Bill Cartwright has always been wary of games in which the opposition is undermanned, K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune writes, for these are the games where his Bulls tend to go to sleep.

Cartwright's fears were again realised last night when his team dropped another one against the Clippers, a game which the Bulls were expected to win considering their strong home record.  For Cartwright the problem was clearly defensive.

"This has nothing to do with offense, period," Cartwright said after the game. "Guard somebody, take a charge, put a body on somebody."

The Bulls coach then abruptly ended the postgame news conference and stormed off.  The Clippers were playing without their two most effecive big men, ex-Bull Elton Brand and soon-to-be-ex-Clipper Michael Olowonkandi.