Charlotte Bobcats President of Basketball Operations Rod Higgins announced on Monday that Paul Silas has been fired as head coach and a search for his successor will begin immediately.

The Bobcats lost 23 games in a row to end the regular season, finishing with a 7-59 record. In the process, they attained the worst winning percentage for any franchise in one season (.106).

The Bobcats never won consecutive games this season under Silas. (Reuters/Chris Keane)

“I would like to personally thank Paul for everything he has done for this team under some pretty unique circumstances,” Higgins said. “His basketball experience as a coach and a player speak for themselves. We have been fortunate to have someone of his character associated with this franchise and we hope he will continue to be a valuable resource to us in the future.”

The 68-year-old Silas recently completed his first full season with the Bobcats, after being named interim coach on Dec. 22, 2010, and then having the interim title removed on Feb. 16, 2011. In his time with Charlotte, he compiled an overall record of 32-88 (.363), but failed to get the team to the playoffs after its last appearance in the 2010 NBA playoffs.  

In 11 seasons as an NBA head coach, Silas has a career record of 377-531 with the San Diego Clippers (1980-83), Charlotte/New Orleans Hornets (1999-2003), Cleveland Cavaliers (2003-05) and Bobcats. He also spent 11 seasons as an assistant coach for the Hornets, Knicks, Nets and Suns.

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By STEVE REED
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The dreaded day for the Bobcats is fast approaching: When Charlotte could earn the dubious distinction of becoming the worst team in NBA history.

Guard Matt Carroll warned his teammates about it two weeks ago. He knew then if Charlotte didn’t win a game it would risk becoming an historic embarrassment.

If Charlotte loses its six remaining games the Bobcats will finish with the worst winning percentage in league history (.106), a dubious honor that’s currently held by the 1972-73 Philadelphia 76ers, who finished 9-73 (.110.)

“We are desperate to get a win,” Carroll said. “No one wants to be known as the worst team in NBA history. I’ve been talking about this with guys on the team for last two weeks telling them we at least need to get one more win. I think guys at first heard it but weren’t thinking it was going to happen.

“But now everybody is aware it could happen, so we better get a win.”

It won’t be easy.

The Bobcats (7-53) host Chicago on Wednesday.

After that they close this lockout-shortened season against Memphis, Sacramento, Washington, Orlando and New York.

On paper, Washington, which has the second-worst record in the league, would seem to be the best chance at a win. But the Wizards hammered the Bobcats by 28 points just last week in Charlotte.

The Bobcats, who are playing without leading scorer Corey Maggette, have shown no signs of being able to win a game and are mired in a franchise-record 17-game losing streak.

On Sunday they lost by 12 to the Boston Celtics even though they rested star players Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen. The following night the Bobcats lost to a New Orleans Hornets team that sat its top two scorers in Eric Gordon and Chris Kaman.

So Charlotte’s rallying call has become: Just win one, baby!

“I would love to get a win — that’s our goal,” coach Paul Silas said. “We can’t make open shots right now. We just have to keep fighting. You look at our roster and we are trying, but it’s awfully tough.

“It’s tough on the players, it’s tough on the coaches and it’s tough on the people upstairs” in management.

Silas said the record losers is a title nobody wants their name associated with.

“Nobody does but if it happens, it happens,” Silas said. “You do the best you can. Somebody has that record now and they didn’t want it either. But it happens. I just hope we’re not associated with it.”

Silas has tried to remain a positive, steadying force for the Bobcats.

He’s been around some other bad NBA teams before but has always seems to persevere.

“That’s just the way I am,” Silas said. “I’ve been through so many trying times in my life. To be where I am now it’s because you fight through it. If you become negative and cease to fight that’s when you’re going to lose — and I’m not going to lose. And I’m not going to let my players get to that point either.”

Carroll said team spirit is remarkably high considering the team’s struggles this season.

He said the difficult part is knowing the Bobcats let some games they should have won slip away, including a 75-67 loss to the Hornets on Monday night.

Although other teams are sure to rest their stars down the stretch, Charlotte’s best chance to win might have come against the Hornets.

“They’re a good team, but we look at them as similar to us,” said Bobcats guard Gerald Henderson. “This is a game we wanted to win. You look on the schedule and we felt like this was one we could really get. That’s why it’s even more frustrating.”

And more frustration could be ahead.

The Bobcats, who’ve already clinched the worst record in the league this season, need to shoot better than 30 percent — as they did against the Hornets — to have a remote chance to win.

“The schedule is not going to get easier,” Carroll said. “We have to believe we’re going to get one game coming up. It sounds silly to think let’s win one game, but it’s kind of been that feeling all year. For us, it’s been hard to get one game all year.”

Getting one now is imperative to the Bobcats because the alternative is something they don’t want to think about.

“You never, ever, ever want that label of being the worst team,” Carroll said. “It’s just a bad thing

Stats that stand out from the New Orleans Hornets’ 73-71 loss to the Charlotte Bobcats Monday night.

1. 7. Total free throws attempted by Hornets, a season low.

2.11. Double-doubles by Chris Kaman after scoring 12 points and grabbing a season-high 16 rebounds. 

3.35. Combined points scored Hornets during the second and third quarters.

4.38.5.Shooting percentage for Hornets.

5. 0-6. Hornets record when scoring less than 80 points.

+/- rating for every Hornet player

Thomas -13

Vasquez +2

Henry -12

Belinelli +1

Ayon -3

Aminu -1

Kaman +3

Jack  +5

FIRST QUARTER BREAKDOWN

Quarter score: Hornets 20, Bobcats 14

Hornets points in the paint: 12.

