One thing I've always been skeptical of doing when writing sports columns is to constantly rant and rave about my favorite teams or athletes. I try to always talk about something relevant that anyone can relate to like athletes aiding relief in Haiti, steroids in Major League Baseball, etc. This time however I'm going to hit home and talk about my favorite team, because for once in a very long time, they actually are relevant. The Chicago Bulls. My friends always harass me because I obsess over them and their catalyst, utility guard Kirk Hinrich. I think the reason for all the "hate" is because not just Hinrich, but the team itself is plain. There's nothing flashy about their style of play, they're never in the spotlight or topping headlines (with either positive or negative coverage), because they really don't do much to draw any attention to themselves. The only thing different this year than last, is that they finally have a star and a go-to play maker down the stretch in Derrick Rose. And soon, everybody is going to recognize the Bulls again.
But this isn't going to be about Rose. It's about the real reason for the Bulls success: Kirk Hinrich. Like I briefly mentioned earlier, Hinrich is the catalyst. He's been in Chicago for eight years now and he knows the system better than anyone. Granted, without recently named all-star Derrick Rose, the Bulls wouldn't be where they are right now. But Hinrich gets no recognition whatsoever, which I find remarkable. While Hinrich was injured in the beginning of the year, he missed roughly 10 games and was coming off the bench. During that time, the Bulls were well below .500 and were sitting at the very bottom of the Eastern Conference. The turn-around that has and still is in progress is one of the fascinating things I've seen in a long time, and apparently I'm the only one.
At the beginning of the season, the Bulls had no chemistry or face to their team. Head Coach Vinny Del Negro was on the hot seat and was all over sporting news for being the next coach in the NBA to be fired. Well his new year's resolution might have been one that saved him his job. When Hinrich came back from his wrist injury at the end of December, Del Negro made a decision to start Hinrich at shooting guard, giving the Bulls a unique back court in Hinrich and Rose. When he made this decision, NBA analysts killed Del Negro was killed by saying the move was "a last gasp of air" in effort to save his job. Boy, were they wrong.
At one point in the season, the Bulls were 8-17. Now, they're 24-22. That's a 14-5 turnaround, which is an even more remarkable stat if you actually watched them play early in the season. But what is even more fascinating is how Hinrich is just sitting in the shadows of Rose and Del Negro. Courtesy of Chicago Bulls stat guru Matt Yob, peep these numbers.
The Bulls are 11-4 in games in which Hinrich starts, and 20-16 in overall when he just plays. When Hinrich doesn't see the floor, they're a measly 1-7. Yes, you read right, 1-7. They shoot 44.6 percent with Hinrich and 42.2 percent when he doesn't play. They average 20.8 assists when he plays and 18.1 assists when he doesn't. They average 45.9 rebounds when he plays and 42.9 without him. Their free throw shooting is 76.2 percent when Hinrich plays and 72 percent when he doesn't. They score 96.1 per game with Hinrich and 91.1 without him.
Now granted, free throw and shooting percentage and a few other stats can't be totally credited to one person. But what they all show is that the team is flat out better when he plays. Every statistical category is better when Hinrich plays. In addition, some have coined as being the best guard defender in the league. The NBA's lost art; defense is one of Hinrich's specialties. He's made the league's 1st team all-defensive team three times, and is always the one guarding guys like Kobe Bryant and Dwayne Wade in the fourth quarter.
He's been their captain for five years, and his impact on this franchise is so underappreciated. It's time to give him some well-deserved credit, and if nobody else will, then I will. Thanks Captain Kirk, you are appreciated. Dear Bulls, please take him off the trade market. It will be the biggest mistake in years.
