Bismack Biyombo is spending his rookie year with the Bobcats learning defensive concepts while he improves his fundamental skills.

"One on one, he can defend anybody in this league because he's got such great timing," said assistant coach Rob Werdann, who has taken on Biyombo as his project. "But understanding help defense -- what to do and when to move on the weakside -- that's a whole different story."

Biyombo’s per-game averages are modest: 13 minutes, 3.1 points, 3.6 rebounds and 1.6 blocks.

"Biz had to learn the plays first,” said head coach Paul Silas. “The defensive concepts. Where am I supposed to be? That kind of thing. But I think in a couple of years he's going to be a really good player for this team. He's one of the hardest workers I've seen."

Paul Silas said he’s not sure if Kemba Walker’s natural position is point guard or shooting guard.

“I don’t know, to tell you the truth,” Silas said.

Walker started five games at the two spot for the Bobcats before recently sliding to point guard to fill in for the injured D.J. Augustin.

“He played really well at the two,” Silas said. “(Before) we started him, we were not scoring very well, defending very well—nothing. And the (five) games that he started at that position, our numbers just really changed—and changed for the better. We didn’t win a whole lot of games, but our numbers changed. So we’ll see what happens with (Walker starting at point).”

Silas wants Walker to distribute more efficiently.

“He’s got to pass the basketball, he’s got to go to the hoop and look for other people,” Silas said. “So I think this is a great opportunity for him to see what he can do at point guard.”

D.J. Augustin was seen by Charlotte orthopedist Bob Anderson and diagnosed with an inflammatory condition of the sesmoid bones that lie in the flexor tendons on his right big toe.

Augustin re-aggravated the injury during the first quarter of the Bobcats’ Jan. 22 matchup at New Jersey. Augustin is expected to miss the team’s next four games (five days total).

Bobcats owner Michael Jordan recently gave Gerald Henderson a video that documents the good and bad of Henderson’s first dozen games this season.

“It was so helpful,” Henderson said. “I watch tape all the time, but to get someone else’s eyes on it, you get such a different outlook. Particularly when it’s him.”

Jordan has taken a great personal interest in Henderson’s development.

“He’s a great kid with the right work ethic. He can be a really good basketball player, and if I can do what it takes to get him there, I will,” Jordan said. “I told him to work at shooting 50 percent from the field – don’t just take a lot of shots. And free throws are just what they sound like – free points. Someone with his abilities should be getting to the line all the time.

“For a lot of guys, talking basketball is just blowing smoke. It’s not with him – he’s determined to improve, and that’s what I wanted to see.”

The Warriors play zone 10.3% of the time, followed by the Bobcats (9.3%) and Raptors (7.5%), according to Synergy Sports, which tracks every NBA play and provides in-depth statistical analysis.

The Hawks face zone defenses the most, on 9.2% of their possessions, followed by the Heat (8.8%), Bobcats (8.3%) and Thunder (7.5%).

It's no coincidence the Heat and Thunder face zones.

"Those might be the two most athletic teams," TNT analyst Steve Kerr said.

Paul Silas is at a loss for how to get the Bobcats – losers of five straight and often in a severe talent deficit – back on track.

Silas said his starters have “just kind of given up now. I don’t know what to say.’’ Then he added, “I tell my players, we’ve got to learn from our losses. That doesn’t seem to be coming very quickly.’’

With forward Tyrus Thomas showing signs of leg fatigue, Bobcats coach Paul Silas chose to sit him, with hopes he'll play Thursday in Atlanta - the first of three games in three nights for the Bobcats.

Thomas missed the first six games of the season with a sprained ankle. His return coincided with Corey Maggette's hamstring strain, so Silas inserted Thomas into the lineup at small forward and played him heavy minutes - an average of 29 per night.

"His legs are hurting him and he's very tired," Silas said. "Possibly we played him too much, too soon."

Kemba Walker has been inconsistent to start his rookie season with the Bobcats.

Walker scored 17 points at Miami and a career-high 19 vs. Atlanta. But in the other four of the past six games, Walker totaled 17 points.

Walker's average shooting touch and passing ability have made it difficult for him to always impact the NBA game.

The NBA announced the 2012 All-Star Ballot on Wednesday.

The 120 players on the ballot were selected by a panel of media who regularly cover the NBA: Bill Simmons (Grantland), Sekou Smith (NBA.com), Doug Smith (Toronto Star/PBWA), and Ian Thomsen (Sports Illustrated). 

The following is a team-by-team list:

Atlanta (4): Joe Johnson, Al Horford, Jeff Teague, Josh Smith

Boston (5): Rajon Rondo, Ray Allen, Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, Brandon Bass

Charlotte (4): D.J. Augustin, Kemba Walker, Boris Diaw, Corey Maggette

Chicago (5): Derrick Rose, Joakim Noah, Carlos Boozer, Luol Deng, Richard Hamilton

Cleveland (3): Kyrie Irving, Antwan Jamison, Anderson Varejao

Dallas (5): Dirk Nowitzki, Lamar Odom, Shawn Marion, Jason Kidd, Jason Terry

Denver (5): Ty Lawson, Arron Afflalo, Andre Miller, Nene, Danilo Gallinari

Detroit (4): Greg Monroe, Rodney Stuckey, Jonas Jerebko, Tayshaun Prince

Golden State (3): Stephen Curry, Monta Ellis, David Lee

Houston (4): Kyle Lowry, Kevin Martin, Luis Scola, Samuel Dalembert

Indiana (6): David West, Danny Granger, Tyler Hansbrough, Roy Hibbert, Paul George, Darren Collison

L.A. Clippers (4): Blake Griffin, Chris Paul, Chauncey Billups, DeAndre Jordan

L.A. Lakers (4): Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol, Andrew Bynum, Metta World Peace

Memphis (4): Zach Randolph, Marc Gasol, Rudy Gay, Mike Conley

Miami (4): LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh, Joel Anthony

Milwaukee (3): Andrew Bogut, Brandon Jennings, Stephen Jackson

Minnesota (3): Kevin Love, Michael Beasley, Ricky Rubio

New Jersey (3): Deron Williams, Kris Humphries, Anthony Morrow

New Orleans (4): Eric Gordon, Carl Landry, Chris Kaman, Emeka Okafor

New York (3): Carmelo Anthony, Amar’e Stoudemire, Tyson Chandler

Oklahoma City (5): Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, James Harden, Serge Ibaka, Kendrick Perkins

Orlando (4): Dwight Howard, Jameer Nelson, Jason Richardson, Hedo Turkoglu

Philadelphia (5): Jrue Holiday, Thaddeus Young, Andre Iguodala, Elton Brand, Spencer Hawes

Phoenix (3): Steve Nash, Grant Hill, Marcin Gortat

Portland (6): LaMarcus Aldridge, Wesley Matthews, Raymond Felton, Gerald Wallace, Marcus Camby, Nicolas Batum

Sacramento (3): Tyreke Evans, DeMarcus Cousins, Marcus Thornton

San Antonio (3): Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili

Toronto (3): Andrea Bargnani, DeMar DeRozan, Jose Calderon

Utah (4): Derrick Favors, Al Jefferson, Paul Millsap, Devin Harris

Washington (4): John Wall, Nick Young, JaVale McGee, Andray Blatche

Antawn Jamison becomes a free agent after this season.

He plans to play two or three more seasons and said he'd give every consideration to signing with the Bobcats.

"That's always been a dream of mine — to be home'' for the conclusion of his career, Jamison said. "To have my parents there (at home games), to have my kids there.''