Bulls-Bobcats Preview

By KATE HEDLIN
Posted Apr 17 2012 5:39PM

After Derrick Rose sat out for the 14th time in 17 games, Chicago Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau admitted concern about his oft-injured star and the lack of time the starting unit has been together.

The Bulls will have to weigh those factors Wednesday night when they visit the Charlotte Bobcats, who have dropped 17 in a row and need one more win to avoid the worst record in NBA history.

Chicago (46-15) was without Rose and Luol Deng on Monday night, when they fell 87-84 at home to a Washington team which has the league's second-worst record. Deng sat out with a rib injury suffered Sunday while Rose was bothered by swelling in his foot.

The Bulls' lead over Miami for the Eastern Conference's top seed dropped to 2 1/2 games. Chicago visits the Heat on Thursday.

With a big matchup looming, the Bulls may opt to sit Rose for the 25th time this season against the lowly Bobcats. However, Thibodeau has talked about wanting Rose to work off any rust, and for his starting five to get some much-needed time together on the court.

Chicago has played just 13 games with its projected starting lineup, which also includes Richard Hamilton, Carlos Boozer and Joakim Noah. The Bulls have five games remaining.

The status of both Rose and Deng for Wednesday is uncertain. Rose's latest injury comes after he returned to the lineup April 8 at New York following a 12-game absence for a strained right groin. He sprained his right ankle in that overtime loss and missed a home win over the Knicks two days later.

"Yeah, I'm always concerned. He's missed a lot of games," Thibodeau said. "I'm concerned about that, but (also) disappointed, we have to play a lot better."

Chicago had 17 turnovers Monday after recording 21 in an ugly overtime win at Detroit on Sunday. The Bulls shot 38.1 percent against the Wizards and were outscored 20-2 on the fast break as they had a three-game winning streak snapped.

They're hitting a league-worst 41.1 percent from the field in April, going 4-4.

"The thing is, you can say that, OK maybe one game, but these guys have been around all year," Thibodeau said. "The season is coming to an end very quickly then you have to be ready, you keep on putting things off, it's not good."

Chicago has won four in a row over the Bobcats (7-53) and both victories this season were without Rose, including a 95-64 win at Charlotte on Feb. 10.

That point total was a season low for the Bobcats and the next-lowest came in their latest game, a 75-67 loss to New Orleans on Monday. Charlotte shot a season-worst 30.3 percent en route to its 17th straight defeat, matching the franchise record set earlier this season.

Already assured of finishing with the league's worst record, the Bobcats will end up with a .106 winning percentage if it fails to win any of its remaining six games. That would surpass the 1972-73 Philadelphia 76ers, who finished 9-73 for a .110 winning percentage, as the worst record in league history.

"We are desperate to get a win," guard Matt 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."

Bulls rout Bobcats 100-68 without Rose, Deng

By STEVE REED
Posted Apr 18 2012 10:48PM

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) - Chicago Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau talked before the game about his team needing to play with an edge.

They did just that Wednesday night, thumping the dreadful Charlotte Bobcats 100-68 in a solid tune-up before Thursday night's big showdown in Miami with the Heat.

Richard Hamilton scored 22 points in just 24 minutes and the Bulls took a step closer to wrapping up the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs.

Despite playing without leading scorers Derrick Rose and Luol Deng, the Bulls shot 48 percent from the floor and connected on 9 of 19 shots from 3-point range to bounce back from Tuesday night's surprising 87-84 loss to the Washington Wizards.

Hamilton made his first seven shots from the field, including four from beyond the arc and the outcome was never in doubt.

"We had a bad loss against Washington and we talked about getting back to playing how we play and that's rebounding, playing defense and trying to share the basketball," Hamilton said.

The Bulls did all of that against Charlotte.

They held the Bobcats to 30 percent shooting, outrebounded them 57-38 and had 29 assists.

The Bulls had struggled of late losing four of their last eight coming in, but they still have the NBA's best record at 47-15 with four games remaining in the regular season.

They remain 2 1/2 games ahead of the Heat in the East.

"We just want to get out there and hopefully get a win," Hamilton said. "Miami has a lot of special players. It won't be easy."

Deng, who has been bothered by a rib injury, said after the game he expects to be ready to play against Miami. Rose's status remains day-to-day with a right foot injury.

Thibodeau likes the way his team regrouped from the loss to Washington.

"Usually, this team responds," Thibodeau said.

There was plenty of reason to be happy.

His starters were terrific and the reserves didn't play bad either, accounting for 42 points.

"Everyone was sharing the ball," Thibodeau said. "So the ball was hopping and they were making the right plays. Defensively was very good. Rebounding was very good. And then the most important thing was the low turnovers."

Omer Asik had nine points and 15 rebounds for the Bulls, while Joakim Noah and John Lucas each scored 12 points.

The Bulls shot 55 percent in the first half and led by 19 in the second quarter.

They extended the lead to 24 in the third behind 10 points from Hamilton. Hamilton seemed to take the Bulls on his shoulders at times, finishing the night 9 for 13 from the field, including 4 for 5 on 3s.

He said he's getting closer to 100 percent.

"Each and every game I get better and that's a good thing," Hamilton said. "When I first came back the problem wasn't getting shots that I wanted to get it was just being able to get in a rhythm and get a feel for the game again. I'm definitely pleased with that's going on."

Charlotte continued to struggle putting the ball in the basket. For the second straight game they shot just 30 percent from the field.

