Kirk Hinrich suffers setback with foot, misses game
BY JOE COWLEY jcowley@suntimes.com March 16, 2013 12:30AM
Derrick Rose and Jerry West chat before the game Friday. West works as a consultant for Warriors owner Joe Lacob. | Rocky Widner~Getty Images
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Updated: April 17, 2013 6:16AM
OAKLAND, Calif. — Kirk Hinrich felt pretty good about himself after practice on Thursday. Good enough to declare himself a likely starter heading into the game against Golden State on Friday night.
Bad idea.
As snake-bitten as the Bulls point guard has been on the injury front, there’s no such thing as feeling good about himself.
Hinrich once again was a spectator. The stress reaction in his right foot had a setback after the practice at Oracle Arena and made his return to the court nothing more than speculation.
“At least I know where I’m at just with that little level of activity,’’ Hinrich said. “[The injury still has] a little ways to go, I guess. I want to get out there as soon as I can, but it’s pretty lit up. It was lit up [Thursday] night and [Friday] morning, so just keep doing the things they are telling me to do, and hopefully it will be better as soon as possible.’’
The sooner the better, as far as coach Tom Thibodeau was concerned.
Missing the game against the Warriors was the 21st game without Hinrich. That meant 7.4 points and 5.4 assists were not available. No big deal, right?
Wrong.
Going into the game, the Bulls were just 6-14 without Hinrich in the starting lineup.
“[Hinrich] just runs the team,’’ Thibodeau said. “That sets the tone for our defense and offense, keeps us organized on both ends. When you look at what he’s done when he’s been out there, the team has functioned very, very well. The issue has been the injuries.’’
Not your typical injuries, either. He missed 10 games because of a cut on his elbow that became infected.
“I’ve just been in and out,’’ Hinrich said. “The elbow thing was tough because it really wasn’t a real injury in my mind, it was kind of a freak deal.’’
More injuries
Taj Gibson and his sprained left MCL participated in the Friday afternoon shootaround, but there was no timetable for his return. Thibodeau called him “day-to-day,’’ but Gibson was hoping to return sometime next week.
Derrick Rose (left knee) once again was in street clothes.
