CHICAGO -- For much of the young season, the Chicago Bulls havent had trouble keeping defensive pressure on opposing teams.The constant pressure, coupled with a blend of balanced scoring and an up-tempo style of play, led to a flawless start and three straight wins. But when the Bulls surrendered 36 first-quarter points in a 107-100 loss to the Boston Celtics Wednesday night, it resulted in an uphill climb the Bulls couldnt manage to finish.We could just never quite get over the hump, coach Fred Hoiberg told reporters after the Bulls dropped their first loss of the season.The Bulls hope to solve their defensive lapses Friday when they host the New York Knicks at the United Center. The Knicks have experienced defensive issues of their own of late, which have mounted in New York dropping three of its first four games.The Knicks sustained their second straight double-digit loss Wednesday in a 118-99 drubbing at the hands of the Houston Rockets. Already struggling to establish offensive rhythm under first-year coach Jeff Hornacek, the Knicks defensive struggles have been even more alarming.In each of its first four games, New York has allowed no fewer than 102 points, which has been a problem and could pose one against the Bulls, who have twice scored 118 points and have found plenty of production not only from its starting lineup headlined by Jimmy Butler, Dwyane Wade and Rajon Rondo, but from its bench.New Knicks guard Derrick Rose -- who will make his return to Chicago along with former Bulls teammate Joakim Noah Friday -- told reporters after the loss to Houston that things had to change if the Knicks hope to reverse their course.Its nothing but defense, Rose said Wednesday night. If we dont come out and play defense, were going to keep getting smacked like this.The frustrations are apparent with Rose, who was part of some Chicago teams during his tenure with the Bulls that thrived on keeping plenty of pressure on opposing teams. So now that hes on the opposite end of the spectrum with the Knicks, Rose understands what is at the core of New Yorks problems.Ive been on teams where were building a culture here -- were trying to bring a defensive culture here, Rose told reporters. Trying to make something last and establish something. It takes time.While Chicago has its share of new faces and is still experimenting to get the on-floor chemistry right, Hoiberg is hoping that Wednesday nights defensive struggles against the Celtics can be fixed.Among the Bulls biggest issues was defending the perimeter as the Celtics were able to find their range behind the 3-point arc and connected on 14 of their 32 attempts.Hoiberg liked the way his team battled back from a pair of double-digit deficits to tie the game at 100 in the closing minutes, he lamented the fact that the Bulls simply didnt do enough defensively to keep themselves in the game.We werent contesting shots, Hoiberg told reporters. We had a guy there, he was two or three steps behind as opposed to getting (shooters) into a long two or force them into the help (defense) where theyd have to make another pass.I just thought we gave them too many dare shots. LeBron James Shoes From China . 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Warwickshire 131 for 3 (Trott 59*) trail Hampshire 531 (Wheater 204*, Ervine 75, Poysden 4-85) by 400 runsScorecard For someone who does not see himself as a specialist batsman, Adam Wheater managed a fairly convincing impression of a cricketer with a considerable future in the role as Hampshire amassed their largest total in a Championship match in almost three years.Dropped by Hampshire at the end of May when first-team coach Dale Benkenstein decided he wanted 21-year-old Lewis McManus to take over as wicketkeeper, Wheater marked his second appearance since being recalled only as a batsman with a maiden double-hundred that showcased qualities he perhaps doubted he had.Naturally an aggressive hitter, strong on both sides of the wicket, Wheater turned his overnight 89 into a 147-ball century inside the first half hour, following a slightly delayed start, before taking advantage of an overworked Warwickshire attack to advance to 200 in just 79 deliveries more.He gathered 27 fours and hit three sixes, two of them off Keith Barker, who with Rikki Clarke willingly shouldered the extra burden created by Boyd Rankins absence with back spasms but found himself flagging at times on a pitch that remained stubbornly unresponsive.Wheater passed his previous best when he moved on from 164, the score he made for Essex against Northamptonshire in 2011, and went to 200 by reverse sweeping Jeetan Patel, whose stamina was also heavily tested in a series of long spells that added up to 48 overs in total.Wheater, who left Essex in 2013 to further his ambitions with the gloves, has found himself relieved of his duties behind the stumps for the second time since making the move, having previously had to make way for Michael Bates.Benkenstein now wants McManus to have an extended run, feeling that he brings more energy to the role and at the same time considers Wheater should focus on developing as a specialist batsman.I rate Wheats batting but Ive given him a very long run as a keeper and dont feel hes improved in a few areas I think are very important, Benkenstein said recently. But as a batter hes still very young with a huge career ahead of him. Our top order are quite short of runs and hes got a real chance of making his way in this team as a batter.Wheater begs to differ, insisting that he wants to contribute more than one discipline to the team effort and that he will fight to win back the gloves again.I wass disappointed [with the decision] and the hierarchy at Hampshire know I want to keep, he said.ddddddddddddI didnt see that I was doing much wrong. I see myself as a keeper-batsman. I cant bowl and I dont just want to just be fielding. But having said that, when they asked me to play as a batsman in the top six I was going to take that rather than playing in the seconds. I feel I have battled to get back to where I was a couple of years ago with my batting and I feel in a good place.Thats my role now, to score runs and it gives me a lot of satisfaction to be able to contribute as I have in this match. But things change quickly in cricket and as far as keeping is concerned all I can do is take any opportunity that comes along.Wheater passed 5000 first-class runs during his partnership runs with Sean Ervine, who coincidentally reached the milestone of 10,000 during their 144-run stand for the sixth wicket.When Ervine chipped Patel straight to short extra cover to be out for 75, however, it precipitated an unforeseen flurry of wickets -- five in the space of 20 deliveries with only nine more runs added -- and reward for Patel and Josh Poysden, the young legspinner, who picked up the last three for career-best figures of 4 for 85.Losing Boyd through injury was tough but we worked really hard as a unit, Poysden said. I thought we kept going and kept fighting and to get the last five wickets for nine runs was really nice as we finally got what we deserved.On days one and two in first-class cricket you are not really expecting it to spin so I knew they were going to come quite hard at me when I bowled but that gives me a chance to get wickets so I never mind that.Warwickshires reply got off to a stuttering start, Andrew Umeed leaving a ball from Gareth Andrew that came back and clipped off stump before Ian Bell played inside one from Gareth Berg, at which point 11 for 2 on the scoreboard would have been a considerable fillip for a makeshift Hampshire attack.Andrew claimed another success at the start of his second spell as Varun Chopra played down the wrong line but Jonathan Trott and Sam Hain added an unbroken 53 for the fourth wicket. Trott might have been out on 59 near the close, giving a chance off Berg that McManus might have taken had he been standing further back. ' ' '