Feb. 10--Every team wants to win. Pau Gasol says the Bulls need to win their two home games before this weekend's All-Star break.
"There's no way around it," he said. "We need to win. We've got to do better at home. We've got to come out with fire -- as a team, as a group."
The Bulls' subpar 13-11 record at the United Center will be tested by the Kings on Tuesday and then by LeBron James and the Cavaliers on Thursday.
"We need to take care of business at home," Jimmy Butler said. "We're a much better road team (19-9), and it's good to be a good road team. But we have to protect our home floor. It starts Tuesday."
Gasol has the most experience of the Bulls' rotation players and has expressed the most urgency. The two-time NBA champion (with the Lakers) knows all about windows of opportunity.
"It's hard to understand for younger guys that haven't been around as much," he said. "The windows are small, and when you have a gap, you've got to go for it with everything you've got. Otherwise someone else will. It just comes down to how bad do you want it?"
Said Butler: "Before you know it, it's All-Star break and then 30-something games left. So we need to correct everything now. There's no time for let-ups."
It will be interesting to see whether forward Mike Dunleavy returns before the break.
Team officials have not cleared him to return from a jammed right ankle, and logic says that if he already has missed 19 straight games, they'll hold him out until after the break to get him an extra week's rest.
Dunleavy, though, said Sunday he is getting "real close" to returning.
"I hate sitting there and watching, but I'm focusing on my rehab and my recovery," he said. "It has been my mindset to block out the disappointment of not playing -- no matter what result it is. If you lose, you feel bad. If you win, you don't feel a part of it. It's an overall bad feeling after every game."
Dunleavy said he needs to be able to run at full strength in practice and have a decent recovery the next day.
Asked if surgery is being considered, he replied: "Not from the people I've seen, and I've gotten multiple opinions. It's just something that takes a little time to fully heal and then to get back to full basketball activities."
