Bobcats-Bulls Preview

By TAYLOR BECHTOLD
Posted Dec 30 2012 3:26PM

If they hope to finally snap their lengthy skid, the Charlotte Bobcats must find a way to be more competitive on the road.

For the Chicago Bulls, back-to-back games against two of the NBA's bottom feeders might be just what they needed to get back on track.

The Bobcats will try to avoid their 19th consecutive loss on Monday night when they visit the Bulls, who have won five straight in the series.

Charlotte (7-23) is one loss away from becoming the fourth team since 1986-87 to go winless in at least 16 games in a month. The Bobcats have already done it once, going 0-16 in April. Cleveland was 0-16 in January of 2010-11 and Vancouver went 0-17 in March of 1995-96.

Charlotte, which hasn't won since Nov. 24 at Washington, is also closing in on its franchise-record 23-game losing streak at the end of the 2011-12 season.

"Eventually we are our own solution," coach Mike Dunlap said. "We can't look external."

The Bobcats appeared as though they might stop the ugly slide Saturday night building a 21-point first-half lead, but New Orleans rallied for a 98-95 win.

Now the Bobcats hit the road, where they've been especially futile during their losing streak. They've dropped nine in a row there by an average of 17.4 points, compared to 9.3 at home over that span.

The Bulls (16-12) are looking for their fourth home win in five games after halting a two-game losing streak on Saturday night with an 87-77 win over league-worst Washington.

Chicago has won five of six against Charlotte at the United Center, including a 95-89 victory in January last season.

Richard Hamilton missed one of Chicago's three wins against the Bobcats in 2011-12, but scored 20 or more points in his two games. Hamilton returned to action on Saturday, finishing with nine points in 15 minutes after missing 12 games because of a torn plantar fascia in his left foot.

"We need his minutes. We need his shots. We need his points," coach Tom Thibodeau said.

Marco Belinelli, who started during Hamilton's absence, made a smooth transition to the bench with 17 points against the Wizards. Belinelli has averaged 16.3 points over his last 12 contests.

Despite battling an ankle injury, Luol Deng is expected to start after scoring 11 points in 37 minutes versus Washington.

While the Bulls have averaged just 86.3 points in their last three, they should be able to find open looks against a Charlotte team that has allowed a league-worst 108.6 points in December.

Hakim Warrick has given the Bobcats a boost since moving into the starting lineup, averaging 14.3 points and 7.7 rebounds in three games.

Michael Kidd-Gilchrist expects to be ready after scratching the cornea of his right eye while diving for a loose ball on Saturday. The No. 2 overall pick had 22 points on 11-of-14 shooting, but had only four points in limited action following the injury.

"The thing with MKG that is incredible, and typical, is that he just played through it," Dunlap said.

Charlotte, though, has averaged just 90.7 points while shooting 39.5 percent from the field on the road since its last win.

It doesn't get easier against the Bulls, who rank among the NBA leaders in defensive scoring (91.5) and field goal percentage (42.9).

Bobcats end 18-game skid with 91-81 win over Bulls

By TRAVIS MILLER
Posted Dec 31 2012 6:58PM

CHICAGO (AP) Squandering a healthy lead is nothing new to the Charlotte Bobcats - hanging onto one is.

Kemba Walker had 18 points and eight rebounds, and the Bobcats ended an 18-game losing streak with a 91-81 win over the Chicago Bulls on Monday.

Gerald Henderson added 16 points and reserve Ben Gordon had 15 to help Charlotte snap the second-longest skid in team history. It was the Bobcats' first win in their last 10 road games.

"We're a desperate team right now," Henderson said. "This losing streak has been very tough on us."

Luol Deng scored 20 points and grabbed 12 rebounds for Chicago. Carlos Boozer also had a double-double with 19 points and 14 boards.

Charlotte fended off several rallies by the Bulls, who never held a lead, to win for the first time since Nov. 24.

Tied at 65 heading into the fourth quarter, Bobcats coach Mike Dunlap decided to try something different.

"I put the playbook in the freezer and just let our guys go at them," he said.

Charlotte went on a 10-0 run to pad its lead as boos began raining down from the irritated Bulls faithful, who have endured inconsistency as they await the return of former MVP Derrick Rose, who is recovering from knee surgery.

The Bulls had chipped away at a 12-point deficit in the third quarter, eventually tying the game on Richard Hamilton's second-chance jumper with 39 seconds left, but Chicago went ice-cold from the field in the fourth, shooting 23.1 percent.

Chicago (16-13) shot 35.1 percent overall and hit just four of 16 3-point attempts.

"You can deal with the shots. Some nights you're going to shoot better than others," Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau said. "But the defense and rebounding is not where it needs to be."

Charlotte led by as many as 21 in the first half Saturday against New Orleans, eventually losing 98-95.

It looked to be the same old story for the Bobcats heading into the fourth, but the 10-0 run to start the quarter gave the Bobcats enough momentum to stop a seemingly never-ending losing streak.

The new year couldn't come quick enough for Charlotte (8-23), which narrowly avoided posting a 0-16 calendar month for the second time in 2012. The Bobcats went 0-16 in April to end last season on a franchise-worst 23-game losing streak.

The eight wins already surpasses Charlotte's seven wins all of last season.

"When you go through an entire month without a win, it really eats at you," Dunlap said. "It's especially hard for our young guys who need to build confidence."

Ramon Sessions scored 11 first-half points to give Charlotte a five-point advantage at the break. He finished with 15.

