Bulls benefit from Gooden's improved play
The Bulls' recent improvement hasn't been all about Derrick Rose.
Power forward Drew Gooden is also on a hot streak, averaging 19.4 points and 10.6 rebounds while shooting 53 percent over the last five games.
"Coach is calling my number, as far as putting in a couple plays for me," Gooden said Monday. "I felt like I was shooting too many jump shots, yet they were going in. I wanted to get back to what I'm known for, which is getting jump hooks down in the paint and easy baskets like that. I think I can still put two halves together and play even better."
Gooden missed two games last month due to a sprained ankle, then came back and hit a combined 5 of 17 shots against Dallas and Indiana just before the Bulls left for the circus road trip.
"I think I came back a little too early," he said. "The Indiana and Dallas games where when I played with the most pain in my ankle. The Lakers and Portland (the first two games of the trip), I thought I was back."
Struggle for Sixers: After losing to the Bulls on Sunday, Philadelphia (7-10) was left to question why the team has struggled this year. The Sixers got hot in the second half of last season, making a surprise playoff appearance, and they probably landed the league's best addition of the off-season - Elton Brand from the Clippers.
"Guys are pressing when things start going bad, including myself," Brand said in the Philadelphia Daily News following Sunday's loss, the team's fourth straight. "We get down, I want to try and get every rebound, try to make every shot, try to do whatever I can to help the team win. As a unit we need to press, instead of individually."
Added Andre Iguodala, who is averaging 6 fewer points per game than he did last season: "Last year, we had nothing to lose. This year, we might be pressing sometimes."
Another honor for Rose: Derrick Rose was named Eastern Conference rookie of the month, while Memphis guard O.J. Mayo took Western Conference honors.
Mayo is the league's top rookie scorer at 21.9 points, followed by Rose at 18.4. Rose leads all rookies in assists by a wide margin at 6.0 per game.