Note-a-Bull Items from the 2003.04 Season, Part II

CURRY ADDS SPICE
Big man Eddy Curry added some spice to the Bulls’ offense late in the season. He was last season’s league leader in field goal percentage after shooting a league-best .585 last season. This season, the 6-11, 285-pounder shot .496 from the floor and finished 13th in that category. He scored 20+ points 19 times this season, including four of his final seven games. In his final 35 outings, he averaged 17.3 ppg (604) and 6.5 rpg (226) and shooting .498 (247-496) from the floor.

FOR STARTERS
Kirk Hinrich appeared in 76 games on the year and started his last 60 appearances since he was inserted into the starting lineup against the Indiana Pacers on Dec. 13. During that span, he let his play speak for itself averaging 13.2 ppg, 7.4 apg, 3.8 rpg, 1.42 spg, while shooting .393 from behind the arc. Below is a before and after breakdown of his play.

BEFORE DEC. 13:
17.8 mpg, .390 FG%, .372 3-pt. FG%, .788 FT%
8.2 ppg, 2.2 rpg, 4.9 apg, 1.07 spg, 2.93 topg

SINCE DEC. 13:
38.0 mpg, .386 FG%, .393 3-pt. FG%, .807 FT%
13.2 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 7.4 apg, 1.42 spg, 2.67 topg

JOHNSON STEPS UP
Since re-signing with the Bulls on Feb. 28, rookie Linton Johnson III has made the most of his opportunities. He has grabbed double-digit rebounds in three of his last 9 games, and is averaging 6.2 ppg (56) and 7.6 rpg (68) in 24.7 mpg (222). Against the 76ers (03/09), the 6-8 forward hauled in a season-high 14 rebounds and tied the team’s season-high 13 defensive rebounds. He was inserted into the starting lineup at Detroit (03/10) the next night, where he snared another 14 caroms, including another 13 defensive boards, and scored 10 points to register his first career double-double.

At New Jersey (03/12) he pulled down 10 rebounds in a season-high 42 minutes. He then grabbed 12 rebounds, including 7 offensive boards, at Miami (03/29) in just 20 minutes. He registered a double-double with 10 points and 12 boards versus Atlanta (04/09) and grabbed another dozen caroms in the season finale at Indiana (04/14). Since his starting assignment versus the L.A. Lakers (03/13), Johnson started 15 of the last 17 games for the Bulls.

HINRICH TRIPLES HIS PLEASURE
Kirk Hinrich became the first (and only) rookie this season to tally a triple-double when he registered 11 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists against the visiting Golden State Warriors (02/28/04). He also tallied 14 double-doubles this season – tops for all rookies. Hinrich is also ranked 41st in the NBA in double-doubles this season.

Scottie Pippen ended the season needing just three more steals to tie him for 3rd all-time in NBA history.

THREES COMPANY
Guards Jamal Crawford and Kirk Hinrich both hit three-pointers at an amazing rate this season. Crawford made a career-high 165 threes this season – eclipsing the former franchise record for 3-pointers in one season, 156 by Scottie Pippen, set during the 1996-97 season. Crawford also has 318 career threes, the fifth-most season total in team history.

Hinrich hit 144 treys this season, a new franchise record for threes by a rookie, breaking Jay Williams’ 65 last season. Hinrich’s 144 threes also rank third in team history for a single season mark.

BENCH WARMERS
Through 82 games in 2003.04, Chicago’s bench averaged 28.9 ppg (2,375) compared to 25.2 ppg (2,063) for opponents. Bulls reserves scored 50+ points seven times, including a season-high 65-point output versus Milwaukee (03/26) and 40+ points 16 times. Versus Toronto (01/25), the Bulls held the Raptors reserves without a single field goal and outscored them 17-2. The Bulls were 15-31 when outscoring the opponent’s bench.

JOHNSON AND JOHNSON
Rookie Linton Johnson III is no stranger to the Chicago Bulls family. The 6-8, 205-pound forward is the nephew of former Chicago Bull Mickey Johnson, who played with the Bulls for five seasons. From the 1974.75 season to the 1978.79 season, Mickey appeared in 363 games for the Bulls and averaged 15.2 ppg, 8.4 rpg, 2.7 apg, shooting .455 from the field and .799 from the free throw line. Linton chose to wear the number 8 jersey in honor of his uncle.

WORKIN’ OVERTIME
The Bulls played a total of six overtime games this season and went 3-3 (.500) in those contests. Last season, the Bulls played in a franchise-record nine overtime games and posted a 1-8 (.111) mark. The previous franchise record for overtime games in a season was eight, set during the 1969.70 season and the Bulls were 7-1 (.875) in those overtime games.

DEFENSIVE IMPROVEMENTS
When Scott Skiles took over as head coach of the Chicago Bulls, he vowed his team would defend and play hard. In 66 games on the sidelines, the Bulls did just that. Here is a look at Chicago’s defensive numbers before Skiles’ arrival and at season’s end: