(SportsNetwork. Natrell Jamerson Saints Jersey .com) - Maybe they should have stuck with the Bobcats moniker. The Charlotte Hornets have had as much success under their new mascot as the Washington Generals against the Harlem Globetrotters. Going back to the roots of the franchise hasnt paid off for the Hornets, and much like a Charles Dickens novel, there were great expectations heading into the 2014-15 season. Its been more like excretions at the quarter mark of the NBA season. The team made the playoffs a season ago with a 43-39 record and took advantage of a weak Eastern Conference to bring postseason basketball back to the Tar Heel State. The Hornets are hoping to sneak in again this season. Al Jefferson did all the heavy lifting to get Charlotte into the tournament with 21.8 points and 10.8 rebounds in 73 games. Jefferson got help this offseason in the form of all-purpose guard Lance Stephenson, who signed a three-year, $27 million deal this past summer. The Hornets have taken a step back instead of forward with Stephenson, but hes not solely to blame for a disappointing 4-15 start. But Stephenson was supposed to get the Hornets over the hump. Hes adjusting to new teammates and new surroundings, and maybe the comfort level just isnt there yet. He reportedly turned down a five-year, $44 million offer from the Indiana Pacers after helping them reach the Eastern Conference finals in back- to-back seasons. The Pacers are struggling and could use Stephensons services. Stephenson had an NBA-best five triple-doubles last season, and is averaging 10.1 points, 7.7 rebounds and 5.4 assists in his new digs. He is shooting just 37.9 percent and making only 17.5 percent from 3-point range. Stephenson came in believing he was still the star who helped the Pacers succeed and hasnt shown head coach Steve Clifford much. To be fair, one of the things thats made it more difficult for him is that he came here and people proclaimed him as the next superstar, Clifford said last week. Hes not a star. Hes a guy that has talent to become a star. To be a star in this league, you have to do it over years. Clifford has even benched Stephenson in crunch time. Its obvious Clifford is trying to light a fire under the one who blew into the ear of superstar LeBron James in last seasons playoffs. Stephenson hasnt misbehaved in his short time with the Hornets, who are riding a 10-game losing streak that could reach 16 with New York, Boston, Memphis, Brooklyn, Cleveland and Phoenix on the docket. I thought at this point we would be in a much different place than we are, Clifford said recently. So did many others. It does take time for players and coaches to be fully integrated and the Hornets are learning that the hard way. Injuries to Michael Kidd-Gilchrist and Gary Neal havent aided the cause. Charlotte is in trouble if its relying on Brian Roberts, Cody Zeller and Bismack Biyombo. More help from Gerald Henderson is needed to support Jefferson, Kemba Walker and yes, Stephenson. We still have a lot of games left, and while people might not see it, were actually getting a lot better as a team, Walker said. Our chemistry is starting to come together and I think were getting better each and every day. The record doesnt show it and neither does the exhausting losing streak. However, four of those losses have come by five points or fewer. The Hornets lost to the Bulls, 102-95, on Wednesday, marking the 11th game this season that was decided by seven points or fewer. Charlotte has played 50 games over the past two seasons that have been decided by seven points or fewer. Those tough losses prove that the Hornets are competitive, but when it doesnt reflect in the standings fingers start to point and questions are asked. Clifford said some of the games the Hornets are losing are because of little mistakes that can be adjusted. Focus still remains the key to Charlottes success and Cliffords sanity. The Hornets are scoring 93.7 points per game and allowing 101.2 ppg. They are allowing opponents to post 43.7 rebounds against them and teams are making almost 40 percent from beyond the arc (36.8). There is still enough talent to get Charlotte back into the postseason. They just need more of a rhythm and a stronger rapport with each other. Itll get worse before it gets better. That quote, which is one of many classics from Dalton (Patrick Swayze) in the movie Road House, summarizes what the Hornets can expect in the future. Tom Savage Jersey . -- Los Angeles Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw was placed on the 15-day disabled list Saturday for the first time in his seven-year career because of a swollen muscle in his left upper back. TreQuan Smith