as the Bobcats are 28th in opponents frontcourt scoring. Combine that with the Bobcats being 30th in frontcourt scoring, and the Lakers size and frontcourt scoring could be a big problem tonight for Charlotte.

Gasol, who’s at the center of trade rumors because of his struggles, will be the Lakers player to watch.

The Bobcats defense will be the biggest concern, as the team has given up 100 or more points for nine straight games. Defending won’t get any easier on the road, against a Lakers team that’s scoring the ball very well. The defensive matchup I’m looking forward to is Michael Kidd-Gilchrist and Jeffery Taylor getting opportunities to defend Kobe Bryant. Both MKG and Taylor are good individual defenders, and it will be the ultimate challenge as rookies to take on Bryant, who’s having a stellar year.

That leaves the Bobcats offense, which hasn’t been good either, but will be facing a Lakers defense that’s been mediocre under new head coach Mike D’Antoni. This month the Lakers have given up 100 or more five times in eight games. If the Bobcats are going to test the Lakers offense, it will be through their league-leading backcourt scoring and Kemba Walker.

Walker is averaging just under 22ppg this month on 48.5% shooting and is the Bobcats player to watch tonight. Walker’s offensive turnaround this season has been a great addition to the Bobcats after struggling with efficiency and consistency last year. He should be able to take advantage of the Lakers point guards defensively, but there’s also the possibility that Metta World Peace or Kobe Bryant guards him defensively should he start being too much to handle.

The Bobcats could also use a big game from Ramon Sessions or Ben Gordon, who’ve struggled as of late. Sessions will make his return to Los Angeles, after leaving the team in free agency. The Lakers decided not to re-sign Sessions, and go a different route in Steve Nash, who’s currently out with an injury. Sessions played well as a Laker for the last half of the 2011-12 season, and could use a game like this as a boost for what’s been a rough December. Sessions is shooting just under 39% from the field in December.

Playing the Lakers has always been one of the more interesting matchups for the Bobcats, so we’ll see how their lone visit to Hollywood turns out tonight at 10:30 p.m.

November 9, 2012; New Orleans, LA, USA; Charlotte Bobcats point guard Ramon Sessions (7) drives past New Orleans Hornets center Robin Lopez (15) during the second half of a game at the New Orleans Arena. The Hornets defeated the Bobcats 107-99. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-US PRESSWIRE

After having a three-game win streak snapped by the Atlanta Hawks, the Charlotte Bobcats are preparing to face another division foe tonight. The Bobcats are on the road to face the Washington Wizards, who are winless ten games into the NBA season. The Wizards are still playing without point guard John Wall, who is healing from an injury.

Obviously no team wants to be “that team” who gave the Wizards their first win, so lets take a look at what the keys will be on both sides of the ball:

On offense:

1. Do not underestimate this Wizards. They have lost seven of their 10 games by seven points or less. Their effort is there and they are competing, but they have trouble closing out games without John Wall and another proven late scorer.
2. The Wizards defense will surprise you. They rank 10th in defensive rating, first in the league in opponents threes allowed, and first in opponents PPG. Now some of these stats can easily be attributed to them being one of only two teams to play 10 games this season, but they are playing solid defense, and it isn’t the reason they’re losing games.
3. Keep getting to the line. Ramon Sessions has done a great job of attacking the basket and creating contact at the rim off the bench. Hopefully more players follow suit, so we don’t go through the dry spells we did last night. Be aggressive off the dribble.
4. Byron Mullens. He’s shooting 36% from the field his last five games, as well as 18% from three in 34mpg. For better or worse, he’s the best offensive big man we have right now, so hopefully he can get up some good shots, be effective tonight.
5. Bench scoring. The Bobcats are 7th in the league in points off the bench. Guess who’s #1? The Wizards. The Bobcats bench scoring has been a welcome addition this season, and we’re going to need Sessions, Gordon and others to be big tonight.

Oct 26, 2012; Dallas, Tx, USA; Charlotte Bobcats shooting guard Ben Gordon (8) loses the ball as Dallas Mavericks shooting guard Jared Cunningham (1) defends during the first quarter at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-US PRESSWIRE

The Bobcats have had four days off following their loss to the Dallas Mavericks Saturday night. The Bobcats split the first of their two games on the season, and return home to host the Phoenix Suns. The Suns have gone 1-3 to start their first season in quite some time without Steve Nash starting at point guard

Gerald Henderson will be out of the lineup for the Bobcats, after spraining his left foot against the Mavericks. There’s no word yet on who will start, though the favorite is probably Ben Gordon. There’s an outside shot to Reggie Williams, if the team decides they want Gordon’s scoring off the bench for tonight’s game.

So far it’s hard to get a grasp of what the Bobcats are so far. They have done a good job forcing turnovers, even in their blowout loss to the Mavericks. It’s rare that you see a team in a blowout defeat force more turnovers than the opposition. The Bobcats in their two games have forced more turnovers for the opposition, than they have themselves.

Another trend so far in the past two games has been point guard play. After Kemba Walker’s stellar night against Indiana, he was flat against Dallas. Meanwhile Ramon Sessions was one of the positives for the team finishing with 24 points. The point guard play should be strong all season for the Bobcats. Walker has a lot to prove this season, for the Bobcats to determine if he can be a key part of their team going forward.

Tonight’s game also has an interesting frontcourt matchup. Byron Mullens and Brendan Haywood will matchup against Luis Scola and Marcin Gortat. Meanwhile Michael Kidd-Gilchrist will go up against another #2 overall draft pick in Michael Beasley.