"That's been our problem all year," said Bobcats coach Paul Silas.

Rookie Kemba Walker scored 16 points for the Bobcats, who've lost a franchise-record 18 straight games.

Charlotte continues its march toward NBA futility. If the Bobcats lose their final five games they'll finish with the worst winning percentage in NBA history.

"We don't want to set that record," Bobcats guard Gerald Henderson said. "That's something that we're thinking about and we've talked about. We just want to win. That's my sole goal. We've set goals for ourselves at the start of the season and haven't accomplished hardly any of them. But with these last five games, that's one that we've set and we want to accomplish that one."

The Bobcats' night, and perhaps the season, could be best summed up in one embarrassing play.

In the first half Matt Carroll had a breakaway layup but put if off the glass too strong and Byron Mullens, who seemed to be in position for a follow-up dunk, had the ball bounce off his hands and out of bounds for a turnover.

The crowed let out a collective "Ugh!" as Carroll clapped his hands together in disbelief and glanced toward the heavens.

NOTES: Tyrus Thomas, who was involved in a postgame locker room altercation with coach Paul Silas earlier this week, left the game with a sore right knee. He spent most of the first half riding a stationary bike trying to get it loose and only played three minutes. ... Charlotte's last win came on March 17. ... The Bobcats tied a season low with six turnovers. ... Chicago's 57 rebounds tied the most allowed by the Bobcats this season.

Notebook: Bulls 100, Bobcats 68

Posted Wednesday April 18, 2012 10:27PM

By Derek S. Smith, for NBA.com

THE FACTS: The Chicago Bulls bounced back from a disappointing loss Monday with a 100-68 thrashing of the Charlotte Bobcats Wednesday night at Time Warner Cable Arena. Richard Hamilton led the Bulls with 22 points. The Bobcats, who dropped their 18th straight, were led by Kemba Walker's 16 points.

QUOTABLE: "We had a lot of guys playing well tonight. Carlos (Boozer) got us started on the inside and Rip (Hamilton) did it from the outside. We took care of the ball and hit the board hard too which always makes things happen for us."
-- Chicago coach Tom Thibodeau

THE STAT: The Bobcats are on a franchise-worst 18-game losing streak. Charlotte is the fifth team since the 2000-01 season to lose 18 straight games in a single season. The Bobcats are being outscored 102.2-86.7 during the losing streak. Charlotte is currently last in the league in scoring (87.2 ppg) and point differential (-13.6 ppg). The Bobcats have lost 21 games this season by at least 20 points and dropped nine by at least 30 points. No other NBA team has more than four losses by 30 or more this season.

TURNING POINT: The Bulls used an 11-4 run midway through the third quarter to sap what little energy was in Time Warner Cable Arena. Charlotte had pulled within 12 after a dunk by Derrick Brown, but Carlos Boozer responded with a dunk that started that run. C.J. Watson capped the run with a three with 4:15 to play in the quarter and the Bulls never trailed by less than 18 the rest of the way.

HOT: Let 'er Rip. The Bulls started the game on a hot streak thanks in part to Hamilton's shooting. The Bulls guard scored 12 of his game-best 22 points in the first quarter on 5-of-5 shooting from the floor and 2-of-2 shooting from behind the arc. Hamilton finished the night 9-of-13 from the floor with four threes and added six assists to his stat line. He's scored 22 in back-to-back games and has 20 or more in three of his last five. The 22 points is a season high for Hamilton.

NOT: Byron Mullens. The Bobcats big man had just nine points in the loss to Chicago on 3-of-11 shooting. Since scoring a career-high 31 points on March 6, Mullens is averaging 6.5 points and shooting 30.8 percent (16-of-52).

INSIDE THE ARENA: The Bobcats had three North Carolinians who advanced to the Hollywood round of American Idol, Ariel Sprague, David Leathers, Jr. and Brittany Kerr, perform at halftime.

ROOKIE WATCH: Walker scored a team-high 16 points and also led the Bobcats in assists with five. He's recorded double figures in nine of the last 11 games. He is averaging 13.8 points, 4.9 assists and 4.2 rebounds during the 11-game stretch.

NOTABLE: Bobcats guard Gerald Henderson scored in double figures for the 18th time in 22 games. He is averaging 15.7 points during that stretch ... Brown is averaging 11.2 points in his last 11 games on 52.0 percent shooting ... The six turnovers by Charlotte was a season low ... The 57 Chicago rebounds was the most allowed by the Bobcats all season. The Bulls have grabbed 50 or more rebounds a league-high 21 times ... Omer Asik grabbed a season-best 15 rebounds against Charlotte ... Boozer was in double figures for the 52nd time in 62 games ... Chicago is the only undefeated team in the league when scoring 100 or more (21-0). They are also 28-1 when holding an opponent under 90 points.

UP NEXT: For the Bulls, Thursday at Miami, Saturday vs. Dallas, Wednesday at Indiana. For the Bobcats, Friday vs. Memphis, Sunday vs. Sacramento, Monday at Washington.

• Bulls: Rose
• Bobcats: Maggette, Najera

• Bulls: --
• Bobcats: Mullens

• Lead Changes: 2
• Times Tied: 5

• Arena: Time Warner Cable Arena, Charlotte, NC
• Officials: #13 Monty McCutchen, #56 Mark Ayotte, #28 Tommy Nunez Jr.
• Attendance: 14221
• Duration: 2:03