First up on the road for Bulls: Facing Nocioni
The Bulls are hoping they don't get struck by a blast from the past tonight when the annual circus road trip tips off against the Sacramento Kings.
This could mark the Bulls' first game against Andres Nocioni, who was traded to the Kings last February. According to the Sacramento Bee, Nocioni was limited to noncontact drills in Monday's practice and is listed as questionable for tonight because of a right hip pointer.
The Bulls received John Salmons and Brad Miller in the deal, which also sent Drew Gooden and Cedric Simmons to Sacramento. None of the other players stayed with the Kings.
Nocioni ranks as one of the most popular Bulls of the post-championship era. After jumping from the Spanish league to the Bulls in 2004, Chicago fans loved his aggressive play and passion for the game.
Center Joakim Noah remembered some of the hard fouls Nocioni delivered to opponents. Those same traits that made Nocioni so popular at the United Center often made him a villain on the road.
"I miss that guy," Noah said Monday at the Berto Center. "Yeah, it's going to be cool to see him. Noc was a great dude, someone who plays with a lot of emotion.
"He was somebody that you always wanted to have on your team, because the way he just fouls the heck out of people and all that.
"Everybody hated Noc on the road and everybody hated him on other teams. So it's going to be weird to see what those hacks feel like."
Luol Deng was Nocioni's best friend on the Bulls, and Deng was hoping they'd be able to get together Monday night after the team arrived in Sacramento.
Deng and Nocioni had adjoining lockers at the United Center and also were neighbors in Northbrook during their years together in Chicago.
Those two most likely will be matched up against each other at the start of Tuesday's game, just as they were during countless practices at the Berto Center.
"(I've talked to him) a little bit here and there," Deng said. "It's going to be fun."
Nocioni started slowly in Sacramento but helped the Kings turn things around recently. Since joining the starting lineup Nov. 4, Nocioni has averaged 13.8 points and the Kings have gone 4-1.
What's strange about Sacramento is it started playing better after losing top scorer Kevin Martin (30.6 ppg) to a broken wrist Nov. 2.
That injury brought Nocioni into the starting lineup, while rookie guard Tyreke Evans and second-year power forward Jason Thompson have played well.
"I think they're hungry to prove they can win some games without Kevin Martin," Noah added. "I think they're a hungry team and Noc is a hungry player, there's no doubt about that."
The Bulls will be gone for 10 days while the circus invades the United Center.
After the Kings, they'll face the Lakers, Nuggets, Blazers and Jazz before returning home, then play one more road game in Milwaukee on Nov. 30.
Asked if going out on the road can bring the Bulls closer together, coach Vinny Del Negro and guard Derrick Rose offered different opinions.
"We're bonded enough," Del Negro said. "We went to London (in the preseason). It's overrated. It's a matter of knowing what you need to do on the court and playing well together."
Said Rose: "We really bond on this trip, get to know each other, have fun, gel. That's what's fun about playing in the NBA. You're playing against the greatest players in the world and you get to see the whole world.
"It's nice to be going to the West Coast; it's nicer (weather) than here. But we need wins - that's our biggest thing."
<p class="factboxheadblack">Bulls game day </p> <p class="News">Bulls vs. Sacramento Kings at Arco Arena, 9 p.m.</p> <p class="News"><b>TV:</b> Channel 9</p> <p class="News"><b>Radio:</b> WMVP 1000-AM</p> <p class="News"><b>Update:</b> Leading scorer Kevin Martin is sidelined with a broken wrist, but the surprising Kings (5-4) have won four in a row. Ex-Bull Andres Nocioni (11.6 ppg) moved into the starting lineup after Martin's injury, while rookie guard Tyreke Evans (16.8 ppg) and second-year forward Jason Thompson (14.9 points, 10.1 rebounds) have played well. Last January, the Bulls snapped a nine-game losing streak at Arco Arena with a 109-88 victory.</p> <p class="News"><b>Next:</b> Thursday vs. Los Angeles Lakers at the Staples Center, 9:30 p.m.</p> <div class="infoBox"> <h1>More Coverage</h1> <div class="infoBoxContent"> <div class="infoArea"> <h2>Stories</h2> <ul class="links"> <li><a href="/story/?id=336996">Noah learns origin of circus trip<span class="date"> [11/17/09]</span></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div>