'Smarter' Shots Are Falling for Hinrich

<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Across the board, Kirk Hinrich's 2006-07 statistics are almost identical to his career averages except for one category?shooting accuracy.

The fourth-year guard is shooting career-best percentages on two- and three-point field goals, as well as free throws.

At 44.8 percent overall on field goals, he's 3.6 percent above his career mark. His 46.9 conversion rate on two-point field goals is a career high, as is his 40.5 percent three-point shooting.

Hinrich's 82.8 percent free-throw shooting is 1.8 percent better than his career mark.

"I've always thought I could be a better percentage shooter and really made that a focal point," Hinrich said.

Given Hinrich's history of wearing down physically as the season goes on, it seems odd Hinrich is shooting his career-best percentage the season following his first summer-long commitment to the U.S. national team. That he is seems to support Hinrich's contention the experience's positives far outweighed any negatives.

"I feel fine," he said.

Improved shot selection and the offensive emergence of forward Luol Deng also have aided Hinrich. The guard is on pace to attempt 1,022 field goals, which would mark his second-lowest total. His pace to shoot 326 three-pointers would represent a career low.

"I'm trying to take smarter shots," Hinrich said.

He's also taking some clutch ones lately. Deng fed Hinrich for the game-winning jumper last week against the 76ers. Hinrich then scored the Bulls' final points in 7.4 seconds on a three-point play and 8-foot leaning jumper to tie the Grizzlies in an eventual one-point loss.

"I feel confident I can make plays down the stretch," Hinrich said. "Whatever we need?make a shot, make a pass. I hope it's something I can do more often.

"In college [at Kansas] we had so many weapons. But the last couple of years, they counted on me to make a lot of big shots. So I'm used to it."</div>

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