During his time in Denver Ron Mercer was labelled a disinterested defender, and perhaps unjustly that reputation has followed him ever since.  But this season Ron Mercer is letting his game dictate which is correct, his reputation or his game.  Over the last two games Mercer held Boston's Paul Pierce to only 16 points then helped hold New York's Latrell Sprewell to only 17.  Pierce was averaging 32 at the time.

"I think he's more intense," coach Tim Floyd said. "He's in a stance. He's thinking about helping other players that are beaten. He's getting back defensively. Maybe the extra year has helped him."

The challenge will continue for Mercer, who, with defensive specialist Ron Artest and Eddie Robinson on the injured list, must lead defensively as well as offensively.  Wednesday night he faces another prolific scorer in Jerry Stackhouse of the Detroit Pistons, who as K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune reports last time dropped 57 big ones on the hapless Bulls at the United Center.

In other Bulls news Eddie Robinson tested his ankle for the first time on Monday and only experienced irritation when back-peddaling.  He hopes to return against his former club Charlotte on Saturday.