Chandler and Diaw will start preseason by sitting

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Bobcats look for answers

The preseason is about experimentation and problem-solving. The Charlotte Bobcats have plenty of problems to solve and some experiments to conduct, starting with tonight's exhibition opener in Cleveland against the Cavaliers.

These five open questions were considered as a week of training camp concluded:

1. What do you do for a power forward?

Chandler's return could be sooner

New Charlotte Bobcats center Tyson Chandler might not be out so long after all.

He is recovering from off-season ankle and toe surgery and was limited to minimal activity during last week's training camp. Monday he practiced for the first time in custom-made orthotic supports, and felt so good he was allowed to participate in some 5-on-5 drills and scrimmage briefly.

Based on that, coach Larry Brown said it's possible Chandler won't be held out of all four of the Bobcats' exhibitions over the next week. The team was working under the assumption Chandler couldn't be ready to play before a two-game preseason tournament, hosted by the Los Angeles Lakers Oct.17 and 18.

Observations: Bobcats not rushing Chandler

The Bobcats are back with their plan of not playing center Tyson Chandler before next weekend's preseason tournament in Los Angeles.

Chandler, recovering from off-season ankle surgery, is getting more work in practice, but the team won't rush him onto the court. If Chandler plays in Los Angeles, he'll have four exhibitions to get comfortable with new teammates.

Coach Larry Brown has no timetable for when power forward Boris Diaw (sprained ankle) will play, but Brown isn't concerned. With Diaw having played 10 weeks with the French national team, Brown never intended to play him much in the preseason.

Bobcats must stop penetration

Continuity and effort.

Those things are difficult to measure, but impossible to replace. They're what the Charlotte Bobcats have lacked at times this preseason in addressing a major concern:

Containing opponents' dribble-penetration.

Bobcats itching for Chandler after another bruising loss

LOS ANGELES Center Tyson Chandler says he's playing Tuesday when the Charlotte Bobcats host the Milwaukee Bucks, and what Chandler offers, the Bobcats so desperately need.

That would be rebounding and interior defense. The Bobcats haven't been much in those areas this preseason, particularly in Sunday's 110-103 loss to the Utah Jazz.

Coach Larry Brown sounded appalled, reading from the box score that the Jazz had as many offensive rebounds (17) as the Bobcats had defensive boards. Those extra chances, combined with all the layups Charlotte allowed, helped the Jazz shoot 52 percent from the field.