Boylan starts Gooden because 'it's time'

CLEVELAND -- Bulls coach Jim Boylan finally moved Drew Gooden into the starting lineup Sunday, while Tyrus Thomas went back to the bench.

Asked before the contest to explain the reason for the change, Boylan said, "Because I feel like it's time. Drew is a physical presence around the basket. I feel, especially in a game like today, that we need to have that. Going forward, I feel like we need that starting games."

Gooden did a decent job of cleaning the glass against his former team, finishing with 10 rebounds and 11 points. Thomas also played well, with 12 points, 7 rebounds and 2 blocks in 25 minutes.

"I liked Tyrus' energy," Boylan said. "I thought he played at both ends. That's what I kind of expected from him when I spoke to him this morning about coming off the bench and he seemed to be OK with it."

Thomas shook off his role change, saying "I don't care right now about coming off the bench. We've got to get some wins. If I come off the bench and we win, so be it."

Boylan also addressed the idea that he might be stunting Thomas' growth by removing him from the starting lineup.

"Tyrus will continue to play and develop and grow," Boylan responded. "If the only way you develop and grow is being in the starting lineup, then the people who think that don't really know the game very well."

Wallace ready for anything: Ben Wallace probably won't get the same warm reception from Bulls fans on Thursday when the Cavaliers visit the United Center, but he's OK with that.

"The only thing I would be disappointed about is if I get no reaction at all," Wallace said in the Cavs locker room. "Because I deserve it, one way or the other.

"If they come out and they boo like they mean it, then I'll live with that. If they come out and cheer like they mean it, then I'll live with that. But no reaction? I'm not going to like that."

Bulls lose father figure: LeBron James had this to say on whether Ben Wallace will fit better in Cleveland than he did with the Bulls this season:

"He was the oldest guy on that team," James said before Sunday's game. "He had to be the Daddy of that team and play well and do a lot of things that maybe he couldn't do. Coming here, there are veterans here. We know how to play. It takes a lot of pressure off him."

Quick Wally return: The Cavaliers had a couple of unexpected lineup changes Sunday. Center Zydrunas Ilgauskas did not dress because of a sore back. Forward Wally Szczerbiak, meanwhile, was expected to miss the game to be with his wife, who gave birth to the couple's third child on Saturday.

Szczerbiak ended up catching a flight Sunday morning and scored 17 points against the Bulls.

Bull horns: Thabo Sefolosha sat out his second game because of a groin injury. ... According to Elias Sports, the Bulls have the toughest remaining schedule of the teams battling for the final playoff spots in the East, based on winning percentage. ... This is the latest in NBA history that two teams in the same division met for the first time.