Bobcats will go small after losing C Brown

Coach Paul Silas says 6-foot-8 Boris Diaw will replace Kwame Brown as the Bobcats' starting center this season if they don't sign another big man. The Bobcats, who lost Brown on Golden State in free agency Tuesday, expect to play a good bit of ''small ball'' this season looking to push the ball up the court and take advantage of their youth and speed. Gana Diop is the only center on the roster, but he's not yet fully recovered from a torn right Achilles tendon and says he needs to lose 25 pounds to get down to his playing weight of 280. The Bobcats wanted to retain Brown, but weren't willing pay what the Warriors did - $7 million for one season, according to Brown's agent Mark Bartelstein.