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Canales makes coaching debut as Blazers visit Bulls

Mar 16, 2012 - 3:15 PM (Sports Network) - The Portland Trail Blazers have been busy the past few days and will begin a new coaching era tonight, when assistant Kaleb Canales guides the team into Chicago for the continuation of a seven-game road trip.

Canales takes over for the fired Nate McMillan, who was relieved of his duties Thursday after almost seven years at the helm. The move was made in the aftermath of a 121-79 defeat against the Knicks in New York on Wednesday night, the seventh loss in nine games for the club which now occupies last place in the Northwest Division with a 20-23 mark. Portland began the season winning seven of its first nine.

"Clearly the season to this point has not gone the way we had hoped it would and after talking with Nate we decided it was best to part ways," said Portland team president Larry Miller. "I want to personally acknowledge and thank Nate for his many contributions to this franchise and wish him nothing but the best for the future."

McMillan racked up a 266-269 record with the franchise and led the Blazers to three straight playoff appearances from 2009-11, but lost in six games in the first round each time. Portland also traded forward Gerald Wallace to the New Jersey Nets for center Mehmet Okur, forward Shawne Williams and a 2012 first- round draft pick and waived former No. 1 overall draft pick Greg Oden and fellow center Chris Johnson.

The Blazers also traded center Marcus Camby to the Houston Rockets for center Hasheem Thabeet, guard Jonny Flynn and a second-round draft pick. In the recent loss at Madison Square Garden, LaMarcus Aldridge and Gerald Wallace each scored 15 points for the Blazers, who are 1-4 on the road swing and 6-16 outside the Rose Garden this season.

"When you're missing shots and turning the ball over...your offense should be your defense, or where it starts, and we were basically just giving them the ball," McMillan said.

Portland will close out the trip Sunday at Oklahoma City. Blazers reserve guard Jamal Crawford (knee) is questionable for tonight.

Meanwhile, the Bulls will continue a six-game homestand and may not have reigning MVP Derrick Rose for a second straight game because of a groin injury. Rose, who is doubtful for tonight and has missed 11 games on the season, did not participate in Wednesday's 106-102 victory over the Miami Heat, as John Lucas III racked up 24 points off the bench and Joakim Noah added 14 and six boards.

"Derrick had a little talk with me before the game and he was like, 'It's time for you to step up,'" said Lucas. "I told him I got him."

Ronnie Brewer and Kyle Korver both had 12 points, while Luol Deng and C.J. Watson posted 11 points apiece for the Central Division-leading Bulls, who have won 11 of 12 games and improved to 18-3 as the host. The Bulls also own the best record in the NBA at 36-9 and will wrap up the residency versus Philadelphia on Saturday.

Chicago is 11-2 against the Western Conference this season, including a 5-0 record in the Windy City. The Bulls and Blazers are meeting for the first time since splitting a home-and-home set a season ago, but Portland has prevailed in six of the last eight matchups in this series.