In helping the Bulls win 90-82, guard Kirk Hinrich threw up 13, 5, 3, and 2 in 35 minutes of Game Two action. To which anyone reading this can respond, “yeah so what,” but that’s only if that same person didn’t watch the game.
Anyone who did watch, knows that Hinrich put the clamps on Nets pg Deron Williams, and harassed him into a weak showing. He made Williams inconsequential mostly, which goes a long way in explaining why the Nets never really seemed on point in Game Two. After wheelin’ and dealing in Brooklyn’s Game One victory, he was put a mute this time. Forced into several bad decisions (like passing to Andray Blatche with the shot clock running out) and a 1 of 9 shooting display (including 0 for 5 from the three), the Nets were lucky to keep the game competitive.
Hinrich was causing havoc all over the place, from the start to the end of the game. For a player who is described with coded buzzwords like “gritty,” Hinrich is also just a talented player with the right amount of tenacity. Any less and he’d be much effective, any more, and he’d be a nut job.
Now the series is tied and going back to the United Center, where the Chicago crowd gets to put its imprint on the game for real. Advantage Bulls.