The Bobcats shot over 50 percent from the field in the first half, but struggled from the free throw line, hitting just six of 15 attempts to keep Chicago in the game.

The Bulls began intentionally putting Charlotte on the line in hopes of mounting a comeback, to no avail.

"They weren't shooting free throws well," Thibodeau said. "You're just searching for anything that can get you going."

The Bobcats finished 21 of 38 from the stripe - worse than mediocre, but enough to get the job done.

Chicago has lost three of its last four.

"We're in a funk right now, we've been up and down this season," said Taj Gibson, who had eight points and nine rebounds. "Tonight, we let down a lot on defense and we just have to find our way out of it."

Notes: Bulls G Kirk Hinrich was ruled out before the game due to `'a compilation of things," according to coach Tom Thibodeau. He is considered day-to-day. ... Thibodeau said he was `'sad" to hear about the firing of Chicago Bears head coach Lovie Smith. `'You hate to see anyone lose their job, but that's the nature of the beast," he said. ... Bobcats F Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (scratched right cornea) did not play after being poked in the eye during a 98-95 loss to New Orleans on Saturday.

Notebook: Bobcats 91, Bulls 81

Kent McDill, for NBA.com
Posted Mon Dec 31, 2012 6:27 PM - Updated Mon Dec 31, 2012 6:27 PM

THE FACTS: Led by Kemba Walker's 18 points, the Charlotte Bobcats broke their 18-game losing streak with a wire-to-wire 91-81 victory over the host Chicago Bulls Monday. Gerald Henderson scored 16 points while bench players Ramon Sessions and Ben Gordon contributed 15 points each. The Bulls were led by Luol Deng with 20 points and 12 rebounds and Carlos Boozer had 19 points and 14 rebounds.

THE FACTS II: The Bobcats played without forward Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, who was declared out prior to the game because of an eye injury suffered in Saturday's game against New Orleans. The Bulls played without starting guard Kirk Hinrich due to a sore left knee. Bulls center Joakim Noah played with flu-like symptoms and had only two points and four rebounds in 30 minutes.

QUOTABLE I: "We are a desperate team. We just wanted to fight more than anything."
-- Charlotte guard Gerald Henderson.

THE STAT: Both teams made 33 field goals in the game. The Bobcats attempted 70 shots (47 percent) while the Bulls attempted 94 shots (35.1 percent.) The Bobcats outscored the Bulls at the free-throw line 21-11, and attempted 38 free throws to just 18 for the Bulls.

THE STAT II: For the seventh time in the last nine games, the Bulls were outrebounded, this time by a 52-49 margin.

THE STAT III: The Bulls bench equaled the Bulls starters in points scored (21-21) and rebounds (11-11) in the first half.

RECORD REMINDER: The Bobcats were 7-5 when their 18-game losing streak began.

TURNING POINT: After trailing by as much as 11 points in the third quarter, the Bulls tied the game at 65 to end the third quarter. But the Bobcats scored the first 10 points of the fourth quarter and the Bulls did not make a basket in the final period until the 6:29 mark.

INJURY UPDATE: Kidd-Gilchrist, who was poked in the eye in Saturday's game against New Orleans, decided just before game time that he could not play Monday. Hinrich did not play due to pain in his left knee and is day-to-day.

HOT: In his third game back from a knee injury, Charlotte guard Ben Gordon was seven for 12 from the field for 15 points, but did not attempt a 3-pointer.

NOT: Nobody on the Bulls shot well, but Nate Robinson, who replaced Hinrich as a starter, was two for 11 from the field. After missing his first six shots, his seventh went in, and he clasped his hands in front of his chest and looked skyward, sending his thanks to someone somewhere.

QUOTABLE II: "We looked like a team on both ends of the court."
-- Charlotte coach Mike Dunlap

GOOD MOVE: Dunlap said he abandoned the team's playbook in the fourth quarter as things went so well for the team from an offensive standpoint.

BAD MOVE: The Bulls did not have any energy in the holiday game, and Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau blamed himself for not having the team ready to play.

QUOTABLE III: "We need an edge to start the game. We cannot ease our way into a game and say 'OK, we're good, we'll get ourselves corrected.' It doesn't go like that."
-- Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau

INSIDE THE ARENA: Although he didn't get the words correct, one Charlotte player celebrated the victory by yelling "Merry New Year!" as he walked into the Bobcats locker room.

ROOKIE WATCH: Getting a start in place of fellow and injured rookie Kidd-Gilchrist, rookie Jeffery Taylor had five points and four rebounds in 25 minutes of play. Bulls rookie guard Marquis Teague had four points and three assists in 19 minutes.

NOTABLE: The Bobcats avoided becoming only the fourth team since 1987 to go winless in a month with at least 16 games; the Bobcats did it last April... The Bobcats have a huge break in the schedule, that should help them get healthy and get practice time. They have three full days off before playing Cleveland Friday... Maybe it's a holiday thing; the Bulls lost to Houston by 23 on Christmas Day.

UP NEXT: For the Bulls, Wednesday @ Orlando, Friday @ Miami, Monday vs. Cavaliers. For the Bobcats, Friday vs. Cavaliers, Sunday @ Pistons, Jan. 9 vs. Jazz.

• Bobcats: Mullens, Thomas
• Bulls: Rose

• Bobcats: --
• Bulls: --

• Lead Changes: 0
• Times Tied: 2

• Arena: United Center, Chicago, IL
• Officials: #55 Bill Kennedy, #28 Zach Zarba, #77 Karl Lane
• Attendance: 21986
• Duration: 2:17