Price is right for Bulls' Larry Hughes
By K.C. Johnson | Tribune staff reporter
11:38 PM CST, December 13, 2008
As if the Bulls haven't tormented the Cavaliers enough in their shared history, now Larry Hughes is shooting the highest percentages of his career thanks in part to help from an unlikely source— Mark Price.
The longtime Cavaliers guard helped Hughes with his shot during the summer of 2007, when Hughes still played for Cleveland. Now the benefits belong to the Bulls.
"I took some things he showed me as far as technique and squaring up to the basket better and getting more arc on my shot," said Hughes, who scored 10 on Saturday. "That helped tie everything together. He helped me out a lot."
So did Hughes working consistently the last two summers basically to rework his jumper. Like a golfer rebuilding his swing, Hughes had to adjust to a new release point after he missed 45 games in 2006 because of a shattered knuckle on his shooting hand.
"I'm not able to open my hand up all the way," Hughes said. "And I never will be able to. So I had to get used to how the ball comes off my hand now. I basically have a different shooting stroke than I did before the injury.
"It's something I've done for the past two summers now, finding the best way to regain a good release without having the full motion of my finger. This is as comfortable as I've been with the hand since I suffered the injury."
Hughes entered Saturday night shooting 45.2 percent, second-highest of his 11-year career behind a 46.7 percent mark with Washington in 2002-03. He also is at a career-best 46.3 on three-pointers, tied for ninth in the league.
Yet Hughes joked he didn't want to jinx his recent hot streak by talking about it, preferring to discuss his release point.
"Now I have to make sure the ball is in the right spot or there's no telling where it's going to go," he said.
12/10/08
Hughes Hits Critical 3 Pointer in Bulls Win Over Knicks
Hughes shot 6/14 from the field(2/5 from behind the arc, 2/2 from the free throw line) grabbed a season high 8 rebounds, 3 assists, 4 steals and 1 blocked shot. Hughes blocked a layup attempt by Quentin Richardson with 1:14 remaining in the 4th quarter as well as nailed a 3pt shot with :55 remaining in the forth to bring Chicago ahead 100-97.
12/8/08
Chicago Tribune Article on Hughes By K.C Johnson
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Bulls' Larry Hughes nothing to laugh at
Veteran guard stepping into shot, stepping up game
By K.C. Johnson | Tribune reporter
8:21 PM CST, December 7, 2008
The creator of the hilarious Web site heylarryhughespleasestoptakingsomanybadshots.com has posted only two entries since the February trade that sent Larry Hughes from Cleveland to the Bulls.
The self-described Cavaliers fan claims his work is done now that Hughes plays elsewhere. But even if the witty site were still being mined for material daily, the serious truth is Hughes wouldn't be giving anybody much with which to work.
Hughes is—no joke—currently taking good shots.
"I'm being aggressive and putting the practice time in," Hughes said. "If I didn't put the time in, I don't think any of this would be happening. But I've really been working at shooting the ball in rhythm and stepping into shots. Right now the three-pointer is what I'm getting."
Related links
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Larry Hughes in action Larry Hughes in action Photos
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2008-09 Bulls schedule, results
And the three-pointer is what Hughes is hitting: 12 of his last 17. Hughes is up to 47.7 percent on his three-pointers and 44.8 percent overall, far above his career figures of 30 percent on threes and 41 percent overall.
Hughes is averaging 13 points in 26.8 minutes, the Bulls' second-highest scoring average prorated over 48 minutes behind Ben Gordon.
"I've been around a while," Hughes said. "A lot of these guys have seen me go out and score 30 and play a lot of minutes. They see me playing less minutes and kind of wonder. But I come to practice every day and work on what I need to work on. And I keep moving on to the next day.
"I always try to keep my teammates before me on the court. I try to help guys out, get guys in their groove because I feel I can always find my groove."
Hughes did little to dispel his reputation, fair or not, as a selfish player by complaining about his playing time Nov. 18 in Los Angeles. His comments led to a meeting with coach Vinny Del Negro and general manager John Paxson, and Hughes since has accepted his lesser role professionally if begrudgingly.
"If you ask me, he's handled it well," Gordon said. "He voiced his opinion about it, but he handled it professionally. And whenever he gets a chance to play, he takes advantage of it."
Hughes' 14-point second quarter helped ignite the Bulls' offense in Saturday's home victory over Washington. He then drained a huge three-pointer with 95 seconds left to negate a late Wizards comeback.
