With Vinny Del Negro now dealing with questions about his job security, the short-handed Bulls face an Atlanta team tonight that hasn't played since Saturday and is strong at home.
After that come home games against a Golden State team with a poor record but a tough, run-and-gun style to match up against and then appearances from powerhouses the Celtics and Lakers.
Getting Kirk Hinrich and Tyrus Thomas back from injury will help, and there's a chance Hinrich will play this week. The Bulls originally were optimistic Thomas could return from the fractured radius in his left forearm on the early side of their four- to six-week projection. But the four-week anniversary came last Friday and Thomas hasn't even begun contact yet.
After that come home games against a Golden State team with a poor record but a tough, run-and-gun style to match up against and then appearances from powerhouses the Celtics and Lakers.
Getting Kirk Hinrich and Tyrus Thomas back from injury will help, and there's a chance Hinrich will play this week. The Bulls originally were optimistic Thomas could return from the fractured radius in his left forearm on the early side of their four- to six-week projection. But the four-week anniversary came last Friday and Thomas hasn't even begun contact yet.
The question facing Bulls management is whether to allow Del Negro the
opportunity to coach a fully healthy roster before making a decision on
his future. After all, mindful of keeping roster and salary-cap
flexibility available for 2010, the Bulls entered this season with a
13-man roster that included Jerome James and Lindsey Hunter and wasn't
designed to absorb injuries.
Telltale signs of a team quitting on its coach -- a lack of hustle, blowing off play calls -- haven't occurred with regularity.
However, players always have answered questions about Del Negro's performance in hedged fashion, admitting someone with no previous coaching experience is a work in progress.
John Paxson and Gar Forman admitted as much during Del Negro's introductory news conference. It's their call whether or not Del Negro has displayed enough progress to get the opportunity to weather this rough patch.
Telltale signs of a team quitting on its coach -- a lack of hustle, blowing off play calls -- haven't occurred with regularity.
However, players always have answered questions about Del Negro's performance in hedged fashion, admitting someone with no previous coaching experience is a work in progress.
John Paxson and Gar Forman admitted as much during Del Negro's introductory news conference. It's their call whether or not Del Negro has displayed enough progress to get the opportunity to weather this rough patch.
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If Kirk Hinrich was not Jerrys Boy, he would have been traded a long time ago. But no we are stuck with his sorry butt instead of Ben Gordon and we will have to settle for scoring 85-90 points a game. For all you (Kirk Hinrich lovers and Ben Gordon haters) get over it the Hinrich sucks big time. All you Hinrich lovers like to say Ben Gordons Defense suck but you want to know something atleast he could out score his guy, you really think Captain Klank Hinrich could outscore his guy. It would have been better if Hinrich Broke his thumb and was out all year!!