Bulls' Sefolosha makes most of chance
Do you feel it? Yes, it's Thabomania.
"Way different [from two months ago]," said Thabo Sefolosha, the Bulls' Swiss Mister, after his second 22-point game in the last three in Saturday's loss at Utah.
"It's good to be part of the team. I really feel part of the team. I have to bring something to the table. I love that."
The Bulls return home Tuesday night against New Orleans after ending their long Western Conference trip 2-4 and 20-30 overall. They might have regained some hope, and they face some big questions as their new, bigger backcourt comes into view.
The wiry 6-foot-7-inch Sefolosha, though not exactly Richard Hamilton or Joe Johnson yet, may be developing into that big shooting guard the Bulls have long sought. He's averaging 12.1 points and 6.1 rebounds since becoming a starter and 13.4 points, 6.0 rebounds and 4.0 assists this month.
Kirk Hinrich says he'll return Tuesday from a rib injury, though Chris Duhon has played well in his stead and coach Jim Boylan has said no starting jobs are guaranteed for players who have been injured. Ben Gordon was scheduled for another exam on his ailing wrist Monday, and Luol Deng will be out through the All-Star break with Achilles' tendinitis.
But Hinrich and Sefolosha look like a pairing that could do well.
Before he hurt his ribs Monday night at Seattle, Hinrich was playing his best all season since being paired with Sefolosha. Primarily it has enabled Hinrich to not only defend smaller players at point guard but also to be guarded by them. With Gordon or Duhon in the backcourt, the bigger defender used to take Hinrich. Now he has to match up with Sefolosha.
"I find playing with Thabo I play against my own position more," Hinrich said. "You look at scoring and being aggressive a lot differently.
"It is a lot easier on me physically and easier for me to play against guys equal at my position. It's been a while since I've done it. Playing guys at my position, I can get my shot off so much easier at all times."
The numbers bear that out.
Though there was constant talk this season about the fallout from the rejected contract extensions and trade talks on Deng and Gordon, it was Hinrich's poor play that had a major effect on the team's slow start.
But since being paired with Sefolosha, Hinrich has returned to the upward arc he'd been in throughout his career.
In eight games starting alongside Sefolosha until the injury, Hinrich is averaging 21.1 points, 6.1 assists and 2.6 turnovers, the latter just about the classic 2.5-1 ratio suggested for NBA point guards. Hinrich also is shooting 46.3 percent, which is about where he'd risen to last season and good for a point guard.
That also raises some questions about Gordon that the Bulls will have to consider.
Gordon rejected a $50 million contract extension in October. If the Bulls seem set at shooting guard and will go with Hinrich and Sefolosha or even Duhon for a time, can they afford that kind of contract for a sixth man? Should they? Especially when Sefolosha seems deserving of the minutes now?
It was supposed to be this way back in November, but the thoroughbred Sefolosha — did you see that flying slam on the run Saturday? — never got out of the starting gate, and it appeared as if former coach Scott Skiles was ready to put him down.
Sefolosha has scored in double figures in 10 of the last 14 games. He hadn't once before Jan. 19. He averaged 4.2 points in November and then fell off the radar at 1.2 points and less than a rebound in December, when Skiles was fired.
Boylan put him back in the rotation, and Sefolosha averaged 8.5 points in January and now 13.4 this month. With his long arms, he's also a huge bother on defense. He frustrated Baron Davis in Thursday's victory at Golden State.
Sefolosha insists now he never got down, though teammates said he appeared to have lost his confidence with the quick hooks and benchings.
"I'm the type of guy who works hard every practice, every time on the court," he said. "I was not down on myself. I was waiting for the time to come, staying ready. My confidence was not down. I was anxious to be on the court. I have great people around me. My family and friends all tell me to keep my head up and my time will come."
It looks like it's here.
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