Bulls need quick turnaround with familiar rivals on schedule
History has shown that it's never too late for the Bulls to turn things around.
In 2004-05, they started 2-13 and recovered to win 47 games. Last year, they won 12 of their last 16 to finish with a .500 record.
So to call the coming week a critical stretch for the Bulls would be an overstatement. But it would help if they could end a run of four straight lopsided losses before the team's chemistry and confidence suffer lasting harm.
Things were looking pretty good when the Bulls opened the circus trip with a win at Sacramento. Since then, it's been easy to blame the quality of opponents for the losing streak, but there should have been at least one game in which the outcome was in doubt during the fourth quarter.
Coach Vinny Del Negro shared some solutions following Sunday's practice at the Berto Center.
"Play a little bit harder, probably," he said. "Understand the game plan a little bit better. Try to get some guys healthy that can withstand some of the teams that we're playing, especially on the road. We've just got to bounce back and play well."
This is shaping up as sort of a rivalry week for the Bulls (6-8). First, they make their final stop of the circus trip Monday in Milwaukee, a team that has also lost four in a row.
Then the Bulls return to the United Center to face Detroit on Wednesday. The return of Ben Gordon is in doubt because of a sprained ankle. The former Bulls sharpshooter missed his second straight game Sunday and is listed as day to day.
On Friday, the Bulls make their second visit to Cleveland, then return home to face Toronto. Considering the Pistons have lost seven of eight and Toronto is off to a 7-11 start after making major changes this summer, the Bulls have a great opportunity to get a couple of wins this week as they begin a stretch of playing 14 of 20 games at home.
One obvious flaw in the Bulls is their depleted roster. Tyrus Thomas figures to be out at least another week with a broken left arm while guard Kirk Hinrich appears doubtful for the Milwaukee game with a sprained left thumb. Hinrich already missed Thursday's loss at Utah because of the injury.
"I'd have to improve considerably from today to tomorrow," Hinrich said Sunday. "Today it was a little bit better, but it was still very sore. I have the splint just to keep it from moving. Pretty much any movement, it gets very sore. I have trouble gripping anything, like tying shoes, opening bottles, things like that."
An MRI exam showed Hinrich does not have a torn ligament, so he's hoping to be back soon and didn't rule out trying to play against the Bucks.
But the Bulls still need to improve their depth. Against taller teams like Portland and the Lakers, Brad Miller and Taj Gibson didn't give Joakim Noah much help on the boards.
The schedule should help. None of the four teams they'll play this week have the kind of size and athleticism on the front line the Bulls saw during the road trip.
Big men aren't the only issue, though.
The Bulls need more contributions from Jannero Pargo and rookie forward James Johnson. In Utah, Johnson set season highs in points (10), rebounds (5) and minutes played (18), so maybe he's ready to contribute.
Another glaring issue is the screen-and-roll defense. The Bulls allowed 100 points just once in their first 10 games but lost their edge out West. In Utah, they tried trapping the ball on screen-and-rolls and were burned repeatedly.
Can two practices turn it all around? We'll find out soon enough, but Derrick Rose, who jammed his right ring finger in practice, was thinking positive.
"It was a fun practice today," Rose said. "We were competing, really going after each other, playing hard."
<p class="factboxheadblack">Bulls game day</p> <p class="News">Milwaukee Bucks at the Bradley Center, 7 p.m.</p> <p class="News"><b>TV:</b> Comcast SportsNet</p> <p class="News"><b>Radio:</b> WMVP 1000-AM</p> <p class="News"><b>Update:</b> Both of these teams are riding four-game losing streaks. After a fast start, Milwaukee (8-7) dropped three straight on the road, then came back home and lost to Orlando 100-98 on Saturday. Point guard Brandon Jennings is having a spectacular rookie year, averaging 22.3 points and 5.5 assists while shooting 49 percent from 3-point range. Forward Ersan Ilyasova had a career game against the Magic with 20 points and 16 rebounds.</p> <p class="News"><b>Next:</b> Detroit Pistons at the United Center, 7 p.m. Wednesday</p>