"It looked good. It felt good. It certainly represented progress. But a triple-double wasn't something Charlotte Bobcats rookie Kemba Walker would make a goal.

"It's not the kind of thing you plan," Walker said, after totaling 20 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds in a 102-99 loss to the Washington Wizards. "It just happens."

This was just the third triple-double in Bobcats history. Boris Diaw and ex-Bobcat Stephen Jackson each assembled one.

Walker struggled greatly the previous three games, while taking over primary playmaking responsibility with D.J. Augustin injured. So he huddled with the coaches to see what he's been missing in terms of setting up his teammates, on a team that averaged just 75 points and 35 percent shooting in the last three.

"I was more patient tonight," Walker described. "I watched plenty of film with the coaches and they were showing me opportunities I missed. I took those opportunities tonight."

Beyond that, Walker saw offensive synergy that was lacking in blowout losses to the New York Knicks, Wizards and Philadelphia 76ers.

"When there's communication amongst us," Walker said, "it's always better.""