Hughes has no problem 'snitching' about Cavs' plays
It might seem the Cleveland Cavaliers are the most predictable team in the NBA. Just throw the ball to LeBron James and stay out of his way.
According to former Bull Joe Smith, however, the Cavs and coach Mike Brown have a complicated system.
"Most places, the terminology is about the same," Smith said in the Akron Beacon-Journal. "But here, they sound like football plays."
On Saturday at the Berto Center, Bulls guard Larry Hughes suggested he'll do whatever he can to help his new team get a jump on his old team, the Cavaliers.
"I've been known to call out plays from teams that I've played for and give my team somewhat of an edge, so I look forward to doing the same thing, stealing some calls and trying to give our guys a heads-up on tendencies and what they like to do," Hughes said. "Some people call it snitching. I call it trying to get a win."
Boylan bounces back: Bulls coach Jim Boylan admitted that Friday's second-half collapse and 97-91 loss to Washington was his lowest moment as head coach, but he was in a better mood Saturday.
"Well, it's been a tough year," he said. "A lot of things have gone on. But that's what they signed up for. People tend to think you're a professional athlete or you're a professional coach, it must be so great. Some days it is. Some days it's not. You have to take the good with the bad."
Looking at the bigger picture, the Bulls played reasonably well for 4½ games after making the trade, then had a bad third quarter against the Wizards.
Of course, the 22-1 run the Bulls surrendered in the third quarter cast a wretched stink on the organization that will be tough to remove. But it was just one quarter.
"We seem to be at times just stuck in the mud and can't really get any traction to get anything going," Boylan said. "Somewhere, somehow, at some point, we're going to have to find that."
No change at forward: Tyrus Thomas played just nine minutes Friday against Washington after picking up some early fouls. Coach Jim Boylan is leaning toward leaving Thomas in the starting lineup against the Cavaliers.
"But you never know. It's a long flight to Cleveland," Boylan joked.
Ex-Cav Larry Hughes figures to remain in the starting lineup today because Thabo Sefolosha will likely miss his second game with a groin injury.
Wally worlds away: Guard Wally Szczerbiak, acquired by the Cavaliers from Seattle in the same trade that brought Ben Wallace and Joe Smith, will not play today. His wife gave birth to the couple's third child Saturday. Szczerbiak shot just 30 percent in his first three games with Cleveland.
Cavaliers guards Daniel Gibson (sprained ankle) and Sasha Pavlovic (foot sprain) won't play as well.
Today's tipoff
Bulls vs. Cleveland Cavaliers at Quicken Loans Arena, noon
TV: Channel 7
Radio: WMVP 1000-AM
Update: Just 10 days after the three-team, 11-player deal was completed, the Bulls get to see Ben Wallace and Joe Smith in the players' new home while Bulls additions Larry Hughes, Drew Gooden, Cedric Simmons and Shannon Brown return to Cleveland. The Cavs are 2-2 since making the trade.
Player to watch: LeBron James still pretty much does everything for the Cavs (33-26). He leads the league in scoring at 30.2 ppg, and he averages 8.1 rebounds and 7.5 assists.
Next: Memphis Grizzlies at the United Center, 7:30 p.m. Tuesday
-- Mike McGraw