Joe Smith started. Joakim Noah finished. And Tyrus Thomas was nowhere to be found.
That’s the summary of Wednesday’s power-forward rotation when, as expected, coach Scott Skiles replaced Thomas with the veteran Smith for the Bulls’ fifth starting lineup in 16 games.
“I’m definitely going to take advantage of it,” said Smith, who finished with 11 points and five rebounds in 27 minutes..
Skiles said he probably would use the same lineup Friday night in Detroit. But that didn’t stop Skiles from playing Noah down the stretch as Smith watched the final 18 minutes 1 second and fellow veteran Ben Wallace sat the final 17:23.
That’s the fourth time this season Wallace has sat out the entire fourth quarter. That Wallace played all 48 minutes last game and Smith went from not playing to starting underscores how much Skiles is searching for the right combination.
“Unfortunately, that’s where we are now,” Skiles said.
A struggling Kirk Hinrich didn’t play the final 16:53, replaced by Chris Duhon.
Thomas played just 6:05, the second straight game he has played less than 7 1/2 minutes.
“It makes sense now because we’re having trouble shooting and scoring to put Joe in the lineup to see if he can’t knock down some shots and loosen us up a bit,” Skiles said. “We’re looking at the season as a whole and trying to find something we can settle into that can carry us for a while.”
Running mate
Bobcats coach Sam Vincent teamed with Skiles for three seasons to comprise Michigan State’s starting backcourt and also played with him for the expansion Orlando Magic.
His memories of Skiles’ competitiveness are fond — and funny.
“I thought he was a little [guy] who couldn’t play,” Vincent said of their first meeting. “But then he surprised me. The first time he shot a three-pointer and I was guarding him, I was like, ‘OK, this guy can play.’
“We had very competitive practices. We would go at each other when we were on the same team. We would go at each other when we were on opposite teams. What stands out is there is a lot of mutual respect in our relationship. I’ve always respected his character as a man because he works hard.”
Play it again
After video review, Luol Deng was credited with the first basket of Monday’s Mavericks game. Thomas originally was credited with tipping in a Deng shot that actually went in.
That means Josh Howard merely outscored Deng 21-2 in the first half.
