Bobcats have lost 16 straight games and have a worse winning per

CHARLOTTE, N. Kyle Rudolph Jersey .C. -- Six-time NBA champion Michael Jordan continues to struggle as a league executive. The Jordan-owned Bobcats are 3-26 and flirting with NBA futility. Because of the lockout-shortened season Charlotte wont challenge the 1972-73 Philadelphia 76ers record of 72 losses. However, the Bobcats have lost 16 straight games and have a worse winning percentage (.103) than that infamous 76ers team. "Everybody wants to make history but you dont want to make history that way," said Bobcats guard Matt Carroll, currently in his second stint with Charlotte. "You dont want to be that team." Jordan isnt talking as the losses continue to mount. He declined an interview request through the Bobcats media relations department. Jordan isnt the only NBA executive having a tough time. There are only nine wins between he and Commissioner David Stern -- the league-owned New Orleans Hornets have just six victories. The Hornets and Bobcats are two of six teams that have failed to reach double digits in wins in a league that, despite efforts to push toward parity during the recent labour negotiations, seems to have a broadening gap between haves and have-nots. But none seem as low as the Bobcats. "Theyve totally bottomed out," said Steve Kerr, an NBA analyst for TNT and a former Jordan teammate. "They are a total disaster right now. They are going to have to get lucky in the lottery and be really strong as an organization in the next couple of years to get out of this." Bobcats president of basketball operations Rod Higgins previously said the key is to be patient with the building process and avoid kneejerk reactions. The Bobcats expect to be more than $20 million under the salary cap next year so they should be active in free agency. Theyll also likely get a top pick this year, although not necessarily the No. 1 overall because of the NBAs lottery system. "Its up to us to go out and get that player, or those players, to help turn this team around," Higgins said recently. But the biggest question is whether or not they can do it as Jordans track record hasnt been very good. Since being named minority owner of the Bobcats in 2006 and being given full control over the basketball operations, Jordan has selected eight players in the first round, but only four remain with the team. Three are no longer in the league. Arguably the biggest draft day blunder was selecting Gonzagas Adam Morrison with the third overall pick in 2006 when they could have had Rudy Gay. Drafting Alexis Ajinca 20th overall in 2008 was another flop, especially after giving up a first-round pick to Denver to get him. The Ajinca trade is just one of 17 in the Jordan era, more than any team in the league over the last six years. Those dealt include Emeka Okafor, Tyson Chandler, Stephen Jackson and All-Star Gerald Wallace. Whos left includes Carroll (who was actually traded in 2009 and then reacquired a year later), Corey Maggette, journeyman Eduardo Najera and forward Tyrus Thomas -- who received a five-year, $40 million contract and isnt even starting anymore. The Bobcats still owe Chicago a protected first-round draft pick as part of the Thomas trade. Bad deals arent the only thing that have hurt the Bobcats, however, injuries have also played a role in their demise. Charlottes three leading scorers -- Maggette, D.J. Augustin and Gerald Henderson -- have missed a combined 38 games due to injuries. Coach Paul Silas refused to call this a bad team and has repeatedly said that if all three had been healthy throughout the season the Bobcats wouldnt be the leagues doormat. "I think if you take the three leading scorers off any team thats going to make a huge difference," Silas said. "I think if we had them we would be very competitive." But they dont have them and of late the Bobcats havent been very competitive. They have lost their last eight games by an average of 22.5 points. Theyve been outscored by 14.4 points per game for the season, by far the most in the NBA this season. That puts them on pace for the second-worst margin of defeat since the NBA-ABA merger. "Some nights its embarrassing, especially when we lose by a lot," said rookie Kemba Walker. "No one likes to lose by that many points." Former Bobcat Steve Smith, now an NBA TV analyst, said Charlotte is has to rebuild from scratch. "It comes down to (this): Do they draft the best talent? And right now the Charlotte Bobcats are a team that is looking to rebuild," he said. They basically have no choice. Still, Carroll wont say theyre a bad team. "We still have talent on this team and can still win games but I think it will take more guys to get healthy," Carroll said. "As the season goes along were going to get better." In the meantime, the mildly superstitious Carroll is trying everything he can to help end the losing streak which began Jan. 16. "I switched shoes a couple of times. Ive worn two socks on each foot," he said. "Ive worn socks two days in a row, which Ive never done before... but nothing has worked. Ill keep trying. "Something has to work eventually -- and hopefully soon." Jeff Locke Jersey . Less than 24 hours after posting their highest run total of the season, the Red Sox seek a sweep of a quick two-game series with the Toronto Blue Jays. Corey Wootton Jersey . -- Miami Dolphins owner Stephen Ross says he spoke with the NFL and the attorney who investigated the teams bullying scandal to get a sense of what will be included in their forthcoming report on the case. MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- Top-seed John Isner, playing for the first time since helping the U.S. defeat Switzerland in Davis Cup, defeated Gilles Muller of Luxembourg, 7-6 (1), 7-6 (4) in the Regions Morgan Keegan Championships on Tuesday. Isner, ranked a career-best No. 13 in the world, overpowered Muller with 26 aces, including five in the two tiebreakers. Isner also won 96 per cent of his first-serve points. The 26-year-old advances to the second round where hell oppose American Donald Young. "Even though I beat Roger (Federer), it was just one match," Isner said. "I think confidence comes from putting a string of match (wins) together. I havent really played that many matches. This was just my seventh match of the year." Isners doubles partner, Sam Querrey advanced to the second round with a 2-6, 6-3, 6-4 victory against Alejandro Falla of Colombia on Tuesday. Querrey underwent right elbow surgery in June and won for only the second time this year in five matches. His world ranking has dropped to 99th after peaking at No. 17 in January 2011. "I feel pretty close," Querrey said of returning to match shape. "Im missing more forehands than I usually do, but Im just committed to stepping up and hitting it. More and morre are falling (in) every day. Captain Munnerlyn Jersey. " In other mens first-round matches, James Blake, participating in his first ATP Tour match since encountering knee problems late last fall, dropped a 6-0, 6-2 decision to fellow American Ryan Sweeting. In a late match, top-seed John Isner, ranked a career-best No. 13 in the world, plays in the opening round against Gilles Muller. No. 2 seed Andy Roddick opens defence of his Memphis title Wednesday night. Querreys first-round victory added to his history of success in Memphis. He improved to 13-4 overall. He has advanced to at least the quarter-finals four of the past five times in Memphis. Querrey survived falling behind a break in the third set and won with an ace, his 12th, on match point. In the Memphis International, the accompanying Womens Tennis Association event, No. 2 seed and Russian-born Ksenia Pervak defeated Vancouvers Rebecca Marino, a finalist in last years tournament, 6-2, 6-4, in first-round play. Unseeded Varvara Lepchenko, who became a U.S. citizen in September, upset No. 7 seed Johanna Larsson of Sweden, 6-2, 6-4, to move into the third round along with No. 5 Pauline Parmentier of France. Parmentier defeated Andrea Hlavackova of the Czech Republic, 6-4, 4-6, 6-2. ' ' '