Smaller role for Hughes; Bulls still lose
Nothing went even remotely well for the Bulls during their 116-93 loss at Boston on Friday. But earlier in the week, the team made an interesting transformation.
After leading the Bulls in shot attempts for three consecutive games, newcomer Larry Hughes took a step back offensively during wins over Memphis and Cleveland. He scored a combined 20 points and took an average of 9.5 shots in those two contests, compared to averaging 22.7 points and 18.3 shot attempts in the previous three games.
During the first five games with Hughes and Drew Gooden in the lineup, the Bulls' holdovers seemed to struggle with the change, including top scorers Ben Gordon and Luol Deng. Hughes recognized the situation.
"I want to try to keep everybody playing the same role," said the 6-foot-5 guard, the oldest player on the Bulls' roster at 29. "We don't want to throw a drastic change in what these guys have been doing.
"Lu's great inside the paint. BG shoots the ball well from outside. We can tell when guys are struggling, when guys are kind of out of their comfort zone."
Deng and Gordon played more like their old selves in the wins over Memphis and Cleveland, while Hughes helped set aside criticism that he's more interested in getting a high volume of shots than winning games.
"He's playing within the game," coach Jim Boylan said. "He's not really forcing anything. As a coach, I appreciate that, because he's trying to play a team game."
Thursday's victory over Cleveland provided one sample blueprint for success with the new lineup. Deng and Gordon each finished with 23 points, while four other Bulls scored in double figures and the defense helped hold the Cavs below 40 percent shooting.
"When we put five or six guys in double figures every night, it gives us a good chance to win," Hughes added. "When the time is right, when it's time to turn it up, I know I'm ready to do it and I know Drew is ready."
A day later in Boston, the Bulls were not up to the challenge. Gordon, Hughes and Deng combined to hit 14 of 43 shots, while Kirk Hinrich scored just 3 points and was limited to 20 minutes because of foul trouble.
"At times we look good," Boylan said. "At times we look like we just made a trade. It's still a work in progress."
The Bulls might struggle for a few more days. On the heels of Boston, the Bulls visit Detroit tonight and host Utah on Tuesday.
Making a run at one of the bottom playoff spots in the East, which the Bulls insist is a top goal, will depend on improving the chemistry of a guard-heavy roster.
"I'm starting to feel comfortable, but I feel that we still have a ways to go as far as chemistry," Hinrich said. "It's going to take a little bit of time."