"On a team seeking bright spots, Dominic McGuire's 17-rebound effort Friday night in the Charlotte Bobcats' loss at Atlanta glowed.

It did not fully make up for the absence of Gerald Wallace, who is expected to miss his third straight game (ankle) tonight when the Bobcats visit the Washington Wizards, but McGuire's effort produced more than just rebounds.

McGuire, in his fourth season out of Fresno State, gave the Bobcats an energetic and athletic effort, something that had been missing in a blowout loss at Memphis two nights earlier.

"We're not athletic like we have been. He's athletic," coach Larry Brown said.

"The more guys that get us loose balls and rebounds and have the ability to run on the break and handle it a little bit, we don't have enough of those. He can do all those things."

McGuire's development was slowed through the preseason while he dealt with a stress fracture in his left shin. Closer to full health now, he has been forced into playing for Wallace, who has superior offensive skills.

Still, McGuire brings many similar skills to the court. Brown said McGuire can be the Bobcats' best on-ball defender, guarding three or four positions, and he's the team's best rebounder behind Wallace.

McGuire's 17-rebound night against the Hawks included seven offensive rebounds. Earlier in the season, he had 15 rebounds against Milwaukee.

"It just comes natural to me," McGuire said. "I just try to judge where the ball is coming off and try to be there and have more will than the next person."