More Bulls miss pratice time

The Bulls haven’t gotten much quality practice time lately. Joakim Noah, Taj Gibson and Brad Miller skipped Sunday and Monday –- Noah and Gibson to rest plantar fascitis, while Miller has a sore knee.

Maybe it’s good news that coach Vinny Del Negro cancelled three practices during the recent seven-game road trip and the Bulls responded with wins each time.

All three players are expected to be available when the Bulls host the Los Angeles Clippers on Tuesday, their first game at the United Center in 18 days.

The Clippers are wrapping up a long “Grammy Awards” road trip, which hasn’t gone well at all. They beat Washington, but are 1-5 overall with losses to New Jersey and Minnesota. On Sunday, the Cavs hit a record-tying 11 3-pointers and scored 46 points in the first quarter against the Clips.

Who’s hot; who’s not
A graphic that was in Monday’s paper didn’t make it onto the Web, so here’s another look at the Eastern Conference standings since Dec. 25.

Everyone has been assuming the top four spots in the East are set in stone, but this makes you wonder if the Bulls, Raptors or Bobcats could reach fourth place or higher if they keep playing well. Boston has been terrible since Kevin Garnett went out with a knee injury. He’s back now, but looks like he needs more time off:

Best records in Eastern Conference since Dec. 25 (through Sunday):

Team W-L
1. Cleveland 15-3
2. Bulls 13-5
3. Toronto 12-5
4. Charlotte 13-6
5. Atlanta 10-8
5. Orlando 10-8
9. Philadelphia 9-10
8. Miami 9-11
9. Milwaukee 8-10
10. New York 7-11
11. Boston 6-11
12. Indiana 7-14