New Acquisitions Key Bulls 113-107 Win at Indiana

Chicago Bulls head coach Jim Boylan thinks that his team's chemistry is starting to come together, and new acquisitions Larry Hughes and Drew Gooden did little to disprove that theory, as Chicago edged the Indianapolis Pacers 113-107 at Canseco Fieldhouse. Hughes scored 29 points off the bench, and Gooden added 10 points and 15 boards to help the collect their first win with the newcomers in the lineup.

Aside from Hughes and Gooden, the Bulls once again got solid contributions from youngsters Joakim Noah and Tyrus Thomas, who continue to prove that they do not need the ball in their hands to be effective, and to be difference makers on the court. Chicago is an embarrasing 11 games below .500 (23-34), but is incredibly only 2 games out of the chase for slots 6, 7, and 8 in the pathetic Eastern Conference. Get your Bulls tickets now!

Indiana battled back and forth with the Bulls throughout a game marked by sloppy defense and questionable shot selection, but the last few minutes of the game could just not come up with big buckets to keep pace with Chicago, dropping the Pacers to 22-36 on the season. When your best players are Mike Dunleavy Jr., Travis Diener, and Danny Granger, and the legend of Jermaine O'Neal's knee, it really says something about the state of direspair the Pacers' roster is in, and the ineptitude of Larry Bird in a general manager capacity. If Indiana plans on being competitive any time in the next 5 years, the franchise needs to blow up the roster and front office this offseason, and hire a new qualified GM and head coach to run the show.