Hughes' off-season practice pays off
How long can Larry Hughes continue his ridiculous 3-point accuracy? During the past four games, he's knocked down 12 of 17 shots from long range, and his hot streak seemed to begin with the game-winning, 22-footer at the buzzer in Utah on Nov. 24.
Over his 11-year career, Hughes is a 30 percent shooter from 3-point range. This season, he's at 47.7 percent, tied for seventh best in the league.
"I really don't shoot that many," he said Monday at the Berto Center. "I'm probably on pace to shoot a career high. I'm just stepping into shots, taking my time, and I practiced shooting them a lot this summer, so the work's paying off, I think."
Hughes spent most of his summer working out at Tim Grover's Attack Athletics facility in Chicago. Becoming a better long-range shooter was one of his goals.
"Just trying to do a little something different as far as making drives easier," he said. "I kind of focused in on making long-range shots, to get (defenders) closer to me so I can drive and get to the free-throw line."
Knicks knowledge shared: For the past few years, Vinny Del Negro worked with Mike D'Antoni in Phoenix. D'Antoni was the head coach and Del Negro a scout.
Now the two are opposing coaches, because the Bulls turned to first-timer Del Negro after getting turned down by D'Antoni, whose New York Knicks are off to a decent start at 9-11.
Asked Monday for his views on the secret to D'Antoni's success, Del Negro gave a detailed answer.
"He opens the court up," Del Negro said. "He uses his players' strengths very well. Guys are playing with more confidence and they're having fun playing basketball again, it looks like. Mike has that personality and he does that for players.
"Quentin Richardson in Phoenix had one of his best years as a pro. I'm sure he's excited to play for Mike again. It kind of starts with one guy and it works down. They're just playing with confidence, sharing the basketball, trying to make the game look easy. They're shooting a lot of 3s, getting to the basket a lot. So guys are enjoying playing right now."
The Knicks made a pair of trades recently designed to free cap room in 2010. They added Al Harrington and Tim Thomas while sending off top scorers Jamal Crawford and Zach Randolph.
Former Bulls center Eddy Curry has yet to play this season because of a knee injury and there is no timetable for his return.
Party at the Berto: The Bulls hosted their annual holiday party at the Berto Center on Monday. This year's guests included 50 children who have parents deployed in Iraq or Afghanistan during the holiday season or lost a loved one in the conflicts, along 50 Chicago Public School students living in CHA housing. Lunch, entertainment and a chance to meet all the Bulls players were among the activities.