CHICAGO (AP) Bulls coach Bill Cartwright was fired Monday after Chicago's poor start to a season that was supposed to bring marked improvement.

Pete Myers will be the interim coach of the Bulls (4-10), and general manager John Paxson hopes to name a replacement within the next week.

``The team is underperforming and we have to find ways to win, period,'' Paxson said. ``I am not satisfied with the team's start this season and changes have to be made. This represents the first change, but not necessarily the last.''

Cartwright is the second NBA coach to be fired this season following Doc Rivers at Orlando.

The Bulls were in Dallas, where they play the Mavericks on Tuesday night. Paxson was to meet with the team and then return to Chicago.

The Bulls have lost seven of their past 10 games. They've struggled offensively and defensively, and haven't been able to find a rhythm despite returning three starters from last year's squad that won 30 games for the first time since 1998.

Even worse, the team has shown little energy. Its first four losses were by an average of 27 points, including back-to-back 30-point blowouts. Eddy Curry, expected to have a breakout year, has struggled, while Tyson Chandler has battled a back injury for much of the season.