Bibby doing his bit to get Hawks going
The first game Mike Bibby played for Atlanta, the Hawks fell behind the Los Angeles Lakers by 40 points before halftime.
Things have gone better for the former Sacramento guard since then. He averaged 19.3 points in the last three games while Atlanta has taken hold of the eighth playoff post in the East.
"I had the chance to coach Mike in Vancouver when he first came in the league," Bulls coach Jim Boylan said. "He's a tough player. Mike's also an underrated playmaker.
"When he first came to Atlanta, I think that's what he was trying to do and his offense slipped a little bit. He was struggling to make a shot.
"But now it seems like he's more comfortable and getting back to playing his game."
Needless to say, tonight's meeting at the United Center is important for the Bulls, who sit in 11th place, 3 games behind the Hawks.
"The big thing with Atlanta is, can you rebound the ball against them?" Boylan said. "They're very athletic, a very long team -- one of the top teams in points in the paint. So our interior play is going to be tested."
Fracas is forgiven: Andres Nocioni's outburst during Saturday's loss to Indiana will result in no more lost playing time. Coach Jim Boylan claimed he and Nocioni patched things quickly.
"In reality, everything was fine right after it happened," Boylan said. "I'd never hold any sort of grudge against a player for showing some emotion out there. Maybe it's not the right time to do it, but nonetheless it is an emotional game.
"Noc has done a lot for this organization and will continue to do a lot for this organization. When I think of Andres Nocioni, I think of one of the best players I've been around as far as feeling his love for the game and his will to win. Noc and I sat and talked, and everything is fine with us."
Nocioni lashed out at Boylan when pulled from Saturday's game after playing less than three minutes. He also has had recent games in which he has played just five and 10 minutes.
"I think I'm not playing my minutes because I'm not playing well," a contrite Nocioni said Monday. "When I go to the games, I'm not bringing my energy. I'm not playing the way I used to play.
"I don't know why. I'm a little bit frustrated. But (tonight) I'm going to try to bring my energy again and try to make a run for the playoffs."
Late-game lament: Guard Larry Hughes believes the Bulls' new lineup is partly to blame for the recent late-game failures. The Bulls added Hughes and forward Drew Gooden from Cleveland in a Feb. 21 deal and obviously never went through training camp with the new players or interim coach Jim Boylan.
"It's definitely tough," Hughes said. "We don't really have anything to fall back on as far as our sets or our defensive schemes or slowing-the-game down type of things. Once things start happening and snowballing, we kind of free-lance things and it gets us in some trouble."
Tonight's tipoff
Bulls vs. Atlanta Hawks at the United Center, 7:30 p.m.
TV: Comcast SportsNet
Radio: WMVP 1000-AM
Update: The Bulls were dominating the Hawks up until a 105-84 loss Jan. 13 in Atlanta, which ended the Bulls' 12-game winning streak in the series. … Shooting guard Joe Johnson has averaged 29 points in two games against the Bulls this season. … Atlanta (30-39) has won four of its last five to build a 1½-game lead over New Jersey and Indiana for the final playoff spot in the East. The Bulls are 3 games back and face the Hawks again Friday.
Player to watch: In 20 games with the Hawks, former Sacramento guard Mike Bibby is averaging 13.0 points and 6.6 assists.
Next: Philadelphia 76ers at the Wachovia Center, 6 p.m. Wednesday