Bobcats' Biyombo to get more playing time

By: JournalNow Staff | The Associated Press
Published: January 20, 2012

CHARLOTTE --

Rookie Bismack Biyombo is moving up on the Charlotte Bobcats' depth chart.

Coach Paul Silas said that — starting Saturday against Chicago — Biyombo will move to center to back up starter Byron Mullens for the rest of the season. Biyombo had been buried on the depth chart beneath a glut of power forwards, including Tyrus Thomas, D.J. White and, at times, Boris Diaw.

Biyombo had his most impressive game as a pro Tuesday in a loss at Orlando, finishing with 11 points and 10 rebounds and playing well on defense. Even though center Dwight Howard of the Magic scored 25 points, Silas liked the job Biyombo did on him. Biyombo had four blocks and nine defensive rebounds and frustrated Howard late in the game.

"I was playing him at the power-forward spot, and I had so many guys there," Silas said. "But now he's going to be my backup center. He's going to play there from here on in. He and Byron will share that spot, and Byron will start and Bismack will come off the bench."

Biyombo is only 6-foot-9, but Silas considers him the toughest player on the team and pointed to a sequence Tuesday in which Biyombo blocked a shot at one end, then finished at the other end with a dunk.

"That's something you don't see every day," Silas said. "He really played hard and played tough. He's probably the toughest player I have on the club. And he deserves more playing time."

Silas said there's still plenty of work for Biyombo to do, particularly on offense.