Saints Jersey .Mihajlovic was sent off minutes from the end of Thursdays 2-0 win over Brescia and has been punished for using a disrespectful expression toward the fourth official and throwing the contents of a bottle of water at him, thus assuming an intimidating attitude. http://www.saintsfootballpro.com/Saints-Cameron-Meredith-Jersey/ .com) - Patrik Elias registered the winner in the shootout as New Jersey nipped Toronto 2-1 at Prudential Center on Wednesday. LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- The owners of California Chrome are putting all their hopes into the chestnut colt to win the Kentucky Derby. After all, hes the only horse they own. California Chrome, based at lesser-known Los Alamitos racetrack in suburban Los Angeles, is the early 5-2 favourite for Saturdays 140th Derby with good reason. He has won four straight races by a combined 24 1/4 lengths under Victor Espinoza, who won the Derby in 2002 with War Emblem. "Hes so light on his feet," Espinoza said. "He just does things so easy and makes my job easy." California Chromes owners, Steve Coburn and Perry Martin, are no Kentucky blue bloods. Theyre a couple of working stiffs who live near Reno, Nevada. A trainer called them "dumb asses" for getting into the racing game, inspiring the duo to put the letters DAP on their silks, which stands for Dumb Ass Partners. "Were going to go down in history," Coburn predicted. California Chrome is the product of an $8,000 mare and a $2,500 stallion. Hes earned more than $1 million already, making it somewhat easier for Coburn and Martin to turn down a pre-Derby offer of $6 million for a 51 per cent stake in the horse. "Weve been blessed with this colt," Coburn said. "The first time we saw him, we knew it was going to be something special." If their tale seems improbable, well, its happened before at Churchill Downs. Mine That Bird, a 50-1 shot owned and trained by two guys from New Mexico mocked as cowboys, pulled off the stunning upset in the 2009 Derby. At 77, Art Sherman, who oversees California Chrome, would be the oldest trainer to win. His colt would be the first California-bred to wear the garland of red roses in 52 years. "Hes feeling good and hes doing good," Sherman said. "Hes coming up to this race right." Rosie Napravnik wants to grab history, too. No female jockey has won the Derby, although she came closest -- fifth last year. Napravnik will ride 20-1 shot Vicars In Trouble. Her husband, Joe Sharp, works closely with the Louisiana-bred colt as assistant to trainer Mike Maker. "The story wouldd almost be too good if we won it," she said. Rick Leonard Saints Jersey. Wicked Strong is the early 6-1 second choice. The colt is named for the victims of last years Boston Marathon bombings and is trained by Jimmy Jerkens, who has his first Derby horse. Trainer Todd Pletcher has four horses in the Derby -- Danza and Intense Holiday are both 8-1 while his other two are longer shots, 30-1 Vinceremos and 50-1 We Miss Artie. Danza is named for "Taxi" actor Tony Danza, who planned to attend the Derby. Maker will saddle three horses, all long shots. Besides Vicars In Trouble, he has 15-1 General a Rod and 50-1 Harrys Holiday. "When those gates open, anything can happen," Maker said. Three-time Derby winner Bob Baffert is down to 20-1 shot Chitu after being forced to scratch early second favourite Hoppertunity because of a minor foot problem. "California Chrome has proven hes a really good horse," Baffert said, adding, "Theres a lot of parity in this field. Everybody might have a chance." Getting the ideal trip in the 1 1/4-mile Derby is important, especially with the traffic from 19 horses making a chaotic charge into the first turn. Jockeys want to avoid anything that would prevent their horse from getting into rhythm, like being bumped, cut off or blocked. Sherman believes the key is the first 70 yards. "You want to get out and get yourself some position," he said. Trainer Steve Asmussen takes a shot with Tapiture, who started three times at Churchill Downs as a 2-year-old. Asmussen is under investigation by Kentucky and New York racing officials after an animal rights group alleged he and his former assistant mistreated horses in their care. The forecast calls for sunny skies and a high of 73 degrees, with a crowd of at least 140,000 expected. Keep an eye on jockey Calvin Borel. He and 15-1 shot Ride On Curlin will break from the No. 18 spot in the starting gate. Borel will try to hustle the colt over to his favourite path on the track -- the rail. The rider nicknamed "Bo-rail" for his fence-skimming rides has three Derby wins in the last seven years. 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