Observations: Bobcats-Bulls

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Noah-energized Bulls drop Bobcats, 93-90

The first five games demonstrated that when the Charlotte Bobcats defend and rebound, they can be pretty good.

The second half Saturday demonstrated that when they stop defending and rebounding, they don't have much else to fall back on.

The Chicago Bulls shot 21-of-35 in the second half and outrebounded the Bobcats by eight. That was enough to make up a nine-point deficit and hold off the Bobcats 93-90 at the United Center.

Brown ejected in Bobcats loss

Charlotte Bobcats coach Larry Brown sent word Monday night that he didn't feel well enough to speak with reporters following a 107-90 preseason loss to the Atlanta Hawks.

Maybe it was how Brown felt or perhaps it was the potential cost of saying how he felt. Brown was ejected with about 3 1/2 minutes left in the third quarter, the first time he's been tossed as Bobcats coach.

The same replacement referee, lead official Kevin Scott, assessed both technical fouls against Brown, and called for security when Brown was slow to leave the court.

Observations: Pickin' plenty of pockets

A good measure of the Bobcats' defense: Raymond Felton , Wallace and Jackson are among the top 14 in the league in steals per game.

I've never seen more missed free throws off technical fouls than this season and lately the Bobcats aren't the only team guilty of this.

There were three technical fouls called within a span of 11/2 minutes during the second quarter Friday, all for defensive three seconds. You know the deal: The best shooter on the floor for the applicable team gets to go to the line. And all three Ts were missed; two by San Antonio's Roger Mason Jr. , an 81percent foul-shooter, and one by Charlotte's Stephen Jackson (a 78percent foul-shooter).

Observations: 76ers 'afraid' to play Iverson vs. Brown?

Larry Brown was having a good time in the pregame media availability, needling two longtime acquaintances:

When reminded Kiki Vandeweghe chose to debut as Nets coach Friday, rather than Wednesday's loss to Dallas, Brown said he'd rather coach against the Bobcats than the Mavericks, too.

Then he was asked about Allen Iverson playing Monday with the Philadelphia 76ers, rather than tonight against the Bobcats.

Recap: Providence vs. Brown

Jamine Peterson posted 22 points and nine rebounds to lead the Providence Friars to a 78-62 victory over the Brown Bears in a non-league affair at the Dunkin' Donuts Center.

Kyle Wright netted 15 points for Providence (6-3), which got 13 points from Bilal Dixon.

Andrew McCarthy posted 14 points and nine rebounds in defeat for Brown (4-7). Peter Sullivan and Matt Sullivan scored 12 points apiece for the Bears, while teammate Matt Mullery contributed 11 points.