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Bulls look for first road win against Trail Blazers

Nov 19, 2008 - 11:23 AM Chicago (5-6) at Portland (6-5), 10:30 p.m. EST

PORTLAND, Oregon (Ticker) -- Based on their performance, the Chicago Bulls are facing a worst-case scenario over the last two weeks of the month. Either that, or it's a pivotal opportunity for a young team to start proving itself.

The Bulls continue their seven-game road trip on Wednesday as they take on the Portland Trail Blazers. Chicago is winless away from home in four tries - most recently Tuesday's 116-109 loss to the high-powered Los Angeles Lakers.

Portland is undefeated at home. The odds aren't exactly in the Bulls' favor, to say the least. Then again, their road losses have been to the likes of the Lakers, Orlando Magic, Cleveland Cavaliers and defending champion Boston Celtics.

The good news for Chicago is that the rookie learning curve hasn't been particularly steep for top overall pick Derrick Rose. The point guard already seems like a star in the making after 11 NBA games. He has firmly taken the reins of head coach Vinny Del Negro's up-tempo attack and run with it - literally - to the tune of 19.5 points and 5.9 assists per game.

The team's overall results, however, haven't yet been there.

Of course, the same could be said of the Trail Blazers, everyone's preseason darlings. Portland went on a four-game winning streak last week, but has lost two of three since - including Tuesday's 111-106 loss to the Golden State Warriors.

Blazers center Greg Oden came up with the best performance of his young career in the losing effort, collecting a career-high 22 points and 10 boards off the bench.