europa wrote:-= original quote snipped =-
A year ago he was named to the All Defense second team and was on the US international roster. Nobody was ripping on him then. He was being viewed as one of the league's top young PGs.
Exactly my point. That's why I think it makes sense for us to go after him and that's why I think it makes sense that he might be a "Hammond type guy." That's kind of how the Pistons were built. Guys that were outcasts in other places came to Detroit, bought into the idea of team ball and were extremely successful. Both Billups and Wallace, now arguably their two most important players, are thriving and have been for the last few years on a consistent 50+ win team.
It's not like Hinrich is having an awful year and is solely responsible for the Bulls mysterious decline. Ben Wallace wasn't the player he was last year (although many saw that coming). Ben Gordon was shooting a flat out bad percentage all year long (although it has come up in the last couple months when it was too late). Deng hasn't been the same player. The players turned on Skiles. That team just went to garbage. I have to think a lot of it is mental considering how promising that team looked for three years prior. A change of scenery would help a lot of their guys IMO.
Hinrich is no exception.