CHICAGO BULLS
The Bulls are suddenly a little unsettled, playing at a .500 clip over their past ten games. Combine those current struggles with a challenging four games and last week is one the Bulls would like to forget.
Recap Rewind:The Bulls opened the week by losing three straight games before taking their frustrations out on the Memphis Grizzlies Saturday night to end the week with a win... The Bulls' Monday loss saw the Houston Rockets came back from a ten-point deficit at the half by stifling the Bulls offense and riding Tracy McGrady to the win... The Bulls did a nice job keeping meat off the Hibachi on Wednesday, but Gilbert Arenas let his teammates do some of the damage, which worked well in the Wizards win over the Bulls...The Bulls again came out with a strong first half against the Nets only to surrender the lead and eventually the game in the fourth quarter... No such problems against the Grizzlies on Saturday night as the Bulls took a 40-point lead into the fourth quarter. Both teams mailed it in from there combining to score 23 fourth quarter points and giving the Bulls a much needed easy win.
Notable News: Scott Skiles added Ben Gordon's team-leading scoring average to the starting lineup against Memphis in an effort to shake things up. Gordon replaced a struggling Chris Duhon... Andres Nocioni elbowed the Nets' Mikki Moore on Thursday and found out it was not a league approved 'bow, earning him a one-game suspension and the night off against Memphis... Ben Wallace watched the Memphis game also, resting his sore back. Big Ben was also dealing with a defamation suit filed by his former agent, Steve Kaufman. I think the pain Wallace is feeling may instead be in the area just below his back.
Fast Forward:The schedule remains a challenge this week as the Bulls celebrate MLK day by hosting the San Antonio Spurs... The Bulls then buzz up I-94 to meet the ailing Bucks in Milwaukee on Wednesday before returning to the UC to host the dangerous Utah Jazz on Saturday. Rest should not be a problem this week which is a bonus since earning W's will be challenge enough.
CLEVELAND CAVALIERS
Shhh, don't tell anyone. The Cavs have the best record in the Eastern Conference. While others focused on Chris Webber and the pathetic Atlantic Division, the Cavs took their Central Division lead on the road last week for the first three games of a seven-game West Coast swing.
Recap Rewind: With memories of losing five in a row on this trip last year, the Cavs put up a 70-point second half against the Sacramento Kings to start their roadie off right... The Phoenix Suns weren't such gracious hosts, sending a message to the East's top team that they shouldn't get too excited. LeBron's supporting cast didn't show up, while Steve Nash made sure all his boys enjoyed the party by dishing up 21 assists... The Cavs were able to rehab their self-image in L.A. by using another strong third quarter to take down the Clippers on Saturday.
Notable News: The Suns loss served as an attitude adjustment for the Cavs. Zydrunas Ilgauskas cut to the chase - "Sometimes you need a good butt kicking."... With Larry Hughes back at full strength after missing ten games in December, the Cavs' health gives them an advantage at this time of the year... Coach Mike Brown pays a monthly bonus to the player who takes the most charges. Apparently Anderson Varejao is greedy, winning the bonus for the first two months this year and the last three months of last year.
Fast Forward: The "Bron Across America" tour continues this week with back-to-back games in the Pacific Northwest against the Seattle Supersonics and Portland Trailblazers. After a travel day, the West Coast roadie closes with another back-to-back at Denver and Golden State. On paper, winning three out of four seems reasonable but that paper doesn't know what it feels like to play four games in five days with required travel after each game.
DETROIT PISTONS
Chris Webber is from Detroit in case you hadn’t heard. C-Webb is on the open market and several reputable sources indicate he's going home. Another reputable source is making sure no one misses any C-Webb news.
Recap Rewind:The Pistons spent another week without Chauncey Billups and it showed as they dropped games to Charlotte and Atlanta...Against Charlotte, the Pistons couldn't recover from an eight (yes, eight, 8, ocho) point second quarter...The Pistons mustered up two less than impressive Ws to make up for the losses. Philly had no answer for the Pistons and Boston had no players, or at least it seemed that way. A win is a win in the NBA but Flip Saunders isn't exactly thrilled. "I usually go to the dentist once a year," the Pistons coach said after Saturday's 81-73 victory over Boston. "This is like having a root canal every night."
<i>Notable News: </i>For several days, Chris Webber signing with the Pistons has been imminent. Maybe he's not sure or maybe the Pistons are trying to make another move prior to bringing in C-Webb...That move may involve Antonio McDyess going to Toronto for shooting guard and former Flintston, Mo Peterson... Rasheed Wallace hasn't been real happy or healthy lately. After ‘Sheed was late for practice, Jason Maxiell made his first start in his ('Sheed's) place against Philly. It worked so well, they tried it again against Charlotte but scrapped the experiment after losing to the Bobcats...Billups will not be ready for Monday's game and when he'll return remains unknown.Fast Forward:The Pistons have four challenging games this week considering the health and mental state of the roster right now. Home and away games against Minnesota are sandwiched around a visit from Utah on Wednesday. The Pistons will return from Minnesota on Saturday to play Sacramento at the Palace.