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Bucks’ Skiles has nothing but praise for Hinrich

Before Kirk Hinrich signed with the Bulls last summer, it was widely reported that Milwaukee was the primary competition.

Bucks coach Scott Skiles worked with Hinrich in Chicago. When it was all said and done, though, Skiles knew he couldn’t match the Bulls’ sales pitch.

“I wouldn’t say I was disappointed. I understood,” Skiles said before Tuesday’s game. “He’s going to be able to come here and start while Derrick (Rose) is out. Who knows, maybe he’ll continue to start when Derrick comes back. Maybe they’ll start together, I don’t know.

“This is a place he’s comfortable with, has a home here. We were battling some odds, that’s for sure.”

Skiles coached Hinrich for roughly four seasons in Chicago. Hinrich did not play Tuesday because of a thumb injury.

“I love Kirk,” Skiles said. “He played hard and very well for me. We have a good relationship. But we weren’t dangling a starting job. With Derrick out, it’s kind of Kirk’s show right now.”

Deng to try different roles:Before Tuesday#146;s game, Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau talked about wanting to see Luol Deng play with the second unit, as he did last season.It didn#146;t really happen against the Bucks.After missing the previous game with a groin injury, Deng had a quiet night, finishing with 5 points and 2 rebounds in 31 minutes of action. But Thibodeau has plans for the remainder of the preseason schedule.#147;You can play Luol and Jimmy (Butler) together. We#146;re still getting a look at that,#148; Thibodeau said. #147;We can move Luol to the 2. We can also move him to the 4. I want to look at that, also, to see what fits best. We#146;re going to get a look at a lot of different things.#148;Free flow of fouls:During the first three Bulls games of the preseason, an average of 68 free throws were attempted between both sides. It#146;s not uncommon for referees to call the game tighter during exhibition season.#147;There#146;s probably a lot of factors that go into it,#148; coach Tom Thibodeau said. #147;There#146;s probably a lot of reaching. Your timing#146;s not quite there. There#146;s more guys playing, too. It#146;s more choppy than normal.#147;I think (the referees) want to stress their points of emphasis on how the game#146;s going to be called. I think that all plays into it.#148;Players not on exhibition:Among the missing players on Tuesday were Bulls center Kyrylo Fesenko, who was sick.Milwaukee played without rookie Doron Lamb (elbow), forward Luc Mbah a Moute (knee surgery) and center Ekpe Udoh (knee). Another Bucks rookie, John Henson, left in the third quarter with a knee injury.

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