The Nuggets bring their seven-game win streak into Charlotte to face the sometimes competitive but not particularly good Bobcats. Oh, and George Karl could win his 1,000th game as an NBA head coach by beating his good friend Larry Brown tonight.

We've already gone into great detail of why tonight's game against the Bobcats carries additional significance to the Nuggets.  But as happens so many times in sports, these long-awaited games can be let downs.  In order to avoid such a let down, the Nuggets will need to bring forth a focused effort.

In theory, beating the Bobcats shouldn’t be a problem. Winners of just seven games all season to date, the Bobcats have beaten only one team that has a plus-.500 record and that was at home against a Steve Nash-less Phoenix Suns squad. So that hardly counts.

As expected by many this offseason, after making the playoffs last season and seeming to be on the path to respectability under new owner Michael Jordan, the Bobcats have gone backwards in the win column. Even without Chris Andersen, the Nuggets – having had a full day’s rest on the road – have no excuse not to beat these guys and get Coach Karl win number 1,000.

SCOUTING THE BOBCATS…

Bobcat Non-Stiffs

–Gerald Wallace: Named an all-star in 2009-10, Wallace looked awful during the Team USA tryouts this past summer and his numbers are off across the board this season. But Wallace remains both an offensive and defensive threat and Carmelo Anthony will probably be in for a night of hard work to get his usual point production against him.

–Stephen Jackson: The mercurial “Captain Jack” is having another solid season that included a triple-double in that win against the Suns. But when Jackson is one of your two best players, you’re going nowhere.

–D.J. Augustin: The former ninth overall pick has filled in somewhat admirably for the departed Ray Felton and has improved his production in all areas, notably scoring and assists.

Bobcat Stiffs

–Kwame Brown: Jordan – who foolishly drafted Brown first overall in 2001 – couldn’t help himself and brought Brown to Charlotte this past summer. Simply put, Brown will likely go down as the worst first overall pick in NBA history (at least Greg Oden has played halfway decent when he has played).

–DeSagana Diop: The untradeable Diop is owed $7.4 million in 2012-13 and will be known throughout that season as having one of the worst contracts in the NBA.

FINAL THOUGHT

Given that the Nuggets will be on zero day’s rest entering tomorrow night’s game at Boston where the Celtics will have been rested for several days, they might as well play their asses off in Charlotte tonight and take home an eighth-straight win and a 1,000th victory for Karl.