Mandatory Credit: Sam Sharpe-US PRESSWIRE

In 66 total games last season, the Charlotte Bobcats set a new benchmark for futility in the NBA by winning just seven of those contests, which equaled out to a .106 winning percentage.

Through the first seven games of the 2012/13 season, the Bobcats have a record of 4-3. They are just three victories away from tying their win total from all of last season.

Am I missing something here?

I’m not downplaying Charlotte’s early success at all. I didn’t see it coming.

None of you did either.

The team currently sits 10th in the league in scoring (98.5), 8th in rebounding (43.7), 10th in steals (9.0) and 4th in blocks (7.5). The defense is still of concern as the Bobcats allow the third most points in the league to their opposition (102.0) and the 9th highest shooting percentage (44.8%).

I’m sure all Bobcat fans out there (who are still around after last years “Gigli” of a season) are looking past some of those numbers and simply enjoying the fact that the team is above .500 and playing winning basketball.

It’s been a while since I’ve been able to incorporate the words “Bobcats” and “winning basketball” into the same sentence.

So what’s the magic formula? What exactly has changed from 2011/12 to now?

For one, starting point guard Kemba Walker has begun to channel his inner UConn Husky and is playing like the leader and winner Charlotte always wanted him to be. He’s averaging 19.0 points and 5.1 assists a game on 43% shooting from the field, which are all massive increases from his totals last season.

“Cardiac Kemba” also made an appearance in last nights game against Minnesota, hitting the game-winner with 0.7 seconds left on the clock.

The #2 overall pick in this summers draft Michael Kidd-Gilchrist has also shown signs that he won’t be Michael Jordan’s next “Adam Morrison”. I’m still not sold on him being a guy you can build your franchise around, but he’s still a significant piece in the rebuilding process for the Bobcats. Through seven games, MGK is putting up 11.1 points and 6.9 rebounds a night. As the season rolls on and he better adjusts to the NBA style of play and defending the much larger forwards around the league, I believe Kidd-Gilchrist could be a true sleeper for the Rookie of the Year award, especially if the Cats success continues.

I’m also liking what I’m seeing from Charlottes other offseason acquisitions. Ramon Sessions is currently second on the team in scoring at 16.3 points, Brandon Haywood is pulling down 8.2 rebounds a game and Ben Gordon has found his infamous shooting touch once again (42% from behind the arc, 46% from the field). It’s the little moves like those that can make a world of difference for a team looking to crawl its way out of the cellar so to speak.

I suppose the big question now is if we should all be buying the Charlotte Bobcats as a legitimate threat for that 8th seed in the Eastern Conference playoff race.

It’s reasonable to ask. If the playoffs begun today (again, this is extremely early), the Cats would be slotted in at spot #7.

They look good. They’re not a pushover anymore. I didn’t have them winning a single game until midway through November when I made my early season predictions for the Southeast Division.

They shut me up, plain and simple.

But…..

Whether it’s the Bobcats winning start, the Los Angeles Lakers tumultuous beginnings or the New York Knicks being undefeated, it’s still way to early to start buying or selling certain teams at the moment.

It won’t be until early January when we start seeing each NBA team for what they truly are and where they will be headed once  April comes.

Charlotte Bobcat fans can take solace in this fact; the team is no joke. You don’t start 4-3 after a 7 win season the prior year and not make huge strides both on and off the court.

There’s a lot to be excited about. The youth movement is already paying dividends and optimism is at an all-time high.

Again, I could be changing my tune if Charlotte finishes with just 20 wins on the year.

“Fingers crossed”.

Christopher Walder is a sports blogger and lead editor for Sir Charles in Charge. You may follow him on Twitter @WalderSports

Mandatory Credit: Sam Sharpe-US PRESSWIRE

The streak is finally over!

[blackbirdpie url="https://twitter.com/DickieV/status/264542417041104896"]

[blackbirdpie url="https://twitter.com/TheSuperManning/status/264564197004820483"]

[blackbirdpie url="https://twitter.com/Cassiyus/status/264563538327134208"]

After suffering through a 23-game losing streak that dated back to last season, the Charlotte Bobcats are once again winning basketball games.

Charlotte point guard Kemba Walker scored a career-high 30 points and grabbed 5 rebounds as Charlotte knocked off the Danny Granger-less Indiana Pacers 90-89 Friday night.

Walker hit 9 of his 13 shot attempts, including going an impressive 9 of 10 from the free-throw line. He was extremely aggressive when it came to driving the lane and initiating contact. He even managed to hit several floaters over taller defenders.

Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, the second overall pick in the 2012 NBA Draft, was non-existent on this night. In his NBA debut, Gilchrist scored just 2 points on 1 for 7 shooting in less than 20 minutes of action. He did grab 7 rebounds though, and showed some strong tenacity on the defensive end.

The dividends of hiring a defensive-minded coach in Mike Dunlap over the summer are already paying off. Charlotte forced Indiana into 19 turnovers. They ranked just 25th in the NBA last season in opponents turnovers per game (13.0). 5 of the teams 10 steals on the night came from Gerald Henderson, who also contributed 18 points and 2 blocked shots.

Former Bobcats point guard and current Pacer D.J Augustin (3 points, 4 rebounds, 5 assists) had a chance to win it with time expiring in the fourth, but his jumper fell short.

Are the Charlotte Bobcats back on the right track?

It’s way to early to tell, but so far so good.

Charlotte was the definition of terrible last season, finishing with the worst winning percentage in league history (7-59, .106). The only direction they really should be going is up, right?

There are a lot of positives that can be taken away from this victory over Indiana. Kemba Walker was outstanding, they got to the free-throw line (21 for 24) at an excellent rate and the overall team defense was superb (Indiana shot just 36% from the field).

Sure, Indiana was missing their leading scorer from last season (Danny Granger) and Kidd-Gilchrist didn’t exactly blow the world away after being taken with the #2 overall pick this summer, but that’s just being a debbie-downer on the situation.

The season is still young. There are 81 games left to be played, but who cares at the moment.

The Charlotte Bobcats won a hard-fought basketball game against a quality team. That’s something to revel in. That’s something to be happy and excited about.

1-0 looks awfully good.

Christopher Walder is a sports blogger and lead editor for Sir Charles in Charge. You may follow him on Twitter @WalderSports