Kirk Hinrich misses game against Heat as elbow woes flare up
BY JOE COWLEY jcowley@suntimes.com February 21, 2013 11:06PM
Bulls forward Taj Gibson challanges a shot by Heat guard Dwyane Wade the second quarter of the Chicago Bulls-Miami Heat game Thursday February 21, 2013 at the United Center . | Tom Cruze~Sun-Times
TONIGHT
BULLS AT BOBCATs
The facts: 6, Ch. 26, 1000-AM.
Updated: March 23, 2013 6:39AM
The excitement of having Kirk Hinrich back in the starting lineup was short-lived.
Hinrich was back in street clothes Thursday. The right elbow problem that forced him out of seven consecutive games heading into the All-Star break resurfaced after Hinrich came back and performed well in the victory Tuesday in New Orleans.
Hinrich said the scar that needed surgery split open and had to be stitched up. The hope was that an infection doesn’t creep in again.
Coach Tom Thibodeau said Hinrich was day-to-day. He was scheduled to travel with the team on the weekend trips to Charlotte and Oklahoma City, but there’s a good chance he’ll be more of a spectator than a ball distributor.
Nate Robinson started in his place, and rookie Marquis Teague also saw some minutes against the Heat.
“The thing is, you guys have been around Kirk, so you know how tough-minded he is,’’ Thibodeau said.
“He badly wants to be out there. From that standpoint, it’s frustrating. But we have more than enough. Nate has stepped up and played well, and [Teague] has been in there and played well, so we’ll need everybody.’’
Deadline came, went
All was quiet for the Bulls heading into the trade deadline, and all remained quiet as the deadline passed.
“We like the guys we have here on our team, so we’re planning to move forward with the guys we do have,’’ Thibodeau said Wednesday when trade talk was brought up.
Obviously they do because they were unable to have significant discussions with teams about Carlos Boozer or Richard Hamilton.
Boozer was discussed with the Raptors, but sources said before the All-Star break that the deal died without ever getting serious.
