John Salmons and Brad Miller adjusting quickly to Chicago Bulls

John Salmons smiled at the question: Describe Brad Miller's game.

After a long pause — and another smile — Salmons drew out the syllable in the first word of his answer for emphasis: "Very deceptive."

Asked to return the assignment, Miller didn't hesitate.

"Versatile," Miller said of Salmons. "There really isn't anything he can't do well."

As Kings teammates for 21/2 seasons and Bulls teammate for 14 games, Salmons and Miller know each other's tricks of the trade well.

Salmons has seen Miller's pump fakes, no-look bounce passes and grimaces as he keeps another offensive rebound alive. Miller has watched Salmons finish with his left hand in traffic, improve his range to become a consistent three-point shooter and be a willing defender.

"You would never think he would be able to rebound as well as he can or take people off the dribble like he does or get to the hole as consistently as he does," Salmons said of Miller.

"Early on, it used to crack me up: 'How did he get to the rim like that?' But he does it all the time. He's just a good player."

Salmons' scoring average has jumped from his career mark of 8.6 points per game to 18.5 this season, but Miller isn't surprised.

"A lot of players underrate how good he is at both ends," Miller said. "He really has stepped up his offensive game because he can shoot it, put it on the floor to make plays and finish at the rim."

Indeed, Salmons is averaging 19.4 points on 50.5 percent shooting in 37.1 minutes since coming to the Bulls. He is shooting 39.7 percent from three-point range and creating a doozy of a lineup decision for coach Vinny Del Negro if Luol Deng returns from the stress fracture in his leg.

Perhaps most impressive, Salmons is posting such numbers despite taking just 13.1 shots per game.

"I've never been the type who takes a lot of shots because my shots need to come within the context of the offense to succeed," he said. "I try not to force shots."

Miller is averaging 12.4 points and eight rebounds in the 14 games of his second Bulls stint. Many of his contributions — setting proper angles on screens, tipping balls for extra possessions — don't appear in box scores.

"I'm not playing as many minutes, so it's like just fight like the younger days when I didn't have to worry about playing 40 minutes," Miller said. "I don't have to conserve as much energy. So it makes it easier."

Miller is averaging 27.5 minutes with the Bulls, but it's telling that he typically is playing in the fourth quarter.

The Bulls are 7-7 since Miller and Salmons started playing. With a three-game win streak and the playoffs in sight, they're doing enough to warrant nicknames.

"I call them 'Smooth' and 'Slow Motion,' " Derrick Rose said.

No need to identify which is which.

(chicagotribune.com)