PHILADELPHIA -- Down and out or down to the wire, the 76ers are freefalling toward NBA history. Michael Bradley USA Jersey . D.J Augustin scored 20 points and Taj Gibson had 19 points and 13 rebounds to lead the Chicago Bulls to a 102-94 win over Philadelphia on Wednesday night, handing the 76ers their 22nd straight loss. The Sixers are four losses shy of matching the NBA record for the longest single-season losing streak. The Cleveland Cavaliers set the record of 26 consecutive losses in the 2010-11 season. The Vancouver Grizzlies (1995-96), Denver Nuggets (1997-98) and Charlotte Bobcats (2011-12) each lost 23 straight. "Winnable game," 76ers coach Brett Brown said. "I say that because a group thats been losing ... still stays together. They still compete. Im proud of them." The Sixers also lost their 17th straight home game since beating Charlotte on Jan. 15. They were 8-11 at home at that point and had already defeated Miami, the Bulls, and Houston in Philadelphia. After the Sixers were 3-0 following a Nov. 2 win over Chicago, fans held signs that said, "3-0. Thats No Bull." That seems like another season at times after the Sixers traded Evan Turner, Spencer Hawes and Lavoy Allen at the deadline for draft picks, a necessary step for a rebuilding franchise. Unlike most of the first 21 losses in the streak, the Sixers were competitive until the final possessions, never letting the Bulls lead by more than 11. Sixers centre Byron Mullens, who hadnt attempted a shot all game, hit consecutive 3s to pull the Sixers to 83-80. He made a nifty save on a ball headed out of bounds, leading to Henry Sims bucket and a foul. With a chance to tie the game, Sims missed the free throw with 8:19 left. Thaddeus Young bailed him out a possession later with a 3-pointer that made it 85-all. Joakim Noah buried a go-ahead 3 from the top of the arc and Augustin followed with one from the sideline to put the Bulls up 91-85. Tony Wrotens 3 made it 93-90 but it was just more false hope. Carlos Boozers emphatic dunk stretched the lead to six and the Bulls did enough to hang on and move to .500 on the road (17-17). The Sixers have lost three of four by less than 10 points after losing each of the previous 10 games by double-digits. "We knew it would be this type of game," Augustin said. "We just tried to fight them until the end and it was a fight, a real fight." The Sixers could make it 23 straight with a loss Friday to New York. Then three straight on the road at Chicago, San Antonio and Houston. If the Sixers lose all of those games, the potential record 27th loss would come March 29 vs. Detroit. Young scored 24 points for the Sixers and Wroten had 17. "Were going to get one soon," Wroten said. Boozer had 12 points and 11 rebounds for the Bulls and Noah added 14 points and 10 boards. The Sixers solid 11-for-24 3-point shooting was undone by a 9 of 19 mark from the free-throw line. "There is just no inch for error," Brown said. "Theres no wiggle room at all." The Sixers stayed tight and chipped away in the third, making it 64-61 on Youngs 3-pointer. Sims was 0 for 7 from the floor until his first basket cut it to 64-63. The Sixers just couldnt make the clutch basket or two to finally take the lead. Theyd get as close again as two points in the third and trailed only 75-69 at the end of the quarter. "I think Bretts done a great job with them," Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau said. "Theyve got a lot of moving parts. I give a guy like Young a lot of credit for his professionalism -- how hard he plays. They shot the ball well. The Bulls played without Derrick Rose, the former MVP point guard who tore the meniscus in his right knee at Portland in November and was ruled out for the remainder of the season. Thibodeau said Rose could could be ready to return if he gets the call to play this summer for Team USA at the world championships. "I know hed like to do it," Thibodeau said. "I know how USA basketball feels about him. If hes cleared to do it, Id love to see him do it." NOTES: The Sixers are 3-32 since a four-game winning streak ended Jan. 4. ... The Bulls have won seven of eight against the Sixers. John Brooks USA Jersey . Brignac hit a three-run homer in the bottom of the ninth inning to lift the Philadelphia Phillies to a 3-0 victory over the San Diego Padres on Wednesday night. Danny Williams Jersey . Bartel, who is from Australia, punted 229 times for 9,904 yards with a 43.2 average in two seasons with the Ticats. Williams, the first overall pick by Saskatchewan in 2010, signed with Hamilton as a free agent a year ago and had one defensive tackle and one special teams tackle in just six games with the Ticats last season.REGINA - The Grey Cup arriving in downtown Regina via horse-drawn carriage. Baltimore Stallion jerseys. Easterners adapting to mind-numbingly low temperatures. Almost everyone and every building in the city dressed up in green. These are some of the memorable