http://www.nba.com/games/20070317/CHIMEM/preview.html
Bulls-Grizzlies Preview
By DAN BURCH, STATS Writer
Posted Mar 16 2007 3:40PM
2006-07 Stats at a Glance
The Chicago Bulls are finding ways to win, even if they aren't playing their best.
The Bulls look to extend their winning streak to five games and lay another blowout on the NBA's worst team when they visit the Memphis Grizzlies on Saturday.
Chicago pounded Memphis 111-66 at home on Jan. 13, the Grizzlies' worst loss of the season and one of the most lopsided in franchise history. The Bulls (39-28) beat Memphis 111-82 in the previous meeting and have won four of the last five between the teams.
"We don't know what the heck we are doing to be honest with you. A lot of guys are lost. We need to get ourselves together and play as a team," Grizzlies forward Pau Gasol said after that loss in January.
Things haven't gotten better, however, as Memphis (16-50) enters this matchup having lost eight of nine and sitting 10 games worse than any other team in the Western Conference.
Gasol was rumored to be heading to Chicago at the trade deadline, but the Bulls (39-28) decided against a deal, sticking with their current roster. The patience has paid off, as the Bulls have strung together four wins in a row and are 10-3 since the All-Star break.
Chicago beat Philadelphia 88-87 on Wednesday, rallying from a 12-point fourth-quarter deficit to win for the third straight time on the road. The Bulls haven't looked good this week while sweeping lowly Boston in a home-and-home set and slipping past the 76ers, but are doing just enough to keep winning.
"The last three games we haven't necessarily played well," Bulls coach Scott Skiles said. "When you look around the league at games, there are a lot of games that aren't real pretty right now. You just have to find a way to win them and we did."
The Bulls are only 14-20 away from home, but have won four of their past five road games. They play five of their next six at home after Saturday's contest.
"We don't set the bar low," Skiles said. "We're trying to raise expectations and get them up there high."
Eleven of Memphis' wins have come at home, but the Grizzlies have lost five straight at the FedEx Forum, including the first two of a five-game homestand following a 118-96 defeat to Cleveland on Wednesday.
"If something goes wrong for us, it multiplies," Memphis interim coach Tony Barone said. "We don't seem to be able to play through adversity."
Rookie Rudy Gay led Memphis with 24 points while Gasol had 23 points and 10 rebounds.
"It's been a long year for me," Gay said. "I've never had to go through anything like this as a player, but hopefully we will all learn from this and work on building for next year."
The 22-point loss was the second-worst of the season, trailing only the January defeat to the Bulls. Since the All-Star break, Memphis is 2-10.
The Grizzlies close the homestand against New Orleans and the Lakers, then leave on a six-game road trip.
Copyright 2006 by STATS LLC and Associated Press. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS LLC and Associated Press is strictly prohibited
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