Bulls head coach Scott Skiles has tried to put an end to the notion that he has his favorites on the Bulls, most notibly guard Kirk Hinrich, according to a report in the Chicago Tribune.  The denial comes just two days after a published report portrayed a chilly disconnection between Ben Gordon and Skiles.

Gordon disputed the claims last week, and Skiles said the depiction is "totally false."

"Anybody that has seen us practice or has been around me for any length of time knows I don't have any pets," Skiles said.

"I'm in many ways harder on Kirk than anyone else. Sometimes your best player, if he can take it, there's nothing wrong with staying on top of him. We feel we give Ben an awful lot of leeway."

There is a belief Skiles cannot get along with a star player because he is too stubborn to bend here and there. That could come to the forefront this summer when the Bulls pursue an established scorer. Paxson said he doesn't foresee a problem.

"If it is, maybe it's the type of guy we don't want," he said.

Whomever they get will not receive special treatment, Skiles said. "It's just my philosophy."