Charlotte Bobcats rookie Kemba Walker's term -- "embarrassment" -- was actually a kind description of a 111-78 home loss to the New York Knicks.

Consider the evidence: The Bobcats played a team that lost six straight. A team whose leading scorer, Carmelo Anthony, shot 0-of-7. A team that already lost at home to the Bobcats and nearly lost to them twice at Madison Square Garden.

A team that plays little or no defense, yet held the Bobcats to 33 percent shooting. A team that outscored the Bobcats 59-36 in the second half.

Oh, yeah. This was an embarrassment.

"It's a (self-) check," said Bobcats center Byron Mullens. " I didn't come out to play. Tyson Chandler had 17 rebounds. That can't happen.

"I'll take full responsibility for that."

Bobcats coach Paul Silas frequently used the term "soft" post-game, and it didn't require a mind-reader to see Mullens was prominent in that description. Ex-Bobcat Chandler is hardly an offensive force. Tuesday he finished with 20 points and 17 rebounds, eight of those offensive rebounds.

That more than compensated for the one-point performance by Anthony.

"I didn't like our softness. Eight offensive rebounds? That says we didn't play hard or tough," Silas described. "If I'm a 7-foot guy, do I let a guard push me under the basket? I tell these guys, 'You're coming out if you do that again.' There's not much else to say."

There were lots of problems at both ends. The Bobcats were shorthanded Tuesday, minus D.J. Augustin (right big toe inflammation), D.J. White (bruised knee) and the previously injured Reggie Williams and Corey Maggette.

This was the first game the Bobcats started without Augustin this season, and Silas cautioned Walker he had to play more like a true point guard in Augustin's absence. As Silas put it, "He's got to look for others first, himself second."

It was clear from the Bobcats' nine first-half turnovers (four by Walker) that the offense didn't run smoothly. The Knicks constantly trapped from the top of the key and got several easy transition baskets off turnovers.

Walker's final numbers were strong - 22 points, five rebounds and two assists - but the offense was clunky at best. Now they head off to Washington for a game against the struggling Wizards.

"Play like this," Silas warned, "and it's just going to be a horrible game."