Bobcats points in the paint: 12.

Hornets second chance points: two.

Bobcats second chance points: four.

Hornets fast-break points: six.

Bobcats fast-break points: six.

Hornets biggest lead: eight.

Bobcats biggest lead: two.

Times tied: zero.

Hornets leading scorer: Marco Belinelli, six.

Bobcats leading scorer: Gerald Henderson, D.J. Augustin, four.

SECOND QUARTER BREAKDOWN

Quarter score: Bobcats 21,  Hornets 17

Hornets points in the paint: six.

Bobcats points in the paint: 12.

Hornets second chance points: zero.

Bobcats second chance points: four.

Hornets fast-break points: four.

Bobcats fast-break points: zero.

Hornets biggest lead: eight.

Bobcats biggest lead: zero.

Times tied: zero.

Hornets leading scorer: Chris Kaman, Al-Farouq Aminu, four.

Bobcats leading scorer: Henderson, five.

THIRD QUARTER BREAKDOWN

Quarter score: Bobcats 26, Hornets 18

Hornets points in the paint: six.

Bobcats points in the paint: 18.

Hornets second chance points: zero.

Bobcats second chance points: two.

Hornets fast-break points: zero.

Bobcats fast-break points: eight.

Hornets biggest lead: seven.

Bobcats biggest lead: six.

Times tied: one.

Hornets leading scorer: Trevor Ariza, seven.

Bobcats leading scorer: Bismack Biyombo, Kemba Walker, Henderson, six.

FOURTH QUARTER BREAKDOWN

Quarter score: Hornets 16, Bobcats 12

Hornets points in the paint: eight.

Bobcats points in the paint: six.

Hornets second chance points: zero.

Bobcats second chance points: four.

Hornets fast-break points: zero.

Bobcats fast-break points: zero.

Hornets biggest lead: zero.

Bobcats biggest lead: 13.

Times tied: 0.

Hornets leading scorer: Aminu, six.

Bobcats leading scorer: Byron Mullens, Walker, four.

When the regular season ends next month, the New Orleans Hornets and Charlotte Bobcats will be in contention to land the most ping-pong balls to secure the No. 1 overall pick in the NBA draft.

Coach Monty Williams is hoping for better luck in the upcoming lottery than what he experienced in the Hornets’ stunning 73-71 loss to the Bobcats on Monday night in front of 15,254 at the New Orleans Arena.

Charlotte entered with the worst record in the league at 5-34, and the Bobcats had just two road victories after 21 games.

However, Charlotte handed the Hornets (10-32) their 17th loss in 21 games at the Arena, despite missing 11 of its final 12 attempts from the field and all 12 attempts from 3-point range.

On the final play, Bobcats rookie center Bismack Biyombo blocked Trevor Ariza’s dunk attempt with both hands as time expired. After calling timeout with 5.2 seconds remaining and trailing by two, the Hornets ran a set play for Ariza, who had an open lane to the basket before Biyombo, 6 feet 9, emerged. Biyombo had four blocks and made six of seven shots for 12 points.

“I did what I know is a high-percentage shot, going strong to the basket,” Ariza said. “He made a great play at the basket. This one is a bad loss, even for us. This is a game we should have won.”

Snapping a three-game losing streak, the Bobcats had seven blocks. Guard Gerald Henderson led Charlotte with 15 points. It was the Bobcats’ first road victory since Feb. 17 against Toronto 98-91.

The game marked the return of former Hornets coach Paul Silas.

“We’re just very happy,” Silas said. “I could just see ourselves fading at the end of the game, but we hung in there. Bismack came in and blocked the shot and gave us the win. That was awesome.”

Charlotte didn’t take its first lead since the first quarter until 1:23 remained in the third quarter. Guard Kemba Walker started a 10-0 run that extended into the start of the fourth quarter. But the Hornets fought back, going on an 11-0 run to cut the lead to 71-69.

With 31.3 seconds remaining, New Orleans blew an opportunity to tie the score when point guard Jarrett Jack made a turnover on an offensive foul.

“I didn’t feel like I extended my arm,” said Jack, who scored a team-high 15 points. “It is what it is. We came back and put ourselves in position to win, but they just made a good play at the end.”

The Hornets were held to 34 points in the second half, their low for the season. The Hornets struggled throughout the game to make shots, especially layups.

New Orleans finished the game shooting 38.5 percent from the field, and it committed 17 turnovers that Charlotte converted into 14 points.

Williams acknowledged before the game the Hornets weren’t in position to take any team for granted despite coming off a 95-89 road victory at Minnesota.

“We stressed that all day long that we’re in no position to look at anybody in any way,” Williams said. “I watched those guys come back against Orlando, and they were down 20 points. They have guys who have been in the league. They are an NBA team, well respected by our staff and players.”

The Hornets started the game missing the first six shot attempts before guard Marco Belinelli’s 3-pointer with 8:53 remaining in the first quarter.

The Hornets took a 37-35 hafltime lead, despite converting 38.5 percent of their shots.

New Orleans native D.J. Augustin was held to four points on 2-of-6 shooting and distributed five assists for the Bobcats. Former LSU forward Tyrus Thomas scored four points and grabbed seven rebounds. The Bobcats outrebounded the Hornets 47-37.

“We only shot seven free throws and had 17 turnovers,” Williams said. “It’s a recipe for what we got. The frustrating part is that we played so well in Minnesota. To come back here and have this kind of output is frustrating.”