No quick fixes with Gordon, Deng out
Following Sunday's 88-77 loss to Phoenix, Bulls coach Jim Boylan was asked if there was any way to remedy the team's offensive deficiencies beyond simply waiting for top scorers Ben Gordon and Luol Deng to get healthy.
Boylan mentioned that veteran Joe Smith is starting to feel better after having fluid drained from his right knee and forward Andres Nocioni had been scoring consistently until a 7-point clunker against the Suns.
"To answer the question, I'm not quite sure exactly what I can do," Boylan said. "But we're going to go back to the drawing board and see if we can dream up something, see if we can get something done."
It's possible Gordon (sprained right wrist) could play Tuesday when the Bulls host Minnesota. Deng (left Achilles' tendinitis) figures to be out at least another week.
Smith was one of the Bulls' most reliable scorers, but he faded in recent games. Since going 9-for-10 from the field at Miami on Jan. 16, Smith has hit just 15 of 49 shots.
"Actually, my knee felt better today than it did the last week or so," Smith said after hitting 2 of 12 shots against the Suns. "I thanked a few of the guys on the team, because they made me feel a little bit better about the way things went today. It's just a rhythm thing now."
Now that Smith is starting to feel better, he believes it's just a matter of time before his shooting touch returns. He's also hoping to get two good months out of his knee, considering that fluid hadn't built up since early in the season.
Big-man coach sought: The Bulls have interviewed Mike Brown to be an assistant coach who can concentrate on working with big men. A decision is expected in the next few days.
The 6-foot-10 Brown began a 10-year NBA career by playing for the Bulls from 1986-88. Recently, he was a head coach and an assistant in the D-League.
Skiles revisited: Before he was fired on Dec. 24, did former Bulls coach Scott Skiles tell chairman Jerry Reinsdorf, "the team needs a new voice?" Reinsdorf reportedly made the claim in a television interview, and coach Jim Boylan shared his thoughts on the topic prior to Sunday's game.
"Scott's a dedicated professional. He'd never quit on the team," Boylan said. "I think Scott's realistic and he sees what's going on around him and he's not afraid of the truth."
Bull horns: Aaron Gray played in the first half Sunday for the first time in more than a week. The rookie center didn't score and had 3 fouls in seven minutes. … Only two Bulls managed to get to the foul line Sunday. Kirk Hinrich shot 8 free throws, while Thabo Sefolosha had 2.