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Bulls' Hamilton works on his shooting arm

Richard Hamilton borrowed teammate John Lucas III, usually Derrick Rose's post-practice shooting partner, for extra catch-and-shoot repetitions Wednesday.

Hamilton played Monday for the first time since suffering a bruised right shoulder March 5. After a day off to recover, he felt his conditioning was fine, but his shooting arm is out of shape.

“The pain I have in (the shoulder) is just from not doing anything for so long and the wear and tear of the game, putting my arm in different positions and things like that,” he said Wednesday at the Berto Center.

“It was all expected. I expected to feel the pain I felt the last two days, but it didn't limit me from practice or anything like that.”

Hamilton's right shoulder was heavily padded during Monday's loss to the Houston Rockets. He produced 6 points, 3 assists and 5 turnovers in just less than 20 minutes of action.

“I feel I can run all day. My biggest concern was my timing, getting a rhythm and things like that,” he said. “This is the first time I've ever had an injury from the waist up. So my legs are fine. I was able to run and things like that.

“You want to grab a ball, you want to dribble a ball, you want to shoot the ball, but you know you can't get it over the top of your head. You just try to stay motivated and do all the running, because you know there's going to be a time when your shoulder does feel good and your legs have got to be right.”

Forman talks extension:

During a team fundraiser Tuesday at the United Center, Bulls general manager Gar Forman addressed the issue of coach Tom Thibodeau's contract extension.

“This is a complete nonissue,” Forman said, according to bulls.com. “We approached Tom in the fall about a contract extension. We had a number of positive talks and then the season came. We were obviously busy with the season, so both sides agreed to table it and resume the talks after the season.

“We want Tom to be the coach of the Bulls. Tom wants to be the coach of the Bulls. You have two sides with similar objectives. So you would think something is going to get done. You've got two sides wanting the same thing and (chairman) Jerry (Reinsdorf) always has been fair.”

Late start:

Fans should be aware that tonight's game against Boston starts at 8:30 p.m. because it's the second game of a TNT doubleheader. Gates will open at 6:30.

Coach Tom Thibodeau, a former Celtics assistant, isn't surprised Boston went 15-5 over 20-game stretch heading into Wednesday's home loss to San Antonio.

“The thing about that team is the core has always remained the same,” Thibodeau said. “Ray (Allen) has been out, but (Rajon) Rondo, (Paul) Pierce and Kevin Garnett, that's been the same since the championship years. I never doubted that they would be good.”

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