GT: Charlotte vs Bulls Fri March 13 7PM EST

[JDR720]

The Bulls led 38-19 a minute into the second quarter, having hit seven of their first eight 3-point attempts. Compare that to the second half when the Bulls totaled 31 points.

That’s when Hornets coach Steve Clifford switched Kidd-Gilchrist on to Chicago point guard Aaron Brooks, who had totaled 15 points and four assists in the first half.

Brooks’ second half: Nine points on 3-of-7 shooting and zero assists. As a team the Bulls shot 10-of-39 after halftime.

“It’s great to have a player who can do that,” Hornets shooting guard Gerald Henderson (20 points, seven rebounds) said of Kidd-Gilchrist. “He’s special in that he can get down in a stance and guard a whole lot of guys.

“He takes it as a challenge,” Henderson said of Kidd-Gilchrist’s defensive versatility. “You have to embrace that.”

Kidd-Gilchrist, strong, lanky and rugged at 6-foot-7, says he’s glad Clifford has the faith to plug him into the lineup in so many ways.

“That’s just who I am,” he said. “I don’t care who I guard just as long as we win.”

“We have a lot of guys who have good defensive instincts when we’re tied together,” Henderson said. “We’ve got to play to our strengths and help others play to their strengths.”

The Hornets played Friday without their starters at center (Al Jefferson, right knee strain) and power forward Cody Zeller (right shoulder sprain). That made Bismack Biyombo and Marvin Williams the starters versus a formidable Bulls pairing of Pau Gasol and Joakim Noah.

Gasol had 18 points and eight rebounds, but Noah finished with just one point and six rebounds. Biyombo and his backup, veteran Jason Maxiell, combined for 20 points and 17 rebounds.

“We watched film and saw a lot of mistakes,” Biyombo said of the last two losses. “We’ve got to limit those mistakes and play better defense.”

Read more here: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/sports ... rylink=cpy

[yosemiteben]

Cliff went ballistic on the sideline when Lance tried to press. You could hear him perfectly clearly on the broadcast.

[starsky]

Beating the Bulls show we can represent the East as good as anyone. Once we get Al back, watch out!!!