Initial Report Card Grades for Every Key Charlotte Bobcats Player
Under head coach Steve Clifford and an energized Kemba Walker, the Charlotte Bobcats have been one of the surprise teams early in the season.
They've presented a strong defensive effort on a nightly basis, while center Al Jefferson has missed much of the year with a sprained ankle.
Ahead is a report card grade for each of Charlotte's top 10 players.
*All stats provided by Basketball-Reference.com unless stated otherwise. Stats updated as of November 19.
Anthony Tolliver: C-
1 of 10
Anthony Tolliver was brought to Charlotte for his three-point shooting and defense.
Thus far, he's been just as advertised. Tolliver is shooting a team-high 40 percent from long range on just more than three attempts per game. He's been a nice rotational player in a crowded frontcourt behind Josh McRoberts and Cody Zeller.
Cody Zeller: C
2 of 10
In the preseason, I argued that Cody Zeller should start if it's a close competition between the rookie and Josh McRoberts.
It really hasn't been that close, with Zeller looking much like the rookie he is and McRoberts playing a great all-around game.
Mostly due to the absence of center Al Jefferson, Zeller hasn't been able to space the floor as some thought he would. Without a consistent low-post presence from Jefferson and with Bismack Biyombo's insertion into the starting lineup, Zeller's ability to get open looks from mid-range and attack the glass has been greatly diminished.
Jeff Taylor: C
3 of 10
Following an up-and-down rookie season, Jeff Taylor had an outstanding summer of basketball before returning to Charlotte for camp and showing off an aggressive side to his game.
Taylor has seen his minutes rise, but he's been fairly inconsistent. He's had a few big games, but in year two, Taylor is averaging 10 points on 10 shots per game, with his turnovers and fouls rising as well. The biggest gash in his game is Taylor's three-point shooting—an area of dire need for the 'Cats—which currently sits at 26 percent, down from last year's 34 percent.
The second year pro will continue getting his looks despite a solid start to the season by Ramon Sessions.
Josh McRoberts: C+
4 of 10
Despite standing as a 6'10" forward, Josh McRoberts has been a difference maker from the three-point range and he's been one of Charlotte's most effective players.
He's absolutely crushing career highs in points (9.3) and assists (4.7) per game. McRoberts is knocking down 37 percent of his treys while shooting 37 percent from the field as a whole. His ability to space the floor has opened up Bismack Biyombo's offensive game as well, giving the center one of the most efficient starts to a season in his career.
Bismack Biyombo: C+
5 of 10
Thanks to Kemba Walker's and Josh McRoberts' respective hot starts, the Bobcats haven't needed Bismack Biyombo to play outside of himself on the offensive end.
Biyombo is averaging just two shots per game, but he's finishing at the rim, showing a greater focus on receiving passes and shooting a remarkable 64 percent from the field. Biyombo remains a defensive force, helping Charlotte hold its opponents to just 92 points per game, fourth-best in the NBA this season according to ESPN.com.
Ramon Sessions: C+
6 of 10
After a breakout season with the Bobcats last year, Ramon Sessions is having another stellar year in Charlotte. As the reserve point guard, Sessions has taken on much of the scoring load for the second unit once again.
He's a consistent driving threat, but his numbers have dipped across the board due to the emergence of second-year pro Jeff Taylor.
Michael Kidd-Gilchrist: C+
7 of 10
Following first-year head coach Steve Clifford's mantra, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist hasn't been required to play outside of his comfort level thus far this year, producing a solid start to the season yet again.
He's not shooting many jumpers, with 68 of his 89 attempts coming at the rim, according to NBA.com/stats. MKG is knocking down 52 percent of his attempts thus far this year, is still an excellent defender and seems to be putting hard work into developing his jumper on a daily basis. The only knock on his game continues to be the lack of a consistent shot without the flawed mechanics.
Gerald Henderson: B-
8 of 10
It looked as if Gerald Henderson was headed down the same road so many athletes have gone down after finally cashing in on big money. After struggling through the first few contests, Hendo righted the ship and appears to have his game back in control, though.
In his fifth season, Henderson is back up to more than 15 points per night from the field and 36 percent shooting. He's averaging a career-high 5.8 rebounds per game while dishing out 2.7 assist per night.
Al Jefferson: B
9 of 10
After signing a lucrative three-year deal, Al Jefferson has played in just three games early in Charlotte's slate of games. An ankle injury suffered in preseason continues to hamper the veteran center, but his impact on the game and the team is difficult to ignore.
Jefferson has been dominant in his small sample size, bringing the consistent scoring touch and big body around the boards that Charlotte anticipated upon signing him. His veteran leadership also seems to have lit a fire under Bismack Biyombo, who shows great growth from last year to this current season.
If Jefferson can get healthy, this Bobcats team could surprise a few teams this year.
Kemba Walker: B
10 of 10
With Al Jefferson banged up and Gerald Henderson's slow start, Kemba Walker has been forced to shoulder a nice bit of Charlotte's offensive load through the first few weeks of the regular season.
Walker's attempts should plateau as the season goes along (he's at 15.7 per game) and his numbers should do the same. Charlotte's starting point guard is averaging more than 14 points per game on a career-low 32 percent from the field. He's opening up looks for his teammates and taking over games as he battles to lead the 'Cats over .500 throughout this early stretch.
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