James Johnson News

' week from hell took a dramatic turn for the worse on Friday when the enigmatic Bulls power forward suffered a fractured radius of the left forearm during a weightlifting session at the Berto Center.

James Feldeine scored 23 points and Quinnipiac held off Hartford 85-74 Friday night in the season opener for both teams.

The Bulls are on the verge of a remarkable breakthrough. If they can beat Denver tonight at the United Center, they will move to three games over .500 in November for the first time since 1997-98. Fast starts have not been a Bulls specialty since the championship era ended.

Joakim Noah could not play. He was soft, had the shooting form of a fourth-grader and simply didn't have game.

Bulls took care of business on Saturday, a home game against a fairly cruddy Bobcats team that played the night before.

It really wasn't too long ago that Joakim Noah was a rookie clashing with teammates and coaches.

The Bulls are optimistic Tyrus Thomas can return from his fractured left forearm on the front end of their original four- to six-week projected absence based on his surgery Saturday.

When the Chicago Bulls drafted Taj Gibson 26th overall back in July, many considered him to be an after thought; a guy who would come in with the rest of the scrubs and get meaningless minutes at the end of a blowout win or loss.

OUTLOOK: The Northeast Conference is loaded with returning talent and that should make for another intriguing campaign in 2009-10. Quinnipiac is one of the favorites with talent from top-to-bottom, but it will be pushed by Mount St.

Are the Bulls better than a year ago when they finished seventh in the conference and lost an epic series against Boston in the first round? Maybe.

Los Angeles - Eastern Conference team capsules:Atlanta Hawks Last season: 47-35, lost to Cleveland in conference semifinals Coach: Mike Woodson Additions: G Jamal Crawford , F Joe Smith , C Jason Collins , G Jeff Teague Outlook: The Hawks added firepower in Crawford and needed frontcourt bench depth in Smith and Collins to an already strong roster.

SCOUTING THE NEWCOMERS: Tom Moore has brought in a five-man class that includes forward Jamee Jackson, who played for Bob Hurley at St.

The LeBron and Shaq Show is off and running. NBA icons, All-Stars and A-plus-list celebrities LeBron James and Shaquille O'Neal made their debut as Cleveland teammates on Tuesday night in the Cavaliers' 92-87 preseason-opening victory over the Charlotte Bobcats.

The Charlotte Bobcats are exercising the third-year option in guard D.J. Augustin's contract for the 2010-11 season.

Don't be surprised if actor-comedian Bill Murray shows up at an Arizona basketball game next season.

Don't be surprised if actor-comedian Bill Murray shows up at an Arizona basketball game next season.

Two men were stabbed and a third was arrested Saturday night after a fight at a local mobile home park.

Tyler Hansbrough shakes hands with NBA commissioner David Stern. 2. Ty Lawson 3. Wayne Ellington Davidson's Stephen Curry was overshadowed by ACC players for much of his three-season college career, but last night he beat them all to the stage during the NBA Draft in New York.

The Charlotte Bobcats have selected Duke shooting guard Gerald Henderson with the 12th pick in the draft.

Associated PressCHARLOTTE a ' Michael Jordan couldn't find his shot. The old superstar's jumpers kept clanging off the rim Wednesday morning after he finished supervising the Charlotte Bobcats' final pre-draft workout.