The Boston Celtics (5-10, 3-6 away) visit the Charlotte Bobcats (7-7, 3-4 home) on Monday night at Time Warner Cable Arena (7 p.m., CSN). Here's what to watch for:
A DEFENSIVE BATTLE?: Well, it's a matchup of two of the worst offenses in the league. The Bobcats rank 27th in offensive rating (95.1 points per 100 possessions) and 28th in scoring average (89.6 points per game). Charlotte is last in the league in both field goal percentage (40.9 percent) and free throw percentage (69 percent). The flip side: Charlotte ranks fifth overall in defensive rating (97.9) and fourth in points allowed per game (91.6).
LIMITING SECOND CHANCES, TURNOVERS: The Bobcats may not be a particularly good offensive team, but here's how they are winning games: Play serviceable defense, rebound the basketball (fifth in defensive rebound percentage), and take care of the basketball on offense (sixth in turnover percentage). Boston has played some inspired defense as well, but they have 10 losses in part because of turnover woes and an inability to limit second-chance opportunities.
WIM: WANT IT MORE: The Bobcats were quicker to the ball and simply hungrier when the two teams met in Boston earlier this month. Charlotte set the tone early and Boston only played in spurts. The Celtics played gritty down the stretch in Atlanta, making all the hustle plays to aid a rally from a 12-point deficit. They'll need more of that scrappiness against the Bobcats.
WHAT ELSE?: This is the second of three meetings this season. The Bobcats posted an 89-83 win in Boston earlier this month. ... Green skies ahead: The Celtics play 11 of their next 15 games in Boston to close out the 2013 calendar year. ... With Kelly Olynyk out with the sprained right ankle, there's a chance here for a big -- Vitor Faverani or Kris Humphries -- to state their case for more consistent playing time. Faverani seems to be trending back in the right direction.