After an abysmal 1-5 start, it’s hard to say which is more of a long shot: A Bull being an All-Star or a .500 trip or better.
Since Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen left town, the Bulls are 5-47 on the annual extended November trip that makes way for the circus at the United Center. The way the current team played in its last outing against the Raptors doesn’t inspire much confidence for fortunes to change.
When coach Scott Skiles shuffles the deck Thursday night in Phoenix against the Suns, most likely replacing Tyrus Thomas with Andres Nocioni in the starting lineup, the change will mark the fourth time in the last four seasons the Bulls’ coach has altered his lineup on this trip.
In 2004-05, out went Eric Piatkowski, Tyson Chandler and Eddy Curry. In came Chris Duhon, Luol Deng and Antonio Davis as the Bulls avoided their worst start in franchise history with a victory in Salt Lake City to go 1-9.
In 2005-06, Michael Sweetney replaced Darius Songaila and the Bulls won three of their next four on the trip.
Last season, out went Gordon and P.J. Brown. In came Duhon and Nocioni, and the Bulls proceeded to go 1-6 on the trip but 15-13 overall with the new lineup.
When the schedule first came out, this trip appeared more benign because of the opponents and a break for practice time at home as the trip shifts from the West to the East Coast.
But now, all bets are off.
“On paper, it’s an easier trip because it’s not as long and we get to come home for Thanksgiving,” Skiles said. “The problem is the first team on the schedule. Because of Steve [Nash], they make you play a certain way. They can make you look bad if you’re not ready to change ends and play.”
Perhaps the Suns’ up-tempo style could aid the Bulls’ collective shooting slump in that the pace will allow plenty of transition opportunities and free-and-easy jump shots.
Despite the slow start, Bulls players sounded somewhat optimistic about facing one of the league’s elite for a different reason.
“Usually, whenever we face a tough challenge, a lot of times we respond,” Kirk Hinrich said.
This is for sure: The Bulls endured back-to-back, three-hour practices with focus placed on getting back to their style of play. That means moving the ball on offense, getting dribble penetration and setting good screens. That means diving for loose balls and taking charges on defense.
Lethargy breeds familiarity — another lineup change, another circus trip, another slow start.
“This is a place this team has been before, and we always manage to fight our way out of it,” Gordon said. “I think we’ll do the same thing.”
