Derrick Rose: Who needs him to beat the NBAs weak sisters?

Two roads diverged on the ice-show trip that drives the Blackhawks and Bulls out for extended annual odysseys early into the new year, and the Hawks have taken the losing path.

The Hawks lost their seventh straight in San Jose Friday night, 5-3, meaning they’re now more than halfway through their nine-game road trip without a win to show for it. Most distressing was that the same old flaws led to goals: three on power plays following bad penalties, one on a bad turnover at the opposing blue line, and another with goalie Corey Crawford once again losing track of his own net.

The Bulls, by contrast, have thrived recently on the road, winning their fifth straight in Charlotte Friday to give them 23 victories, two more than anyone else in the NBA.