INDIANAPOLIS — Before Chandler Hutchison went down with a fracture in his foot in late January last season, he was playing his best basketball of his rookie season.
That's so long ago that Hutchison, who was active Sunday versus the Pacers for the first time this season, can barely remember it.
"At first that was a real positive thing to look at. Really, it's been quite some time since that happened, so it kind of faded a little bit, feeling that way," Hutchison said. "In watching some film and now getting back on the court and having those things kind of carry over, I kind of picked that back up. So it's a little exciting for that. I just want to keep that mindset of be aggressive and just trust yourself and make the right play. This group, when we're our best, is unselfish, ball is moving, guys are rebounding, pushing, athletic group that plays the right way. So that's something I can do right away and get in and start doing."
Hutchison suffered a Grade 3 hamstring strain on the first day of voluntary September workouts. Coach Jim Boylen said he didn't use Hutchison versus the Pacers because he only has had one practice with the NBA team and two with the Windy City Bulls. At his best, Hutchison fits well into the Bulls' multiballhandler system.
"That whole thing is kind of where I made my bread and butter and pushing that thing, and making the right plays, obviously," Hutchison said. "Jim has trust in me being able to do that. Even when I was out, he's like, 'This system's going to be perfect for you coming back.' Rebound, push, make plays, find people and just do what I can do on the court.
"I spent endless amount of time, even with the hamstring injury, I was still in the gym before practice, after practice, doing what I can, whether that's ballhandling. I probably put up more shots without jumping than jumping this summer, because dealing with the injury, things like that. I'm still managing my toe from last year, early part of the summer. I've been in the gym countless hours and gotten stronger and been shooting that thing. I feel confident and I feel ready to go."
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