Gooden back in big way
By NICK HUT - nhut@nwherald.com
CHICAGO – Drew Gooden returned to action for the Bulls on Tuesday night, ending an eight-game absence.
Gooden tested his injured right ankle during practice Monday and again Tuesday morning during a shootaround, and felt good enough to play. He came off the bench and played 33 minutes at power forward, scoring 18 points on four baskets and 10 free throws in the Bulls’ 99-94 victory against Sacramento.
“I feel good,” Gooden said before the game. “After practice yesterday, my ankle didn’t swell too bad. There’s still some pain and a little tenderness there, but I’ve got to go.”
The Bulls missed Gooden’s post scoring and leadership, along with his mere presence in the paint. Even though he is not known for being a stout defender, Gooden hoped to provide an upgrade for a front line that has struggled defensively.
“I’m frustrated watching from the sideline [when] I can’t do anything about it,” Gooden said.
With Gooden back, the Bulls had a co-captain in the lineup for the first time in 10 days. Fellow captains Luol Deng (sprained left ankle) and Kirk Hinrich (right thumb surgery) remain out.
Gooden’s return brought the beleaguered Bulls a bit closer to full strength.
“We’ll go to him like we usually do,” coach Vinny Del Negro said. “It’s great to have him out there.”
Glut of guards: Hinrich’s return, expected in one to two weeks, will further put the onus on general manager John Paxson to break up the backcourt logjam with a trade.
It would mark the first time that the five leading guards – Derrick Rose, Ben Gordon, Hinrich, Larry Hughes and Thabo Sefolosha – have been healthy at the same time. Before Hinrich’s injury in early November, Hughes was out because of a separated shoulder.
Paxson is working the phones but cannot promise anything will happen. He has more than a month until the Feb. 19 trade deadline.
“There’s no question that we’re overloaded with small guys, and when Kirk comes back that’s going to be compounded,” Paxson said. “You don’t want to make a deal and then maybe take on a contract that doesn’t make sense long-term just to balance your roster.
“We’re going to have to deal with some issues. … The guys that are best equipped to help us win games – really, actually, to get out on the floor and defend – are the guys that’ll probably end up playing.”
Peace and harmony: Joakim Noah and Andres Nocioni got into an argument Friday night at Cleveland, but guard Ben Gordon said any bad vibes have not carried over.
“Just by the way we’ve been practicing and competing together, I don’t sense that guys are starting to turn against each other or anything like that,” Gordon said.
