Zgoda's short takes: Nov. 18

By Jerry Zgoda, Star Tribune

Last update: November 17, 2007 - 5:36 PM

Those preseason predictions for a 50-plus-victory season and an NBA Finals run have faded fast for the Chicago Bulls, who started the season 1-6 entering Saturday's late game at the Clippers and are out early on a six-game West Coast trip.

"I can't remember it being that bad since I've been here," said guard Kirk Hinrich, who played on a 23-59 team as a rookie in 2003-04.

Before they went West and the circus arrived at United Center, the Bulls lost by 30 points to Toronto and the home fans chanted for Kobe Bryant, the subject of frequent trade rumors to Chicago.

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Golden State gets Stephen Jackson back today from a seven-game NBA suspension for pleading guilty to criminal recklessness. And not a day too soon: The Warriors' Friday home victory over the Clippers ended a season-opening, six-game losing streak before they start a five-game Eastern road trip.

It had gotten so bad there that Warriors coach Don Nelson threatened to abandon a seven-man rotation -- which is running guard Baron Davis ragged -- and actually play young players.

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New Jersey's Jason Kidd averaged 10 assists in his first eight games and is headed toward finishing among the league's top five in that category for the 13th consecutive season. The only other guy to do that: Not John Stockton, but Boston's Bob Cousy, who did it from 1950 to 1963.

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Dallas superstar Dirk Nowitzki averaged 5.1 assists in the Mavs' 6-2 start that included Thursday's sure home victory over NBA champs and division rival San Antonio. He entered the season with a 2.6 career assists average.

Mavs coach Avery Johnson said his team needs that kind of all-around game "if we're ever going to be really, really good than relying on him to score 38."

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