Following a much-needed win over Atlanta, Scott Skiles uttered one of those passing comments we love to expand upon in editions of the Juice, because most truths in a league where everyone is wary of the media often come in small nuggets.
"We had some really quality point guard play there for about eight minutes or so and our offense looked really good," Skiles said in appreciation of the work backup Chris Duhon did in the second half of a 90-78 Bulls victory.
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| Kirk Hinrich has not scored 20 points or more in any games this season. (Getty Images) |
Coaches often claim to get lost in what they're seeing. In Skiles' case, considering he hasn't seen many positives this season, you can understand that he just wanted to see some form of execution. Still, by not reinserting Hinrich, even when the result was at hand, Skiles was making a point.
Hinrich has shot over 50 percent in a game just twice this season and hasn't scored 20 or more points in a single contest. He'll finish the month shooting less than 35 percent and averaging 10.1 points per game. He shot a career-high 41.5 percent from 3-point range a season ago, but is hovering just over 20 percent (8-for-39) thus far. Typically stingy defensively, he's struggled in that area, too.
It's almost as if he came back a different player after removing his name from consideration for this summer's FIBA Americas Tournament U.S. squad. There was some speculation that he begged off because he didn't want to play third fiddle behind Jason Kidd and Chauncey Billups, while others conjectured that he felt he was going to be beaten out by Deron Williams. Whatever Hinrich's reasoning, he missed out on keeping his game in rhythm and the Bulls have been worse off for it.
All of a sudden, the player who endeared himself to Skiles because of the many characteristics he shared with him, from the hard-nosed style to high on-court IQ, is now being called out for embarrassing moments like the one that no doubt contributed to his extended stint on the pine Tuesday. Coasting toward an uncontested layup, Hinrich thought he heard Noah calling for the ball from behind; Hinrich passed up the guaranteed two points and instead threw the ball away.
"I don't know if I've ever seen that kind of play since I've been 5 years old," Skiles told Chicago reporters. "I don't know what to say about it."
His actions spoke louder than any words could've, but rest assured, Hinrich isn't going to be banished forever. Skiles might decide to reward Duhon and give Hinrich some room for pause, but he's well aware that the season is 82 games long and the only way Chicago is going to rebound from a 3-10 start is to have the top point guard on his roster find his way out of his slump.
Having signed a five-year extension prior to the beginning of last season, Hinrich is not going anywhere, at least literally. Figuratively speaking, he and the Bulls have nowhere to go but up.
Old pal offers no relief
Skiles has done a masterful job of helping build Chicago up after the dormancy that followed the dismantling of the Michael Jordan-led dynasty. Coming into the season, his job would've had to have been considered among the safest in the NBA. But in this business, you're only as good as your last week, so talk of pink slips has seen the light of day due to the Bulls' struggles.
Those rumors are all unfounded, at least for now. Another month in the Eastern Conference toilet might change things, but Skiles still comes to work every day expecting to be there the next, which is more than at least a couple of coaches can currently say.