"Larry has played consistently all year from the first day of training camp," Del Negro said. "He wants to compete. He wants to play every minute. Defensively he's one of my better guys. He gives me versatility. He's got some years under his belt in this league."
That experience has spawned both ridiculing Web sites and, at least currently, efficient play at both ends.
kcjohnson@tribune.com
Bulls' Larry Hughes nothing to laugh at
Veteran guard stepping into shot, stepping up game
By K.C. Johnson | Tribune reporter
8:21 PM CST, December 7, 2008
The creator of the hilarious Web site heylarryhughespleasestoptakingsomanybadshots.com has posted only two entries since the February trade that sent Larry Hughes from Cleveland to the Bulls.
The self-described Cavaliers fan claims his work is done now that Hughes plays elsewhere. But even if the witty site were still being mined for material daily, the serious truth is Hughes wouldn't be giving anybody much with which to work.
Hughes is—no joke—currently taking good shots.
"I'm being aggressive and putting the practice time in," Hughes said. "If I didn't put the time in, I don't think any of this would be happening. But I've really been working at shooting the ball in rhythm and stepping into shots. Right now the three-pointer is what I'm getting."
Related links
*
Larry Hughes in action Larry Hughes in action Photos
*
2008-09 Bulls schedule, results
And the three-pointer is what Hughes is hitting: 12 of his last 17. Hughes is up to 47.7 percent on his three-pointers and 44.8 percent overall, far above his career figures of 30 percent on threes and 41 percent overall.
Hughes is averaging 13 points in 26.8 minutes, the Bulls' second-highest scoring average prorated over 48 minutes behind Ben Gordon.
"I've been around a while," Hughes said. "A lot of these guys have seen me go out and score 30 and play a lot of minutes. They see me playing less minutes and kind of wonder. But I come to practice every day and work on what I need to work on. And I keep moving on to the next day.
"I always try to keep my teammates before me on the court. I try to help guys out, get guys in their groove because I feel I can always find my groove."
Hughes did little to dispel his reputation, fair or not, as a selfish player by complaining about his playing time Nov. 18 in Los Angeles. His comments led to a meeting with coach Vinny Del Negro and general manager John Paxson, and Hughes since has accepted his lesser role professionally if begrudgingly.
"If you ask me, he's handled it well," Gordon said. "He voiced his opinion about it, but he handled it professionally. And whenever he gets a chance to play, he takes advantage of it."
Hughes' 14-point second quarter helped ignite the Bulls' offense in Saturday's home victory over Washington. He then drained a huge three-pointer with 95 seconds left to negate a late Wizards comeback.
"Larry has played consistently all year from the first day of training camp," Del Negro said. "He wants to compete. He wants to play every minute. Defensively he's one of my better guys. He gives me versatility. He's got some years under his belt in this league."
That experience has spawned both ridiculing Web sites and, at least currently, efficient play at both ends.
kcjohnson@tribune.com
Hughes Shines in Bulls 117-110 Win Over Wizards
Hughes scored 24 pionts( 7/13 from the field 5/6 from behind the arc, and 5/6 from the free throw line) grabbed 4 rebounds, distributed 5 assists and swiped 2 steals.
12/4/08
Hughes continues consistent play in Bulls loss to Bucks
Hughes scored 13 points( 4/8 from the filed, 3/4 from behind the arc, and 2/2 from teh free throw line) 2 rebounds, 1 steal, and 1 blocked shot in 24 minutes of action. However, the Bulls lost to the 90 to 97.
12/1/08
Hughes In The Right Place At The Right Time
A Chicago Sun Times article by John Jackson
SAN ANTONIO -- When Larry Hughes dislocated his right shoulder during a preseason game last month, the initial prognosis had him being sidelined a minimum of six weeks. That would have meant he wouldn't have been able to return until sometime next week.
Instead, Hughes missed half that amount of time and is starting to round into form after nearly two weeks of game action.
Hughes certainly announced he can be a factor this season when he came up with a loose ball and stuck a 20-foot jumper at the buzzer to give the Bulls a 101-100 victory over the Utah Jazz on Monday night.
''It's coming back,'' Hughes said Tuesday after the Bulls conducted a practice at Trinity University in preparation for tonight's game with the San Antonio Spurs. ''I missed the first eight games. Being out for three weeks, it takes some time to get some timing and rhythm back, but I feel comfortable just getting out there playing minutes.
''I definitely feel like I can make plays, and making game-winning shots and game-winning passes is something I want to do.''
Hughes becoming the hero Monday was the result of a fortunate bounce. With the Bulls trailing by a point, the final play was set up for rookie Derrick Rose, who had another spectacular game with 25 points and nine assists.
