Dec 7, 2012; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Charlotte Bobcats guard Kemba Walker (15) drives past Milwaukee Bucks guard Brandon Jennings (3) at the Bradley Center. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports

Remember when the Bobcats looked like they were turning the corner defensively under head coach Mike Dunlap? It does seem like ages ago as we approach 19 games into the regular season. After matching last season’s win total on November 24 against the Wizards, the Bobcats have dropped six in a row. What’s the common trend? The atrocious defense.

Dunlap is hoping his lineup changes will help with the defensive effort tonight, as DeSagana Diop and Bismack Biyombo will both start against the Spurs tonight.

The Bobcats are 1-9 this season when giving up 100 points or more. Entering the season most of us figured the team would need to win games defensively to have a chance, since the offense doesn’t have the personel to beat you. It’s weird when you start to wonder whether this team has the defensive personel now to beat you too.

Of course there’s Michael Kidd-Gilchrist and Bismack Biyombo, and Kemba Walker is no slouch either. But if you know anything about defense, it’s a team effort. And today the Bobcats get to face a team that’s been the model of team defense over the past 10 or so years, in the San Antonio Spurs.

The Spurs enter today 16-4, getting MVP-caliber play from future hall of famer Tim Duncan and all-star production from Tony Parker. The Spurs are one of the most balanced teams in the league, ranking top-10 in opp. PPG and points per game. The Spurs also play at one of the fastest paces in the league.

Gregg Popovich has done a remarkable job adding to the Spurs defensive image by getting the pieces in place for a dynamic offense as well. It’s an understatement to say how big of a test tonight will be for the Bobcats. I usually give a bunch of keys for the game in my previews, but it’d end up in one big rant about defense and commitment.

There’s a lot of mystery about tonight’s game from the lineup changes to how this team is going to play against the veteran Spurs. Most are predicting a lopsided game here, and they could be right. I’m unsure if the Bobcats will tonight, but I do think they would serve themselves well playing with a bit of desperation to avoid a slide early in the season.

The Bobcats have a lot of tough opponents coming up on the schedule for the remainder of this month. The Clippers, Heat, Lakers, Warriors, Hawks, Bulls and Nets are all on the horizon. The following weeks will legitimately test the composure of this year’s team compared to last seasons.

Nov 29, 2012; Miami, FL, USA; San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich reacts during the second half against the Miami Heat at American Airlines Arena. The Heat won 105-100. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-US PRESSWIRE

Before the basketball even was launched into the air at mid-court in Miami Thursday night, David Stern had already issued a statement about the Spurs leaving their four best players at home for the game.

“I apologize to all NBA fans. This was an unacceptable decision by the San Antonio Spurs and substantial sanctions will be forthcoming,” it read.

Almost immediately, a rush of support poured forth from every corner of the basketball world for Greg Popovich and the Spurs.

Popovich, after all, has done this before. Popovich, after all, knows how to win championships. Popovich, after all, almost coached a bunch of scrubs to a win over the Miami Heat (which I think says more about Erik Spoelstra than Popovich, but that’s for another time and place).

Please.

It’s not like Popovich only rested Tim Duncan OR Tony Parker OR Manu Ginobli OR any combination of just two of them. He rested all of them (and Danny Green), and didn’t even bring them to Miami.

And it’s not like David Stern has never done this before. He did it to the Lakers back in the 80s. He’s got a business to protect (more on that later).

Get off your “basketball strategy” “integrity of the game” “coaching decision” high ground and remember what you were saying a few months ago when last year’s lockout shortened season was coming to a close.

“TEH BOBCATS R TANKING! WE DON LKE THIS! WHY THIS ALLOWD BY MEAN OLD STENR! THEY SHULD NO BE ALLOWD DO THIS!”

Remember that?

I do.

I even remember ESPN’s True Hoop bloggers (who I love and read every other day… most of the time) trying to come up with ways to eliminate tanking last year.

What the Spurs did last night and a few times last year and what the Bobcats are perceived to have done all of last year are really no different. Sucking in the short term to get better in the long term. For the ‘Cats that meant fielding an awful team to get draft picks which landed them Michael Kidd-Gilchrist and Jeffrey Taylor, who’ve been pretty good so far in just 14 games this year. For the Spurs that meant resting their best players to ensure their health for the playoff push.

The only problem is no one watched the Bobcats last year.

People want to watch the Spurs’ Big Three. They won’t be able to see Tony Parker, Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili much longer.

The NBA is a business, and if Greg Popovich and all of his supporters don’t like that, they should get as far away from pro sports in America as possible.

Networks like TNT and ESPN pay big (like, unfathomable to me and you) money to showcase games like this featuring the best players in the league.

Speaking of which, I just came up with the perfect sanction for the Spurs.

David Stern should announce that the Spurs will no longer be broadcast on anything but local television the rest of the year. Or, he should at least threaten the team with that sanction over a nice phone call with San Antonio’s upper management.

I have a feeling Peter Holt (owner of the Spurs) wouldn’t like that very much and might have a few words with Popovich about resting all of his best players at the same time ever again.

Oh. And if the the Spurs won the game? I’d still feel the same way! I still had to watch Boris Diaw, Tiago Splitter, someone named Nando de Colo and a bunch of people I’ve only ever heard of because I looked up the Spurs roster after I found out Duncan, Ginobili and Parker weren’t playing.

Actually, I didn’t have to watch it. There are plenty of other shows to watch while NBA games are being played without players I want to watch. Like Ancient Aliens, which while the Spurs game was on, explained how Bigfoot could be an extraterrestrial being.

Much more compelling TV than watching Gary Neal go 7-20 from the floor.