March 22--So much for the ol' one-game-at-a-time cliche.
"We talk about it," Fred Hoiberg said of the Bulls' critical four-game homestand. "Everybody knows what's at stake."
Not only are the Bulls in a playoff push, they're playing seven straight sub-.500 teams. And Monday marked the third straight at home.
That's why Hoiberg has had no trouble defying the politically correct mantra, although he said looking ahead to swing games on March 29 at the Pacers and April 2 at home versus the Pistons is too far.
"We lost some opportunities early in the season at home," Hoiberg said. "There's no denying that. So you have to protect home court, especially at this time of the season.
Hoiberg said regardless of what he says, some players will pay attention to the standings and some won't.
"From time to time I do," Taj Gibson said. "We've just got to focus on us. As long as we win games, we'll be where we want to be."
History lesson: The Kings lost all four meetings this season by an average of 14.8 points to the Warriors, who are chasing the 1995-96 Bulls' NBA-record 72-10 mark. Kings coach George Karl lost to those Bulls in the 1996 NBA Finals while coaching the Seattle SuperSonics.
"That Bulls team in my mind was an incredibly tough defensive basketball team," Karl said. "They could explode on you offensively. But when the game was in the nitty-gritty, it was almost impossible to score on them.
"Golden State is a good defensive team. But their ability to explode (offensively), I've used the term 'video game.'"
Bracket busters: Hoiberg left an Iowa State program that faces top-seeded Virginia in the NCAA tournament Friday at the United Center, while the Bulls are on a two-game trip. If the Cyclones win, Hoiberg said he'd attend Sunday's Elite Eight matchup against either Syracuse or Gonzaga.
"I'm confident we're going to win that game on Friday and get a chance to see them go to the Final Four on Sunday," Hoiberg said. "I called Coach (Steve) Prohm after the (last) game, congratulated him. Told him to tell the guys how proud I am of them and to keep it going."
Hamming it up: E'Twaun Moore won't travel on the upcoming two-game trip, meaning he's out with his badly strained left hamstring through at least Saturday in Orlando.
Gibson continues to play through his sore right hamstring.
"They didn't see any structural damage, so that was a good sign, but I've got a lot of tightness," Gibson said. "I've been getting a lot of massages, a lot of hot-cold tub. I come in (for treatment) at least three times a day."
