The Sixers host the Chicago Bulls today at 5 p.m. Both teams are 7-9.

"We threw that game out the window," Cheeks said of the lopsided loss to Boston. "We are trying to get ourselves ready for Chicago. You're never as bad as you think you are, and you're never as good as you think you are."

Cheeks said the team discussed it Friday night and yesterday.

"You have to refocus and get yourself ready to play Chicago," he said.

The Bulls have been idle since losing, 98-88, at San Antonio on Wednesday. It was the team's sixth contest on a tough seven-game trip that ends today against the Sixers. The Bulls began with a 116-109 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers, before visiting the Portland Trail Blazers (a 116-74 loss), the Golden State Warriors (a 115-110 win), the Denver Nuggets (a 114-101 loss), and the Utah Jazz (a 101-100 win).

Chicago is led in scoring by guards Ben Gordon (20.4 points per game) and Derrick Rose (18.4), the rookie out of Memphis who was the No. 1 pick in the 2008 NBA draft. The Bulls also are getting double-figure scoring from forwards Luol Deng (13.1) and Drew Gooden (12.9), and guard Larry Hughes (11.8).

Hughes, a former Sixer, rejoined the active list Nov. 14 after missing the first eight games of the season with a shoulder injury.

"They have a lot of perimeter players who can get up and down the floor, Cheeks said. "And they're going to be pushing the ball up just like we like to do.

"It's going to be a challenging game. I think we'll be ready to play. Coming after [Boston] and the way we played - Boston is the number-one defensive team in the league, so let's don't get crazy about it - I think we'll come out and play [better]."

Contact staff writer Kevin Tatum at 215-854-2583 or ktatum@phillynews.com.