Comedy Central: Bulls win another laugher

There's a scene in an old “Simpsons” episode where Homer is mowing the lawn, half-awake, and nonchalantly running over every tool, toy and animal that happens to be laying in the yard.

That would be a fair depiction of the Bulls road trip. They delivered a fourth-straight, yawn-inducing blowout Friday against an overmatched and short-handed opponent.

Derrick Rose sat out to rest his sore back — a decision that surely met with approval from the fan base — and the Bulls still pounded the Charlotte Bobcats 95-64.

According to Bulls radio stat guru Jeff Mangurten, this is the first time in NBA history a team has won four straight games, all on the road, by more than 20 points. The previous wins came over the Bucks, Nets and Hornets.

Center Joakim Noah led the way in the latest blowout with 17 points and 14 rebounds. Carlos Boozer added 16, Luol Deng had 12 and John Lucas 11. C.J. Watson scored 7 points starting in Rose's place.

“Our depth is our greatest strength right now,” Noah said after the game. “Obviously we know that we need everybody healthy. This is definitely not a sprint, it's a marathon.”

Should the Bulls (23-6) feel good about beating up on bad teams? Well, New Orleans (4-23) threatened Portland (15-11) well into the fourth quarter before losing by 8 on Friday. Milwaukee (12-14) won at Cleveland and is now 8-5 in its last 13 games.

These wins won't mean much come playoff time, but they could help the Bulls secure homecourt advantage. And not many teams take care of business as well as the Bulls. Since losing at Golden State in Game 2 this season, they've won 17 straight against teams that are currently below .500.

“Our team's attitude and approach to the games have been very good,” coach Tom Thibodeau said. “I don't think it changes from game to game and I think that's really important. We don't want to look behind. We don't want to look ahead. We just want to stare at exactly what's in front of us.”

Straight ahead is the last stop of the nine-game road trip on Sunday in Boston. A win would give the Bulls a 7-2 record on the trip and clinch the Eastern Conference all-star coaching spot for Thibodeau.

There was one small difference between this game and the previous three blowouts. Against Charlotte, the Bulls did not sprint to a big lead off the opening tip. With team owner Michael Jordan watching from a courtside seat, the Bobcats stayed within 13-10 midway through the first quarter.

But then Ronnie Brewer converted a 3-point play, Boozer scored on a layup, and consecutive 3-pointers by Deng boosted the lead to 24-12.

When the Bulls scored the first 2 baskets of the third quarter, the lead grew to 26 points and there would have been few complaints if officials switched to a running clock the rest of the way. Jordan never returned to his seat in the second half.

Rose has been bothered by a sore back for at least a week, so his inaction against the lowly Bobcats was predictable. He didn't sit on the bench while the game was being played.

“More precautionary,” Thibodeau said. “Just want to give him another day of rest and we'll see where he is tomorrow.”

Earlier in the day, Deng talked about being named an all-star reserve for the first time in his eight-year career.

“I don't really have the words for it, except the fact that I'm really happy,” Deng said, according to espn.com. “I just want to go around and thank all my teammates because I believe by the way we're playing and the record we have, that's why I'm getting the opportunity.”

At least Deng will have some company in Rose — and probably Thibodeau — to help him through the all-star process.

“I don't know what you're supposed to do. I don't know how it goes,” he said. “That's the honest truth. I really don't know. We'll find out the schedule. Am I supposed to play (defense)? I don't know. We'll just see how it goes.”