More proof that the Bulls are a mess: Jake Voskuhl barely received minutes in Chicago last season. But this season, the center is good enough to start for the Suns. Or is that more evidence that Phoenix never recovered from losing the coin flip for Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in 1969? ... Jim McIlvaine was mercifully put out to pasture after being cut by the Nets early this season. But the name of the former Sonics center is still invoked in the NBA when the subject of scrubs arises. Timberwolves President Kevin McHale spoke about fakes being essential to a low-post repertoire ? except when used by certain players. "McIlvaine can pump fake until the cows come home," McHale said. "And no one's going to jump." ... The Mavericks have such an international flavor that in a recent game against San Antonio, they had only one American on the court: Michael Finley. The others were Steve Nash (Canada), Eduardo Najera (Mexico), Dirk Nowitzki (Germany) and Wang ZhiZhi (China). ... If the Blazers don't make the playoffs, it will be the first time in 20 years. ... Look-alikes: Sonics GM Rick Sund and play-by-play announcer Kevin Calabro. Don't think so? At Seattle's first exhibition game this season, one fan asked Sund for an autograph thinking he was Calabro. "Old balding, white guys," Calabro explained. "There's about 30 million of us out there." ... A reason that Jerry Krause still has his job: Chicago remains among the NBA's leaders in attendance, with roughly the same average as the Lakers. ... Lifestyles of the rich and famous: Tom Hanks spent $257,000 this season for a suite at the Staples Center that holds 12 spectators for Lakers and Clippers games. ... John Lucas is becoming the Charles Barkley of NBA coaches. "If I didn't have a drug problem, I would have been the best point guard (in NBA history)," Lucas declared. With statements like that, the Cleveland coach sounds like he's still on something. ... The best argument that Larry Brown will bolt Philadelphia soon: Yesterday against Portland, Brown coached his 329th game, the most with any NBA team for the basketball nomad.