By Matt Rochinski
bobcats.com
December 27, 2011

Gerald Henderson vs. Dwyane Wade
Henderson got off to a great start for the Bobcats, scoring 18 points and bringing down a career-high-tying nine rebounds in Charlotte's 96-95 win over Milwaukee in both teams' season opener on Monday at Time Warner Cable Arena®. He picked up where he left off last season, when he finished scoring in double digits in 22 of the Bobcats final 28 games, after doing so just 12 times in his first 83 games. But it's not offensively the Bobcats will need to lean on Henderson in this contest. They need someone to attempt to slow Wade, who averaged 22.8 points, 7.3 rebounds and 5.5 assists against Charlotte in 2010-11. Arguably the team's top defender, Henderson needs to find a way to get Wade off his game the way he was able to do with opposing guards at the end of last season. He also needs to keep Wade off the foul line, where he was 29 of 35 in four games against us last season, accounting for 39 percent of his points.
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SCOUTING THE BOBCATS (1-0)
With their win over the Bucks on Monday, the Bobcats improved to 5-3 all-time in home openers and 2-6 all-time in season openers… D.J. Augustin scored a team-high 19 points to go with eight assists against the Bucks. He sprained his left ankle late in the contest and missed practice on Tuesday, but is hoping to play against the Heat and is listed as day-to-day… Boris Diaw flirted with his second triple-double with the Bobcats and sixth overall, scoring nine points with nine assists and 11 rebounds… Three players who scored in double-digits against Milwaukee are new faces on the Bobcats in 2011-12. Rookie Kemba Walker scored 13 points, seven rebounds and three assists in his NBA debut. Corey Maggette scored 12 points in his first game since coming over in a draft day trade with the Bucks. Byron Mullens scored a career-high-tying 10 points off the bench after being acquired from Oklahoma City in a trade during the preseason… The Bobcats have never opened an NBA season with three-straight home games. They take on the Orlando Magic at Time Warner Cable Arena® at 7 p.m. on Friday.

SCOUTING THE HEAT (1-0 as of 12/26)
After falling to the Mavericks in the 2011 NBA Finals, the Heat opened this season with a small matter of revenge, taking it to the Mavericks on Christmas Day in Dallas, 105-94… It was the LeBron James (37 points) and Wade (26 points) show, as they combined for 60.0 percent of Miami's points… Miami is tough to beat with that kind of production from their two stars, and if Chris Bosh gets it going after putting up just four points and seven rebounds in Dallas, its tough to contain the Heat… The battle on the boards could be crucial. The Heat outrebounded the Mavs, 51-31, on Sunday, while Charlotte outrebounded Milwaukee, 52-39… One thing Charlotte may have working to their advantage is the fact that Miami will be coming off a Tuesday night home contest against Boston that starts at 8 p.m… "We know tomorrow is going to be a heck of a test," said Matt Carroll. "But hey, that's what its all about - playing the best."

TUNE IN
The Bobcats tip off against the Heat at 7 p.m. Wednesday on SportSouth, and you can also listen on WFNZ. Don't forget to join the live chat whether you're watching from home or here at Time Warner Cable Arena using the Bobcats App.