Fri, 01/02 Bulls @ Cavaliers

The blowout losses and "ole" defenses are leading to slumped shoulders, long faces, sulking body language and, finally, simmering frustration bubbling over.

Andres Nocioni and Joakim Noah spent several minutes bickering on the court over a blown assignment during the third quarter of Friday night's dreadful 117-92 loss to the Cavaliers. The players then continued shouting at each other during a subsequent timeout.

"We talked a bit," Nocioni said in an angry Bulls locker room. "Frustration; that's it. We don't win. We don't play good. It has to stop."

Larry Hughes later played peacemaker, pulling Noah aside to try to calm him down.

"When you're playing and losing by 20 points, you're frustrated," Noah said. "In the heat of the moment, things are said. But I don't have any problems with 'Noce.' "

Indeed, the Bulls' problems run much, much deeper than heat-of-the-moment frustration. The effort and resiliency that defined early-season action has disappeared in back-to-back blowout losses.

"I think the effort isn't really there right now," Derrick Rose said.

Added Noah: "Our effort definitely isn't what it has been throughout the season."

Added Nocioni: "We talk a lot about the effort and the defense. But when we come here in the gym, we never do it."