Duhon struggling as starter

So far, there are few complaints with the Bulls' new starting lineup.

They've gone 4-2 since making the change, while Ben Gordon has averaged 28.2 points and shot better than 50 percent from the field since resuming his sixth-man role.

But an issue is looming. Another shakeup could be needed if point guard Chris Duhon doesn't start making some shots.

Since joining the starting lineup Dec. 28, Duhon is averaging 3.0 points and shooting just 14.3 percent from the field (5-for-35). He's missed 23 of his last 24 attempts. On the positive side, Duhon does have 27 assists compared to 4 turnovers.

Last year at this time, Duhon was a starter and Gordon came off the bench. But former coach Scott Skiles promoted Gordon after Duhon had seven games in early January when he shot 15.9 percent from the field (7-for-44) and averaged 3.3 points.

Duhon eventually snapped out of last year's slump and knocked down 18 of 32 shots from 3-point range over 12 games beginning on Jan. 25.

In the first half of Saturday's 94-93 win over Sacramento, Andres Nocioni came alive with 20 points, but the rest of the Bulls' starting lineup combined for just 6, with Duhon and Ben Wallace each with zero.

One likely possibility is more playing time for Thabo Sefolosha, who had 7 points and 2 steals against Sacramento. If Sefolosha regains his confidence, coach Jim Boylan may consider a starting backcourt of Sefolosha and Kirk Hinrich.

"Thabo's always a very reliable defensive player out there and a reliable rebounder," Boylan said. "That versatility at the defensive end is great to have on your bench, and offensively, when he slows down and plays kind of a controlled game, he's fine. It's just when he gets a little bit out of control that he has some problems."

Big Ben finds form: Ben Wallace's free-throw shooting was in the spotlight Saturday. He made 1 of 6 attempts, but the 1 that fell provided the winning margin with 3.2 seconds left against the Kings.

Prior to Saturday, Wallace had knocked down 19 of 27 free throws since Dec. 7, the best stretch of his career.

"I just changed my style up a little bit," Wallace said. "I spend hours and hours in the gym working on my shot. I know what I do when I make them and I know what I do when I miss them. So it's a matter of just going up there and correcting those things and just relaxing at the line."

Wallace feels it's important to bend his knees and get a good arc on his shot.

"Anytime I give it a chance to get over the front of the rim, usually good things happen," he added.

Eye on the sky: The Bulls barely attempted any alley-oop passes to Tyrus Thomas during the first 31 games of the season. Then, they pulled off lob dunks on consecutive possessions in the second quarter against Sacramento.

"They were in a zone for a while and they lost him a few times," coach Jim Boylan said. "We talked to Tyrus about staying active along the baseline. That's where he can be a real asset to us, just playing around the basket and using his athleticism."

The Bulls tried a couple more alley-oops that failed. Thomas finished with 14 points, 9 rebounds and 3 blocks.

Duhon hits dry spell

Career points and shooting percentage for Bulls guard Chris Duhon, who has missed 23 of his last 24 shot attempts.

Season PPG FG pct.

2004-05 5.9 .352

2005-06 8.7 .400

2006-07 `7.2 .408

2007-08 5.5 .362

Bulls need a break

Talk about a schedule out of balance. From Oct. 31 to Dec. 25, the Bulls had five breaks of three or more days between games. For the rest of the season, they have only one three-day stretch with no games and that's the all-star break.

The Bulls will get a chance to catch their breath this week. After finishing a stretch of six games in nine days on Saturday against Sacramento, they play just two games this week _ at home against New York on Tuesday and at Philadelphia on Friday.

Quotable

"I had to get the stress off my back, the stress of playing during a contract year. They think about that every day when they wake up. It's their life. If they have a couple of bad games, they might think (negatively). It just messes with you mentally."

Sacramento Kings guard Kevin Martin on why he signed a $55-million contract extension last summer, when players such as Ben Gordon and Luol Deng decided to pass.

"This is a league that really plays small. Everyone plays four guards and a power forward who really is a small forward at the center. The way the rules are in the NBA now, they're really not set up for the big guy. They're set up for the small players."

Knicks coach Isiah Thomas, perhaps regretting his decision to add Portland's Zach Randolph to a lineup that already included Eddy Curry.

-- Mike McGraw