Skiles no fan of new policy to mike coaches
The next time Pistons guard Richard Hamilton accuses Bulls coach Scott Skiles of talking slick to opposing players, we'll be able to go to the tape and listen for proof. That is, if the game is being broadcast nationally.
Beginning next week, the NBA will require all coaches to be miked during national games and do one in-game interview. There will also be a camera in the locker room to look in on pregame and halftime meetings.
The Bulls' first taste of the new procedure is expected to come next Friday when they play at Detroit on ESPN.
"I'm not a fan of it," Skiles said. "I'm told to do it, so I do it. I think it's unnecessary. It's not going to hinder me from doing anything.
"I look at it from a player's perspective. You try to get guys to communicate with the coach, but now the coach is miked. I don't know that I'd be that comfortable being frank with the coach if I knew he was miked and it could be on TV. Quotes get taken out of context. And people make judgments on those quotes."
Skiles revealed the league's new microphone plans Thursday but asked not to be quoted, because he wasn't sure if the information was ready to be released by the league.
Bulls guard Kirk Hinrich wasn't thrilled with the idea of cameras recording the team's game-night gatherings.
"I don't think it's that we don't want the fans to know what we're doing," he said. "It's just that you get accustomed to having a certain amount of privacy among the team at certain times. Team meetings, any kind of interaction, you just get used to not having that be public knowledge, so that would definitely be a change."
Duhon brings steady hand: Backup point guard Chris Duhon played well in Tuesday's win over Atlanta, but coach Scott Skiles isn't necessarily expecting the fourth-year veteran's role to expand.
"Not that Chris can't improve, but Chris is the type of player, I think his role in the league is his role," Skiles said. "It's to run the club with kind of a calm hand, play good defense -- whether he starts or comes off the bench. I wouldn't pigeonhole him as a bench player."
Duhon's career-highs of 8.7 points and 5.0 assists came during his second season. This year, Duhon is shooting 34 percent from the field.
"Some nights he's going to get good open looks and he's going to knock them down," Skiles said. "Other nights, he's not. Just to be that kind of steadying-influence player, when he's doing that, he's very, very good and a big-time contributor."
Bull horns: Center Ben Wallace sat out Friday's practice because the Bulls felt he could use a day off to keep his back healthy. … Charlotte's new coach is Sam Vincent, who played alongside Scott Skiles for three years at Michigan State and also started 56 games for the Bulls in the 1988-89 season.