<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Ben Gordon says he's watching backcourt mate Kirk Hinrich at every opportunity, trying to emulate Hinrich's technique and footwork in an effort to improve on defense. That's not the only example of Hinrich's that Gordon might follow.</p> Gordon, like Luol Deng, has until Oct. 31 to sign a multiyear contract extension. If one or both do not, negotiations will resume next summer, and the Bulls still will hold their rights as restricted free agents. Last October, Gordon watched Hinrich weigh the benefits of long-term security against the possibility of obtaining a larger and longer offer sheet elsewhere. General manager John Paxson's philosophy in such negotiations is to make an offer but also to receive some concessions from the player's end, as security — and guaranteed money — is being offered a year earlier than required. Hinrich eventually opted for that security, signing a five-year, $47.5 million extension the morning of the deadline day and hours before the Bulls drilled the Heat in their season opener. With 2½ weeks left until the deadline, negotiations remain cordial and casual. Gordon and Deng aren't letting the situation affect their preparations, though Gordon has skipped both exhibitions thus far with a sore left ankle that would not keep him out of regular-season play. "You get anxious, but there's not much you can do," Gordon said. "You just have to wait and be patient." Along those lines, Gordon again is trying to become more than a scorer. Coach Scott Skiles has praised Gordon's improved defensive commitment in training-camp practices. Doing it in regular-season games against, say, Jerry Stackhouse is another challenge. "I definitely have to continue to work on my defense," Gordon said. "You look at Kirk, and he's similar to me. He's not one of those 6-6 guards who can block shots. He just does everything with perfect technique. "He's great at anticipating. He has great awareness out there. You never really catch Kirk off guard. That's something you have to be turned on mentally to do. Even if you do beat Kirk, it's not because he had poor technique or poor footwork. The player just made a tough shot." Gordon's size — he's closer to 6 feet 1 inch than the 6-3 at which he's listed — can cause problems when Hinrich is matched against the opponent's point guard. Hinrich, a second-team all-defensive selection last season, always draws the opponent's best guard, whether it's the point guard or the shooting guard. That's why improved technique is so essential for Gordon. As he enters his fourth year in the league, Gordon also acknowledges the need for improved decision-making. Coaches have no quibbles with his shot selection. But Gordon annually ranks in the top tier of players in turnovers per 48 minutes. "He still has the game where he's fumbling the ball and losing control," Skiles said. "He knows that. It's less a technical thing and more mental, staying focused on each possession." Gordon said he watches film of his high-turnover games to try to learn from his mistakes. "I have times when I'm careless with the ball," he conceded. "But a lot of it also is I get so much attention that I get put in tough positions. It's all about recognition and trying to make the right decision." Gordon has decisions to make on and off the court.</div></p> KC Johnson / Chicago Tribune</p>
<h1 class="story_headline">Gordon still working on it</h1> <h3 class="story_subhead">BULLS | Defense, decision-making target areas</h3> <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'></p> ''There is a difference,'' guard Ben Gordon said. ''You can be familiar with guys and still not have the kind of chemistry it takes to go all the way. Especially when you have so many talented players, it's tough because they're not used to being a role guy on the team. So there's a lot of give-and-take. That's why, with chemistry, you can go a lot further.</p> ''Especially in sports, everybody has an ego to some point, or you wouldn't have gotten this far. But on this team, everybody has so much respect for one another that nobody ever feels they're above a person. We all respect each other's talents, we all know what we can do to contribute to the team, so we don't have that problem.''</p> Gordon personifies that respect by trying to emulate fellow guard and NBA All-Defensive second-team selection Kirk Hinrich in hopes of becoming a better player.</p> ''I definitely have to continue to work on my defense,'' Gordon said. ''I'm trying to watch Kirk every day in practice and learn from the things he's done. You look at Kirk, he's similar to me. He's not one of those 6-6 guards that can block shots. He just does everything with perfect technique. He's great at anticipating. He has great awareness. You never really catch Kirk off-guard.</p> ''You really have to be turned on mentally to do that. Even if you do beat Kirk, it's not because he had poor technique or poor footwork. It's because you just made a tough shot.''</p> Gordon gave examples of Milwaukee's Michael Redd and Boston's Ray Allen as players who can burn a defender in the blink of an eye.</p> ''In this league, all guys need is a split-second,'' Gordon said. ''So you really have to be on all the time. That's something Kirk does really well. I have to take advantage of watching him because we have similar stature.''</div></p> <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'></p> ''When I finally do get to play, I just want to pick up where I left off last year,'' he said. ''Just being aggressive and just do what I do. My ballhandling is fine. I just have to cut my turnovers down. It's all about decision-making. That's something I've got to get better at.''</p> Gordon said he watches lots of video to help improve his decision-making and cut down on those turnovers.</p> ''I will say this, though,'' he said. ''I don't want to compare myself to a Kobe [Bryant] or a Dwyane Wade, but those guys always seem to be at the top of the league in turnovers. It's because they're doing a lot of stuff out there for their team.</p> ''There are times when I'm careless with the ball. But a lot of it also is I'm getting so much attention [by defenders] that I get put in tough positions. It's all about recognition and trying to make better decisions.''</p> Having familiar faces also helps Gordon's game.</p> ''The more you play with guys -- we have 10 guys returning -- you pretty much know when you have to give Luol [Deng] the ball and when you have to give Ben Wallace the ball for him to be successful,'' Gordon said. ''There aren't too many errant plays out there. So the turnovers are probably going to be because the defense made a good play of some sort.''</div></p> Brian Hanley / Chicago Suntimes.</p>
