"Listen to Charlotte Bobcats coach Paul Silas' description of Chicago Bulls forward Luol Deng.

"He's very experienced. He knows exactly when to shoot and he knows how to play defense," Silas said after a 95-89 loss to the Bulls at United Center. "He's all about, 'I'm going to be successful every game.'

"He breaks your heart."

That sounded like everything Silas' Bobcats weren't, Saturday night or in general, so far this season. There is no heart-breaker on this team, no one consistent enough to be successful every night, no one as efficient offensively or versatile defensively as Deng was in this game.

Former Duke star Deng carried the Bulls with 22 points, eight rebounds, four assists and great position defense. Chicago needed all of that on a night when it was missing reigning league most valuable player Derrick Rose and starting center Joakim Noah. Those two were out with injuries, as were reserves Taj Gibson and John Lucas III.

Despite all those injuries - the Bulls had some strange combinations playing in the second half - Chicago easily held off the Bobcats. That troubled Silas and some of his players, who saw an opportunity squandered."