Could it be that the Bulls are beginning to resemble an actual NBA team? Since the All-Star break, when they were working on a 16-game losing streak, the Bulls are 3-3.
They are last in the league in scoring, shooting and rebounding. But they have outshot their opponents in four of the last six games. They had outrebounded their opponents in three of the last five until tying Vancouver on Saturday.
But in Saturday’s 90-75 win, the Bulls outscored the Grizzlies on second-chance points 17-4.
“Since the break, the one thing that has changed for us is we’ve been able to play through adversity a little better,” said coach Tim Floyd.
Ron Mercer, averaging 19.2 points a game, remains questionable for Monday’s game against Golden State with ankle problems. He did not practice Sunday.
Anniversary: It’s just past the anniversary of last year’s big deal in which the Bulls sent Toni Kukoc to Philadelphia, and no one seems to have benefited. The 76ers just sent Kukoc, who was having his poorest pro season, to Atlanta as part of a package with All-Star Theo Ratliff to get center Dikembe Mutombo.
The first-round draft pick the Bulls received was used for Jamal Crawford, who is 12th on the team in average minutes a game and 13th in scoring.
Going to Golden State in the three-team deal was Larry Hughes, who finished strong last season. But he has shot so poorly this season that coach Dave Cowens says he’s thinking of switching him to point guard. Hughes is averaging 16.7 points but shooting 37.9 percent, among the worst for shooting guards.
“I get up enough shots during the summer,” Hughes said. “But I’m not the type of player who goes into an empty gym and shoots all day. I feel I know what I have to do to improve.”
Optimism: Brand, who is averaging 15.5 rebounds since the break while accommodating Marcus Fizer (averging 13 points since the break) and moving to center more, says the Bulls could easily be 5-1 since the break. Said Brand: “We lost to Cleveland by a point and lost a 13-point lead in the fourth quarter to Milwaukee. I’m encouraged.”
Improving: Playing perhaps his steadiest as a Bull has been Fred Hoiberg, who since the All-Star break is averaging 12.3 points and four assists with less than one turnover in 31 minutes a game. Said Hoiberg: “The big thing is we’re not turning the ball over as much and [we’re] getting a shot every time down, so even if we miss we have a chance for an offensive rebound.”
Artest update: Taking out the Milwaukee game in which he was ejected for fighting Glenn Robinson, Ron Artest is averaging 15.8 points, 5.5 assists, 4.8 rebounds and three steals since the break. Said Floyd: “Ron’s played his most consistent basketball since he’s been here on both ends. He’s gotten back to the level where he was a year ago.”
That’s a scream: Elton Brand on center Brad Miller, who gets accused of flopping, like Sacramento’s Vlade Divac, to draw fouls: “We laugh sometimes when he screams before he gets hit. That turns referees off a little even though he is getting banged in there.”
Since the trade deadline, Miller is averaging 13 points and 9.7 rebounds.
