As hopes for making the playoffs continue to slip away for the Charlotte Bobcats, the team begins to turn it’s attention towards assessing it’s younger players and new acquisitions. One such evaluation, in regards to the Bobcats’ bench, has so far passed with flying colors.

Nearly a month has passed since the trading deadline and now it seems Bobcats’ coach Paul Silas has a better feel for two of his new players, both of whom have been key contributors early on in a reserve role with Charlotte. Consistent production off the bench had been lacking this season before the trade deadline, but with the emergence of forwards Dante Cunningham and D.J. White Silas feels like the Bobcats’ depth is better than it’s been all season.

"I think those two guys coming in have significantly changed it," Silas said. "Before I wasn’t really satisfied with the guys coming in and their ability to give us a good lift. These guys can. And if we had [Joel] Przybilla, and he was playing the way he could play, I think that would be another guy that could really help us out."

Since being acquired by Charlotte, the duo of White (from Oklahoma City) and Cunningham (from Portland) have excelled as hard working, high-energy guys that provide a spark off the Bobcats’ bench. Both players have gotten a chance at a larger role with the Bobcats, and each has responded admirably to the challenge.

Over the past five contests, the bench tandem has combined to average over 16 points on over 60 percent shooting from the field to go along with nearly nine rebounds a contest. White, who averaged under 10 minutes an appearance with the Oklahoma City Thunder, has played almost 20 minutes per with the Bobcats while making the most of his increased playing time.

Just last Friday (March 11), the third-year forward broke out against the Portland Trail Blazers — setting a career-high with 16 points to go along with nine boards, two steals and two blocks in a career-best 28 minutes played.

"He’s tough," Silas said of White. "He gets in there and he rebounds… He brings energy to the team. He’s a hustler: he hustles all the time."

Cunningham, who Silas couldn’t quite get a feel for over the 23-year-old’s first few weeks with Charlotte, has become a fixture as one of the first Bobcats off the pine. In Charlotte’s last contest Saturday night against the San Antonio Spurs, Cunningham got his first start as a Bobcat with Stephen Jackson out due to a lingering hamstring injury.

"Cunningham is just a very solid player," Silas said. "He understands how to play: cutting to the hoop, getting layups [and getting] rebounds. He has some toughness about him and I really like his game, I really do."

Charlotte is still trying to get it together in it’s bid for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, but Silas appears more likely to place his hopes on the younger guys to make it happen as the season winds down.

Thomas To Remain Sixth Man

{AUTHOR_BOX}As expected after trading away veterans for young players, expiring contracts and first-round picks at the trading deadline the Bobcats are closing the season with an emphasis giving some of the younger players more time on the court. Veteran starters Boris Diaw and Kwame Brown have seen their minutes begin to slip as a result.

In his first game returning from injury, forward/center Tyrus Thomas played the entire fourth quarter last Friday [March 11] against the Blazers, with Diaw looking on from the bench.

"We’re not looking to change anything right now." Silas said. "Boris is going to be starting, but Tyrus is going to play a lot."

Silas even referred to Brown and Diaw by name as the players Thomas could replace in the starting lineup, but insisted Thomas’ energy was crucial to the team off the bench.

"I need it [Thomas' energy off the bench]. The only person he could take up is Kwame’s spot or Boris’ spot but I don’t really see that happening right now… I like the energy that he brings off the bench. If we can hold on when the game starts, once he comes in I know that we have a chance for the score to go up."

Diaw has also picked up his play as of late, reaching double-digits in each of the last four games while shooting nearly 60 percent from the field to fend off Thomas from taking his minutes. But with the 24-year-old waiting in the wings, it’s only a matter of time before Thomas cracks the starting lineup — especially with the way Charlotte is closing out the season.

The Bobcats have lost three straight, and won just two of it’s last 11 games overall to fall to one-and-a-half games back of the Indiana Pacers for the eighth spot in the Eastern Conference. To make matters worse for Charlotte, at 27-41 — having gone .500 over the last 10 contests — the Milwaukee Bucks are just a half game behind the Bobcats for ninth and closing strong.

The youth movement has officially arrived for the Bobcats.

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