Bobcats on pace to become the worst NBA team ever

"I think if you take the three leading scorers off any team that's going to make a huge difference," Silas said. "I think if we had them we would be very competitive."

But they don't have them and of late the Bobcats haven't been very competitive. They have lost their last eight games by an average of 22.5 points.

They've 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 it's 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 won't say they're 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 we're 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. I've worn two socks on each foot," he said. "I've worn socks two days in a row, which I've never done before... but nothing has worked. I'll keep trying.

"Something has to work eventually — and hopefully soon."