sights in and around the Grey Cup host city this week, but perhaps the most unique and curious visage of them all is something that is considered blasphemous to many fans of the Hamilton Tiger Cats - one of their coaches is wearing an Argonaut Grey Cup ring. The coach is defensive coordinator Orlondo Steinauer, who was Torontos defensive backs coach a year ago. The reason for donning the bling of the Ticats sworn mortal enemies? "I wear it because Im super proud," Steinauer told TSN.ca "Its a festival here, other people want to see it, some people have never seen it, so you just bring it out." The Ticats signed Steinauer on January 3 this year, a little over a month after the Argos Grey Cup win over Calgary. The Steeltowners hired Kent Austin as their head coach a couple of weeks earlier, and he quickly interviewed several people about becoming his defensive coordinator. He said that Steinauers philosophical viewpoint was similar to his, and that was a big selling point. "Not just about the game," said Austin, when talking about what he liked about Steinauers approach. "Schematically how (Steinauer) views the game, specifically to the CFL, but overall (his) philosophical viewpoint on how to build a football team, how to build a defence, what type of players you want to attract and to have on your team, because the players are going to carry your culture and keep each other accountable." One of the players Steinauer attracted was Brandon Isaac. The linebacker was an integral part of the 2012 Grey Cup champs before being unceremoniously dumped by the Argos early this season. The coach pounced on the opportunity to bring B.I. aboard. "The reason Brandon was brought in is that we were a little too finesse and not quite enough killer," said Steinauer. "We were still trying to find those guys who were going to impact football games and thats what Brandon brings, a little bit of tenacity, a little bit of nastiness, overconfidence, that kind of thing, and we needed that." Isaac relished the opportunity to be reunited with the Ticats DC. "Hes a players coach. Hes a phenomenal coach, he does a great job of explaining things and putting you in position." Isaac continued about Steinauers strengths, "His explanation of Xs and Os, his preparatiion before the game. Brad Evans USA Jersey. A lot of times we know what a team is going to do and were prepared for it. Hes a great motivational speaker. Hes not a rah rah guy, he doesnt yell at you, hes just a calm guy who is passionate about the game." Steinauer was asked by TSN.ca to describe his defensive philosophy in one word. The one he chose tells you everything you need to know about his approach to the game. "Multiple." It makes sense because theres not one defence he throws out there on a regular basis. You may think that as a player who thrived under Rich Stublers match coverage, that Steinauer would use that as a base defence. The Ticats employ it, but last week in their East Final win over the Argos, that coverage was not used once in the second half. Instead the team brought pressure on every down, something the Argos didnt expect. That made defensive tackle Brian Bulcke, working with Steinauer for the first time, a very happy man. "He empowers us" said Bulcke, who played for the Stampeders in last years Grey Cup. "He actually puts a lot of responsibility back onto the players. Hes got no ego in the game, he just loves developing a simple scheme that we can execute and actually take on as our own and thats just awesome." And the multiple aspect of Steinauers defence is something he wears as a badge of honour. "A lot of coordinators come with the M.O. that theyre going to bring pressure, or theyre going to be a bend but dont break, or theyre going to be soft, or theyre going to stop the run, but give up big pass," Steinauer continued. "Were going to do whatever it takes to win that week." Steinauers word to describe his defence is multiple. His head coach wasnt able to be as succinct when talking about the job done by his right-hand man. "I dont think one word can describe it to be honest with you," Austin told TSN.ca. "The coaching job that he and his staff have done this year has been nothing short of outstanding. He has done just a marvelous coaching job. Hes extremely bright, hes very, very hard working, unbelievably organized, he stays on point, he doesnt let the little things distract him, he focuses on the big picture, and getting to that big picture by putting tangible things in place to achieve those goals. Hes just a really, really, really talented coach." Occasionally Steinauers name is mentioned when openings arise for a head coach in the CFL. If it doesnt happen this year, it wont be long before Steinauer is no longer Austins assistant...hes his peer. Cheap Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys Cheap Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys Cheap Jerseys China Wholesale Jerseys ' ' '
