It seems that when one is playing well, the other struggles.  In the seasons early going Eddie Curry was the Bulls go-to big man while Tyson Chandler was nowhere to be seen.  Lately, Chandler has become the Bulls' fourth-quarter closer, blocking shots, patrolling the paint, snaring rebounds.  Curry can barely find the court at crunch time, having played two fourth-quarter minutes in the last two games, part of his four-game funk.

Curry is nursing a sore hamstring and amid the Bulls winning has been silent about his frustrations.  "I have to be more consistent on defense and rebounding," he said.

"At this point, I know I'm going to be out there for awhile in the fourth," Chandler said. "Coach [Scott Skiles] is letting me get into a groove, so I'm comfortable out there and that gives me confidence.

"I have to be the floor general and keep everything intact defensively. I know other players will do their thing offensively. When it comes to the other end, I feel like I'm the captain out there. I love the respect that [Skiles] shows me."

According to the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, the Sonics might be willing to move the expiring contracts of C Vitaly Potapenko and SF Ronald Murray, with Toronto Raptors SF Eric Williams mentioned as the kind of player they might like in return.  

A trade of Vladimir Radmanovic to the Bulls for PF/C Tyson Chandler is also something that might be discussed.

Shaquille O'Neal strained his left knee in the opening minutes of Tuesday's game after he went up for an alley-oop pass from Dwyane Wade and fell on Chicago's Othella Harrington.

O'Neal stayed on the floor for several minutes holding his knee before being helped off the floor. X-rays were negative and he will be re-evaluated before Wednesday's game at Indiana.

Miami ended up losing to the Bulls in overtime by a final score of 105-101.

Ben Gordon hit five 3-pointers in the 4th quarter, finishing the contest with 29 points.

Eddy Curry has made it clear - he wants to remain at home in Chicago as a member of the Bulls and he does not have a problem with coach Scott Skiles.

In a report written by Chicago Tribune writer K.C. Johnson Curry wanted to give a response to suggestions recently printed that if Skiles remained coach he wouldn't sign with the organization when he becomes a restricted free agent this offseason.

"That's ridiculous," Curry said. "I like Skiles. I want to come back regardless. I'd like to think coach Skiles and I have a good relationship. At this point, I don't see myself wanting to go anywhere else and having to start over with feeling a coach out and him feeling me out and getting used to a whole different system.

"Definitely, at this point, I really want to come back. I just hope everything goes well over the summer and they're able to do it."

The New York Daily News is reporting that Eddy Curry is beginning to make it known that he will not resign with the Chicago Bulls if Scott Skiles is still head coach this summer.

Skiles doesn't appear to be going anywhere, as he has his team playing playoff basketball.

Curry is coming on strong of late, following a disappointing first few years, but it will be John Paxson's decision whether or not the talent of a young big man is enough to replace Skiles.

There will be any number of big-name coaches available this offseason.  Neither Phil Jackson or Flip Saunders will have homes and it appears more and more likely that Larry Brown will be leaving Detroit.

Bulls guard Kirk Hinrich suffered severe sprains of his ring and baby fingers in his right hand in last nights win over Toronto, however his x-rays came back negative.

"I'm just glad it's not broken," Hinrich said after scoring a game-tying-high 28 points on 11-of-16 shooting to lead the Baby Bulls (26-23) to their third consecutive victory. "To have a broken finger on your strong hand would be rough."

"If it's as simple as a few days and treatment, it's not that big a deal," Bulls coach Scott Skiles said. "It's a concern right now for sure. We've got to hope."

Tyson Chandler faced the Raptors on Wednesday night with a heavy heart after missing Tuesday night's game against Sacramento after learning that a very close friend of his from his days in Compton had been shot.

His friend Johanna was shot in the neck and head while riding in a car in Compton. She survived, but Chandler was told if she does recover, she'd be a quadriplegic.

Another one of Chandler's friends wasn't so lucky, as he was killed in another car accident.

"I'm happy to be here," he said. "I would want to be able to comfort (my teammates) if something like this happened to them. I kind of feel like I owe it to them to be here for them to see me and comfort me and help me. This is my family away from my family."

The Chicago Bulls today activated forward/center Antonio Davis and placed rookie center Jared Reiner on the Injured List with a left quadricep strain. Davis will be in uniform tonight when the Bulls battle the Raptors in Toronto at the Air Canada Centre.

Davis has played in 38 games, made 31 starts, and has averaged 6.0 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 1.1 apg in 23.9 mpg. The 11-year veteran spent five seasons with the Raptors before a trade on Dec. 1, 2003 brought him to the Bulls.

Reiner, a 6-11, 255-pound rookie from Iowa, has appeared in eight games for the Bulls this season and has averaged 1.6 ppg, 2.3 rpg and 7.8 mpg while shooting .429 from the field. Per NBA rules, Reiner will miss a minimum of five games.

Three months after having his contract bought out by the Chicago Bulls and failing a physical with the New York Knicks, Eddie Robinson says he is ready to make a comeback after the All-Star break.

Robinson planned to sit out the season since he was getting paid, but five weeks ago became bored and started working out, with eyes on a 10-day contract.  His agent, James Bryant, said yesterday Robinson is now in game shape and has fielded inquiries from five teams, including the Pacers.

Knicks president Isiah Thomas loves Robinson's game and the Knicks are light at swingman, but it may be difficult for him to show renewed interest after the medical team viewed he could have long-term foot problems. The flip side is a 10-day contract is minimal risk. Ten-day contracts only become permissible after Jan. 5.

"Eddie would still love to play for the Knicks, it's still a good fit," Bryant said.

Bryant said Robinson received a second and third opinion in which doctors said he did not need surgery on his toe, the opinion of the Bulls' staff. Robinson, according to Bryant, is not in any pain.

"Everyone said he didn't need surgery except the Knick doctor," Bryant said.

With each game, the Bulls are proving more and more that they are for real.

Against the Kings, they got a great performance from Eddy Curry, as he scored 25 points and grabbed 12 rebounds, dominating the Sacramento frountcourt of Brad Miller and Chris Webber.

Curry trade rumors have been flooding the papers since the summertime, but with a series of great performances and a commitment to working hard and winning, he appears to now be on the untouchable list.

Curry is slimmer and in good shape, playing in 45 minutes on Tuesday.