Hinrich may be back on court within two weeks
If things go according to plan, two weeks from now the Bulls will have an accomplished defender available, another addition to an already crowded backcourt, and someone who should be much better at using his left hand.
Guard Kirk Hinrich suggested Tuesday that he'll be ready to return from surgery to repair a torn ligament in his right thumb by around Jan. 13, which would be about a month sooner than originally projected.
In recent days, Hinrich has done some dribbling and shooting. He had the original surgery on Nov. 11, then had a pin removed from the thumb on Dec. 17.
"So far I think I'm ahead of schedule," he said. "It keeps getting stronger. It's still a little tender. I have to tape it up really well before I start handling the ball. But I'm real optimistic that in two weeks, I feel like I can be back and I think pretty close to 100 percent."
On one hand, Hinrich's return would pose a problem for coach Vinny Del Negro, who barely has enough minutes to spread among Derrick Rose, Ben Gordon, Larry Hughes and Thabo Sefolosha even with several players out injured.
At the same time, Hinrich could give the Bulls a much-needed defensive boost. They plunged to fifth-worst in the league in points allowed before getting back on the right track during Monday's 100-87 victory at New Jersey. The Bulls finished off the Nets with a late 14-0 run after the score was tied 86-86 with 4:35 remaining.
"We made some good adjustments," Del Negro said of Monday's defense. "We were more aggressive, we were more physical in the fourth quarter. We had good contributions from a lot of guys and that's what it's going to take."
Noah becomes unburied: Center Joakim Noah responded well to a partial benching. He sat out the entire second half against Atlanta on Saturday, then posted 8 points, 7 rebounds and 4 blocks in 32 minutes at New Jersey.
"I just feel like I had an opportunity and I produced in the first couple minutes I was in," Noah said Monday. "I just have to make sure my coach has confidence in me. I feel like sometimes he doesn't have that much confidence in me."
Noah's playing time has fluctuated all season. He's started 11 games, but currently comes off the bench in support of Aaron Gray, who has done well in the last week.
"Personally, it's hard when you're being evaluated in four or five minutes, but it is what it is," Noah said. "It's the situation I'm in and I think it's a pretty good one. I feel really privileged to be here. Even though things are frustrating at times, it's on me as soon as my number is called to make the best of it."
Bull horns: Forward Drew Gooden, out since Dec. 19 with a sprained right ankle, participated in Tuesday's light practice. It's possible he'll play today against Orlando. ... The Bulls have knocked down 23 of 44 shots from 3-point range (52 percent) in the last two games. For the season, they rank fourth in the league at 38.9 percent from long range.