Korver trying to solve Bulls' lack of bench scoring

One subtle difference in the Bulls lately is a lack of scoring from the bench.

Kyle Korver's role is to bring instant offense with his 3-point shooting, but he has averaged just 6 points in the past eight games. Before that he averaged 12.6 points during a five-game stretch.

“It's not going bad, but it hasn't been anything great,” Korver said. “I've had a lot of in-and-outs lately. A lot of shots are there that are not dropping. It's probably a combination of a lot of things. It will happen soon.”

Asked if he needs to use Korver differently, coach Tom Thibodeau offered no complaints about how things are going.

“I don't have any problems with the way he's playing. He takes great shots,” Thibodeau said. “We don't want him to stop shooting. I think sometimes he's passing up shots that he should be taking.

“I want him to stay aggressive. When he's open, shoot. He's very unselfish, almost to a fault. There are times when he's making the pass and he should be shooting the ball. I think maybe we have to set better screens to create a little bit more separation for him.”

Told that Thibodeau wants him to shoot any time he's open, Korver wasn't sure if he could follow that plan.

“I guess I'm known as a shooter, but I don't want to ever be known as selfish,” Korver said. “If I see somebody else open, I always pass the ball. That's just good basketball to me.”

Maggette gives failing grade:

Bucks forward Corey Maggette, a Fenwick High School product, is so far not enjoying his return to the Midwest. He scored 15 points against the Bulls on Tuesday but is averaging just 10.6 for the season.

“If I had to grade it, I'd grade it an F,” Maggette said in the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel. “I'm just going to be honest. We've still got a lot of time. We've still got to stay positive.”

Maggette has been to the playoffs just once in 11 NBA seasons, so the Bucks' 12-18 record is nothing new to him. He played for high-scoring Golden State last season before being traded to Milwaukee, which is the league's lowest-scoring team.

“It's tough, man,” he added. “You've just got to stay positive; that's how I look at it. Stay the same. Enjoy life. This is a great game, a great opportunity. You never know what your day will be tomorrow.”

Thomas in familiar role:

Bucks coach Scott Skiles had nice things to say Tuesday about Bulls veteran Kurt Thomas, who started at center for Milwaukee during last year's playoffs after Andrew Bogut suffered an arm injury. Now Thomas is filling in for Joakim Noah, who is recovering from thumb surgery.

“It was a big pickup for the Bulls,” Skiles said. “Nothing is going to occur out there that he hasn't seen before a hundred times. He's fit in wherever he's been. We have a lot of respect for Kurt.”