Gortat and Scola should have the advantage offensively, especially in the low post where both players have proven to have some go-to moves. Haywood is going to have his hands full, and Mullens is going to have to step up his interior defense as well. It also wouldn’t be shocking if both teams go smallball and play uptempo to make use of their youth and athleticism.

Overall, the Bobcats do matchup well with the Suns, though it’s not clear which side has a favorable edge. We’ll be back later tonight to recap the game, and hopefully discuss a Bobcats win.

October 9, 2012; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Hornets forward Anthony Davis (23) and Charlotte Bobcats center Byron Mullens (22) battle for a rebound during the first quarter of a game at the New Orleans Arena. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-US PRESSWIRE

Tonight the Bobcats will conclude their preseason schedule, as they go to Dallas to face the Mavericks. The Bobcats are coming off their sixth straight loss, after being defeated by the Bucks 100-90 on Thursday. The Bobcats were up seven going into the fourth quarter, and the Bucks outscored them 28-11 to win the game.

The Bobcats were led by 20 points and seven assists  from Kemba Walker, while Gerald Henderson added 13 points. Offensively the Bobcats continued their poor stretch, shooting just 35% from the field. Ben Gordon and Ramon Sessions, who have typically been reliable scorers for the Bobcats, combined to go 6-26 from the field. The loss brings the Bobcats to a 1-6 preseason record. It was just the second time this preseason the Bobcats gave up at least 100 points.

Gordon and Byron Mullens returned to the team after sitting with injuries in previous games, while Tyrus Thomas sat out. Mullens played just 25 minutes, hitting two threes and finishing with 11 points. Mullens continues to look very impressive shooting the three-point shot and when playing has been very consistent thus far. There’s no word yet on whether he’s expected to play again tonight, but I’d look for most of the starters to play limited minutes.

Meanwhile the Mavericks are coming off a loss at Oklahoma City on Wednesday. The Mavericks are without their star Dirk Nowitzki, who is expected to miss time in the regular season as he rehabs from a knee injury. During the offseason the Mavericks revamped their roster, adding more youth and athleticism.

The Mavericks added O.J. Mayo, Dahntay Jones and Darren Collison, while adding two draft picks in Jae Crowder and Jared Cunningham. The team also added veterans Elton Brand and Chris Kaman to their frontcourt. Without Nowitzki, it’ll be tough to see just how great their offseason additions will be, but on paper it looks nice. The Bobcats clearly matchup better with the Mavericks without Nowitzki, but still lack in overall talent in comparison.

With the preseason winding down, the anticipation for the start of the regular season is beginning. The Bobcats have shown some good things in preseason, but still have a long ways to go. Offensively is going to be there biggest achilles heel each night, but the defensive effort does look a lot better. Most fans still want to see a respectable offensive performance, but it’s looking less and less likely because of the last six games.

October 9, 2012; New Orleans, LA, USA; Charlotte Bobcats forward Tyrus Thomas (12) and guard Ramon Sessions (7) and New Orleans Hornets center Robin Lopez (15) and guard Austin Rivers (25) battle for the ball during the second quarter of a game at the New Orleans Arena. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-US PRESSWIRE

The Bobcats play their fifth preseason game tomorrow when they head to Detroit to play the Pistons. The Bobcats are 1-3 so far in preseason action, while the Pistons are 2-3. The Bobcats have lost three straight in preseason after defeating the Wizards in their opener. Both teams linked up over the summer in a deal that sent Corey Maggette to Detroit in exchange for Ben Gordon and a future first round draft pick. It will be Gordon’s first game in Detroit since the trade.

In the past two games, the Bobcats have come out with poor offense in the first quarter. I’m really looking to see what they’ll change to avoid an immediate drought. So far Mike Dunlap has changed starting lineups for each of the four preseason games, so maybe he’ll go with his best offensive lineup to start. It’s also probable that he won’t tinker with the lineup much. The Bobcats aren’t going to push teams over with their offense, but at the least you want to see better, sharper execution on that side of the ball.

Another thing to look for is the continued sharp shooting of Byron Mullens. Mullens is currently shooting 44% from three in the preseason, and definitely has the green light from Coach Dunlap to continue blasting. Mullens three-point range has been one of the most welcome additions so far in the preseason. He’ll likely see a mixture of Greg Monroe, Jason Maxiel and rookie Andre Drummond on him during the game. Drummond could probably be the biggest threat to matchup against him with his long arms, quickness and athleticism defensively.

I’m hoping for a noteworthy performance out of Michael Kidd-Gilchrist as well. MKG hasn’t had a stunning preseason, at least statistically, so hopefully tomorrow he comes out on the road and shows his activity on both ends. MKG is more than capable of stuffing the staff sheet, and he’ll have a chance to do it against veteran Tayshaun Prince and possibly even Corey Maggette.

Will Kemba Walker play tomorrow? If not, expect another 30+ mpg night out of Ramon Sessions, who’s looked pretty solid so far in preseason. If Kemba does play, he’ll be matched up against fellow second-year point guard Brandon Knight. That could be pretty fun to watch.

There isn’t a ton to watch for in this game. Both of these teams are probably long shots to make the postseason, with the Pistons having a noticeably better shot. But I expect the games to be competitive in the regular season, as well as tomorrow’s game.

Pistons (2-3) (Starting Lineup vs. Miami):

PG – Brandon Knight, SG – Rodney Stuckey, SF – Tayshaun Prince, PF – Jason Maxiel, C – Greg Monroe

Bobcats (1-3)  (Starting Lineup vs. OKC):

PG – Ramon Sessions, SG – Gerald Henderson, SF – MIchael Kidd-Gilchrist, PF – Byron Mullens, C – Brendan Haywood