Bulls can't find rim through the trees

The saddest part about the Bulls' latest display of horrendous shooting is they missed as many shots a foot from the rim as they did from long range -- if not more.

Scott Skiles didn't want to divulge the coaching staff's count of missed layups and tip-ins, but admitted the total was in double digits. Some who watched Monday's 103-98 loss to Dallas might express shock that the missed layup count didn't reach triple figures.

"We need to be going in there much stronger than we are right now," Skiles said.

As has been typical this season, reserve forward Andres Nocioni was the only player to find much success near the basket. Nocioni hit 15 of 16 free throws on his way to 30 points, while also knocking down 3 of 4 attempts from 3-point range.

Following Monday's loss, Nocioni was asked why he seems to be the one player immune to the Bulls' season-long shooting slump.

"I don't know. No idea," he said. "Sometimes, it's just personal. Sometimes everybody believes the coach needs to do something special. But sometimes it's just personal. You need to think about stepping up and making a three or an open shot and that's it."

There appears to be an obvious explanation to the Bulls' inability to finish near the basket. They use a small lineup and the players get timid when the opposing team has some shot-blockers.

Dallas center Erick Dampier became the third player to collect 6 blocks against the Bulls this season, joining Atlanta's Josh Smith and Phoenix's Amare Stoudemire. Denver's Marcus Camby had 5 blocks against the Bulls.

"If you're 6-8 or under and you go driving in there, odds are somebody's going to challenge you in our league," Skiles said. "If you're a big-minute player, you're probably going to get your shot blocked on occasion. That's just the way that it is.

"You can't let that deter you from going in there. You've got to keep going in there, whether it's pulling up from five feet and shooting a floater or going into the contact or rising up and trying to dunk it on somebody.

"Maybe going off of two feet instead of one, drawing everybody right to the point of attack and pitching it out for a wide-open shot. There are a lot of things you can do against guys that are blocking your shot. But the last thing you want to do is get timid with it."

Nocioni has become the Bulls' best player at attacking the basket, and it goes beyond the fact that he's aggressive and creates contact. The 6-foot-7 forward also can finish with either hand and will sometimes lean back and flip the ball into the hoop instead of taking it to the rim.

For three quarters on Monday, the Bulls' accuracy was as bad as it has been this season. The team was shooting 28.2 percent and trailed 71-60.

The rim suddenly opened up in the fourth quarter as the Bulls hit 10 of 16 shots. They trailed 85-69 with 8:16 remaining, then rallied within 101-98 with 11.6 seconds on the clock.

Kirk Hinrich had a promising fourth quarter, hitting 4 of 7 shots for 14 points. Prior to Monday, Hinrich had scored 14 points in a full game just five times this season.

"I need to be more aggressive," Hinrich said. "Whatever problems I'm having, I think a lot of it would be solved if I was a lot more aggressive.

"We can't let this shake us. We have to keep going, just be mentally tough, stay with it. I have the confidence that things are going to turn around for us as well as myself."

Tonight's tipoff

Bulls vs. Charlotte Bobcats at Charlotte Bobcats Arena, 6 p.m.

TV: Comcast SportsNet

Radio: WMVP 1000-AM

Update: The Bulls produced their best shooting game of the season during a 111-95 home win over Charlotte on Saturday. The Bobcats are 5-4 at home this year, while the Bulls are 1-2 all-time at Charlotte's new arena. The Bobcats (6-10) suffered their sixth straight loss, 98-79 in Toronto on Monday, even though the Raptors played without Chris Bosh, Andrea Bargnani and T.J. Ford.

Bobcat facts: Former Bull Othella Harrington returned from an injury to play six minutes on Monday. … The Bobcats started 6-foot-7 rookie Jared Dudley in place of Primoz Brezec in Toronto. Dudley ended up with 16 points and 10 rebounds in 38 minutes.

Next: Detroit Pistons on Friday at the Palace of Auburn Hills, 6 p.m.

-- Mike McGraw