Coach Tim Floyd, whose Bulls set a franchise record for road losses in a season Friday night with their 34th, said he would not be mollified when this horrific year ends Wednesday night.
“I will not necessarily be relieved. I have loved the way we’ve played the last seven or eight games, with the exception of the Milwaukee game,” Floyd said before Friday night’s 106-91 loss to the Boston Celtics.
“Over the course of the last 10 games, we have a better record than seven teams in the league. So you look for the positives. I’m not necessarily looking forward to it ending.”
The Bulls (17-62) never challenged the Celtics (33-46), who led by as many as 28 points and shot 49 percent against the porous Bulls defense. Danny Fortson (21 points), Paul Pierce (20) and Antoine Walker (14) led Boston to its third straight victory. The Celtics had lost their previous 10 games to fall out of the playoff hunt.
The inspired play of rookie forward Michael Ruffin was the singular highlight for the Bulls, who turned the ball over 21 times and saw rookie-of-the-year candidate Elton Brand’s scoring output dwindle from 44 points Thursday night against Washington to 18 points against the Celtics.
Ruffin wound up with career highs in points (14) and rebounds (10).
“I thought he was the best he has been this year, which was a real plus,” Floyd said.
The 6-foot-8-inch second-round pick from Tulsa was 5 for 7 from the field and hit all four of his free throws.
“With free throws it has been a struggle all year,” Ruffin said. “I tried to listen to what different people told me.”
The Celtics kept Brand in check by fronting him defensively and denying him the ball. Center Vitaly Potapenko and Fortson also imposed their muscle on Brand.
“They’re a very physical team,” Brand said. “This is the way they play, not dirty or anything. A man was always in front of me.”
The Celtics led 27-15 at the end of the first quarter, which included a 14-0 run.
“I thought their pressure paralyzed us, and it has been a problem for our team all year long, ” Floyd said. “We’ve been exposed in these situations and we certainly were doing it in that stretch.”
The Bulls’ previous record for road losses came in 1985-86, when they finished 8-33.
“I thought Fortson was too physical for us,” Floyd said. “I thought [Dana] Barros [10 points] helped change the game when he came in with some big shots.
“Pierce was his usual steady self tonight.”
Celtics coach Rick Pitino probably will be looking forward to seeing the season end after a disappointing record.
“I think a lot of teams are playing with character right now,” Pitino said of the non-playoff contenders. “You watch Chicago, Houston, Dallas and Boston. They’re all playing with great character.
“So you shouldn’t pack it in. Our fans are here to see us perform, and we are out there to get better.”
Injury update: Rookie Ron Artest (ankle) did not dress for Friday night’s game.
“We’ll check him again Saturday,” Floyd said. “I think that will be an important day for him.”
Veteran guard Randy Brown is eligible to come off the injured list Tuesday when the Bulls meet Philadelphia in their final home game.
Local angle: Walker’s high school coach, Mike Curta of Mt. Carmel, attended Friday night’s game at the FleetCenter as Walker’s guest.
