Rumors, moves, injuries and newsmakers...

Hawks take step backwards with Bibby; Wallace cleared for shooting drills; Gooden has firm grip on starting gig; Birdman ready for takeoff in Big Easy; Ratliff could play Wednesday; and more...


HAWKS DIVING 
The acquisition of Mike Bibby a few weeks ago hasn't quite given the Hawks the boost they were hoping for. On Tuesday, Atlanta dropped a 135-118 score-fest to Golden State. It was the sixth loss for the Hawks in the nine games since Bibby joined the team in a trade from Sacramento.

In the loss, Bibby made only two of his seven shots from the field and finished the game with a sub-par five points to go with six assists and three rebounds. It was another disappointing scoring game for the point guard who is averaging 13.5 points per game in 2007-08.

The Hawks don't have to wait long for a chance at redemption as they play again on Wednesday night. Unfortunately for them, they are facing Western Conference powerhouse New Orleans. Look for Bibby to have his hands full with All-Star Hornets point guard Chris Paul.

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BOBCATS  
According to the Charlotte Observer, Bobcats forward Gerald Wallace has been cleared to take part in some shooting drills. The veteran has not played since suffering a Grade three concussion on February 22. In his absence, Matt Carroll and Jared Dudley have been getting extra minutes and both have been making the most of the opportunity. In Tuesday's 109-89 win over Minnesota, Carroll had a great all-around effort, scoring 18 points with six rebounds and four assists. In the four games Wallace has missed, Carroll has averaged 12.3 points and 5.0 rebounds per contest. Dudley, a rookie out of Boston College, has been given a bigger role in the team's last two games and has responded by averaging 15.5 points and 6.5 boards per contest. Dudley in particular will see a dramatic loss in minutes when Wallace returns to the court.

BULLS 
On Tuesday, Chicago's Drew Gooden had a second consecutive strong game since being added to the Bulls' starting five. The power forward converted 10 of his 15 shots from the field for 21 points in Chicago's 112-97 win over Memphis. He also had 14 boards in the victory. It was his third double-double in his last four games. The emergence of Gooden, acquired from Cleveland at the trade deadline, will cut into the minutes of Tyrus Thomas. The second-year player was virtually invisible on Tuesday, picking up four fouls and zero points in nine forgettable minutes. The former LSU star had a golden opportunity to seize the starting job in the wake of Joe Smith's trade to Cleveland, but has managed to let the chance slip away.

HORNETS 
The Birdman is set to fly in the Big Easy once again reports the New Orleans Times-Picayune. Former Hornets forward Chris Andersen has been reinstated by the NBA after a two-year drug suspension and appears set to re-sign with his old team. The wild but affable big man will help Melvin Ely and Ryan Bowen back up Tyson Chandler and David West in the Hornets' frontcourt.

PISTONS 
Detroit officially signed Theo Ratliff on Tuesday and according to coach Flip Saunders could have the veteran center in uniform ready to go on Wednesday against Boston. The Pistons have needed some frontcourt help since dealing Primoz Brezec to Toronto for Juan Dixon. Assuming he can stay healthy, Ratliff should be able to provide some valuable minutes behind Rasheed Wallace and Antonio McDyess. In an injury-shortened 2007-08 season, he has averaged 6.3 points and 3.9 rebounds per game.

RAPTORS 
With Chris Bosh out of the Toronto lineup for the second consecutive game with a bum knee on Tuesday, the Raptors dropped a 102-87 decision to the Magic. It was the third loss in a row for a Dinos squad that is clearly missing their best player. Even without Bosh, Toronto's top rebounder, the Raptors dominated the boards, edging the Magic by a 47-41 margin. However, the Raps' shooters were stone cold on the night, sinking just 36-of-88 attempts from the field (40.9%). That paled in comparison to Orlando's 40-for-76 performance (52.6%). Toronto catches a bit of a break on Wednesday as they face cellar-dwelling Miami in a bid to snap their three-game skid.

SPURS 
It is not too often that a team shoots 33.8% from the field, as the Spurs did on Tuesday, and still finds a way to win. Fortunately for San Antonio, a solid 25-for-31 (80.6%) effort from the charity stripe was the difference as they downed New Jersey 81-70 to win their 10th game in a row. It was also the second win for the Spurs over the Nets since Sunday. San Antonio forward Tim Duncan led all scorers with 29 points and 12 rebounds.

SUPERSONICS 
Seattle's Chris Wilcox has heated up recently, playing some of his best roundball of the season. On Tuesday, the veteran forward had 20 points and 10 rebounds in the SuperSonics' disappointing 100-97 loss to the Pistons. It was the second consecutive double-double for the former Maryland star who over his past three games has averaged 22.7 points and 10.3 rebounds per contest.

TRAIL BLAZERS 
Portland swingman Martell Webster turned in another turkey on Tuesday, scoring no points with two rebounds in the Trail Blazers' 97-92 loss to the Suns. The wildly inconsistent 21-year-old is back in the starting lineup for Portland, but that could change fast if he continues to struggle. The third-year player is averaging 10.3 points and 3.9 rebounds per game in 2007-08.

WARRIORS 
With Golden State big men Andris Biedrins (appendectomy) and Chris Webber (knee) unavailable for Tuesday's tilt with Atlanta, Warriors coach Donn Nelson was pretty much forced to go with a small-ball lineup. Forward Brandan Wright, generously listed at 6-foot-9, was the tallest player in the Warriors' starting unit in the game. And while the group may not have won the opening tip, they did have the wheels to run-and-gun to a 135-118 victory over the Hawks. It was the fourth consecutive win for the Warriors and the 17 in their past 23 games, allowing them to remain in eighth place in the West.