It appears as if Bob Hill's patience with his struggling bench is running short. And it also appears as if the bench's patience with Hill's inconsistent rotations and quick hooks is also wearing thin.

"We've been doing so poorly with our bench scoring," Hill said. "When we go to our bench it just falls off and puts more pressure on Rashard (Lewis) and Ray (Allen). That's a problem. We've got to figure out how to get some points. There is no help for the first group."

When told of Hill's comments, two members of the bench retorted that some of the responsibility may also lie with Hill and his inconsistent playing rotations. One player said privately that the reserves are busy looking back at the bench waiting to get pulled for the slightest miscue. It has put pressure on the reserves to perform immediately.

"I can't say that I speak for everybody but I know I speak for a few people," guard Damien Wilkins said. "I say he needs to develop a little bit more trust in us. It seems like his leash is so short with everybody on the bench. If he developed a little more trust in us I say we would be able to play with a little bit more confidence. But it seems like to me, we're all just out there thinking and not really knowing what to do."