But Rose's potential game-winner hit hard off the back rim and bounced out to Hughes on the perimeter. He gathered himself, took a dribble-step back and fired a fadeaway jumper as a defender ran at him.
The shot left Hughes' hand with about 1.4 seconds left, and time had expired by the time it dropped through the basket.
''We were fortunate,'' Bulls coach Vinny Del Negro said. ''Derrick had a nice look at it and he was hot at the time, being aggressive and we'll take our chances. Larry stayed in the play and made a really nice play.
''You have to get fortunate once in a while. We've had our share of bad things happen, so it was nice to get a break.''
The ball bouncing out to Hughes was a fortunate break, but he still had to hit the shot in the clutch.
''The ball hit the back of the rim, my guy went in to rebound it and it went over his head,'' Hughes said. ''I knew I could get off a pretty good shot, a quick shot, and I had enough to make it. I had a good look. I definitely felt like it was going in.''
The Utah defender recovered enough to charge out and contest the shot.
''I was kind of locked in on the rim,'' Hughes said. ''I knew I had to get away from him a little bit because he was coming back out on the close-out. But I was pretty much locked in on the rim, and I felt like he wouldn't block it.''
After dropping the first two games of the trip -- including a 42-point loss in Portland -- the Bulls have won two of three and are a respectable 7-8 on the season.
''We feel pretty good,'' Hughes said. ''We're on a six-game trip, we're 2-3 right now with a chance to go .500 on the trip. That's what we're focusing on, being competitive, especially in the West. It would be a positive to come on the West Coast trip and go .500.''
SAN ANTONIO -- When Larry Hughes dislocated his right shoulder during a preseason game last month, the initial prognosis had him being sidelined a minimum of six weeks. That would have meant he wouldn't have been able to return until sometime next week.
Instead, Hughes missed half that amount of time and is starting to round into form after nearly two weeks of game action.
Hughes certainly announced he can be a factor this season when he came up with a loose ball and stuck a 20-foot jumper at the buzzer to give the Bulls a 101-100 victory over the Utah Jazz on Monday night.
''It's coming back,'' Hughes said Tuesday after the Bulls conducted a practice at Trinity University in preparation for tonight's game with the San Antonio Spurs. ''I missed the first eight games. Being out for three weeks, it takes some time to get some timing and rhythm back, but I feel comfortable just getting out there playing minutes.
''I definitely feel like I can make plays, and making game-winning shots and game-winning passes is something I want to do.''
Hughes becoming the hero Monday was the result of a fortunate bounce. With the Bulls trailing by a point, the final play was set up for rookie Derrick Rose, who had another spectacular game with 25 points and nine assists.
But Rose's potential game-winner hit hard off the back rim and bounced out to Hughes on the perimeter. He gathered himself, took a dribble-step back and fired a fadeaway jumper as a defender ran at him.
The shot left Hughes' hand with about 1.4 seconds left, and time had expired by the time it dropped through the basket.
''We were fortunate,'' Bulls coach Vinny Del Negro said. ''Derrick had a nice look at it and he was hot at the time, being aggressive and we'll take our chances. Larry stayed in the play and made a really nice play.
''You have to get fortunate once in a while. We've had our share of bad things happen, so it was nice to get a break.''
The ball bouncing out to Hughes was a fortunate break, but he still had to hit the shot in the clutch.
''The ball hit the back of the rim, my guy went in to rebound it and it went over his head,'' Hughes said. ''I knew I could get off a pretty good shot, a quick shot, and I had enough to make it. I had a good look. I definitely felt like it was going in.''
The Utah defender recovered enough to charge out and contest the shot.
''I was kind of locked in on the rim,'' Hughes said. ''I knew I had to get away from him a little bit because he was coming back out on the close-out. But I was pretty much locked in on the rim, and I felt like he wouldn't block it.''
After dropping the first two games of the trip -- including a 42-point loss in Portland -- the Bulls have won two of three and are a respectable 7-8 on the season.
''We feel pretty good,'' Hughes said. ''We're on a six-game trip, we're 2-3 right now with a chance to go .500 on the trip. That's what we're focusing on, being competitive, especially in the West. It would be a positive to come on the West Coast trip and go .500.''
Hughes Fails Well in Reserve Roll Bulls Win
Hughes scored 16 points (6-10 from the field, 4-6 from behind the arc), grabbed 3 rebounds and distributed 2 assists in the Bulls 103 win of the 76'ers 92.
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