Low-key Hinrich kicks it into high gear
Since the arrival of Derrick Rose, veteran Kirk Hinrich has almost become the shooting guard who doesn't shoot. He averaged 10.9 points this season and totaled just 13 during Games 1 and 2 in Cleveland.
Hinrich made himself a factor in Game 3, knocking down 9 of 12 shots for 27 points in the Bulls' 108-106 victory. He was a perfect 4-for-4 from 3-point range.
As usual, though, Hinrich didn't say much on his own behalf.
"I felt like the first couple games, I wasn't asserting myself," he said. "Really, it was a different mindset tonight."
Hinrich's teammates gave him credit for a game-changing performance, especially Rose.
"When somebody is a threat on the court, it changes everything," Rose said. "It makes me want to attack more. It gives me a wide-open lane."
Center Brad Miller made a point of mentioning Hinrich's 2 missed free throws with 26.9 seconds left, which made the ending much more tense than it should have been.
"Other than free throws, when he shoots like that, it opens things up for everybody else," Miller said. "He shot the ball real well the last couple weeks of the season. Kirk's been here in Chicago the longest. He's got a lot of pride."
Noah ranks 7th: Joakim Noah finished seventh in voting for the NBA's most improved player award, with 7 first-place votes.
Houston guard Aaron Brooks won easily, collecting 62 first-place votes. He raised his scoring average from 11.2 points to 19.6 in his third NBA season.
Oklahoma City's Kevin Durant finished second. If it seemed like Durant was already pretty good, he was. His scoring average went from 25.3 to 30.1 this season. Next on the list were Memphis' Marc Gasol, San Antonio's George Hill, Milwaukee's Andrew Bogut, Oklahoma City's Russell Westbrook, then Noah.
Taj gets technical: Rookie forward Taj Gibson was upset with himself for getting a technical foul midway through the third quarter.
"I told myself, 'I don't get technicals.' This is the first time in my life I got 2 technicals in one year, so it was tough," Gibson said. "I'm a rookie. I told Brad, 'You can say whatever you want to (the referees),' and they're like, 'OK Brad, OK.' I guess as time goes on, they'll get used to me and things will work out well."
Noah explains self: Joakim Noah and the Bulls are headed back to Cleveland for Game 5 on Tuesday, which means more boos for Noah from the Cavaliers crowd.
"I don't want people to think I'm some kind of circus freak," Noah said Thursday. "I'm playing my heart out, too. Just because I say things like, 'Cleveland (stinks),' doesn't mean I'm not going out there and giving it all I've got."
Cleveland complains: During Brad Miller's free throws with 3.6 seconds left, the Cavaliers complained that the referees gave Miller the ball before Cleveland had put a sub in for Anderson Varejao, who fouled out on the play. They wanted Miller's first free throw wiped out and complained to NBA director of basketball operations Stu Jackson after the game.