--G Kirk Hinrich said his injured right thumb is healing quickly and he expects to be back on the court in mid-January, about a month sooner than the original projection. He had surgery to repair a torn ligament on Nov. 11.
"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. It was a little strange the first time handling the ball. Really, the main thing is getting the confidence that it is strong enough to do the things I want to do." --C Joakim Noah was benched for the second half of last Saturday's game against Atlanta but responded well. He played 32 minutes in Monday's win at New Jersey, then logged 31 minutes and scored a career-high 19 points against Orlando on Wednesday.
"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."
--Former Bulls assistant Ron Adams has left the organization to join the coaching staff of the Oklahoma City Thunder. Adams was originally hired by the Bulls when Bill Cartwright was head coach but stuck around during the successful Scott Skiles era and deserves credit for the quick development of some of the younger players during those years. Adams moved to a scouting and consulting role earlier this year after Vinny Del Negro stepped in as head coach.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "The most disappointing thing is that there was a game today. We didn't have an answer for their post-up game. We didn't have an answer for our rotations and their shooting. They got us back on our heels early and then we were chasing. Once you start chasing people, they're going to pick you apart, as skilled as they are." -- Coach Vinny Del Negro after the Bulls were hammered at home by Orlando on Wednesday.
