The second-guessing continues, particularly since small forward Mike Miller, selected fifth by Orlando, is having a solid season. He's averaging 11.7 points on 43 percent shooting from the field, and is making a run at the Rookie of the Year award.

Fizer, often asked to play out of position at the small forward spot, has had an up-and-down year. He looked good in January and February, when he averaged 12 points, but overall he is averaging 9.1 points, 4.3 rebounds and shooting 42 percent from the field.

Fizer assessed his rookie year as being "not as good as I hoped.''

"It's been more of a learning role for me," he told the Chicago Tribune. "I feel I've gotten better as the year's progressed. And, there is no question that I'll be better next season."

Fizer did not help himself with Tim Floyd when he missed a team meeting prior to a 100-88 loss at Toronto. Floyd benched him and Fizer conceded that the penalty "was justifiable.''

Fizer said he hopes his career takes a similar path to that of Golden State's Antawn Jamison, a former University of North Carolina star who was selected fourth in the 1998 draft by Toronto and subsequently traded to the Warriors. Jamison averaged 9.6 points and shot 45 percent from the field as a rookie. He increased the numbers to 19.6 points and 8.3 rebounds last season, and has exploded for 24.3 points and 8.8 rebounds in 41 minutes a game this season.

"That's a guy who is playing a similar role to me,'' said Fizer. "He's turned it around. That's how I view it. This summer is going to be a huge summer because this summer is all about next season. And, I know this: all that I went through this season will make me better in the end."

Personnel File

TOUGH TASK: With Fizer benched for missing the team meeting and Ron Artest ejected for mouthing off to officials, Floyd was forced to use recently-signed free agent Steve Goodrich to defend Vince Carter.

Carter, knowing he could score at will against the 6-10 Goodrich, scored 13 of his 33 points off him.

"I'm sure he had his eyes light up when he saw that I was guarding him,'' said Goodrich, who averaged 9.1 points and 3.1 rebounds for a team in Milan, Italy before coming to Chicago. "He cleared everybody out and started shooting everything."

CONTROL THE TEMPER: The Bulls trailed Toronto, 54-52, when Artest was tossed.

"You have to have consideration for where we are in the game and what situation we're in,'' Floyd said. "You have to have more discipline."

Noteworthy

70 IS BAD: The Bulls need a victory over the last five games to avoid being the fifth NBA team to lose 70 games. Five years ago, they became the first NBA team to win 70.

"It's certainly something that we don't want to have happen,'' said Floyd.

QUICK STUFF: The Bulls are not getting any breaks down the stretch of the season. Second-leading scorer Ron Mercer has missed five straight games with a sore left ankle. "He might not play any more this season,'' said Floyd. ... A 105-84 loss at Milwaukee was the Bulls' 24th in a row on the road.

QUOTEWORTHY: "We're evaluating every player on this team. No decisions have been made. We're just going to wait until the end of the season." -- Bulls boss Jerry Krause, when asked about the off-season decisions that need to be made.