Central Notes: Terry, Korver, Bulls, I. Smith

Jason Terry is comfortable playing the elder statesman role on a young Bucks team, writes Jonathan Feigen of The Houston Chronicle. After two years in Houston, the 39-year-old guard signed with Milwaukee in August. He is averaging just 17.6 minutes and 3.3 points per game, but he likes the chance to help young players learn the game. “No question, I’m enjoying my role,” Terry said. “What this organization and this coaching staff is creating is about teaching. When you have two young great superstars [Giannis Antetokounmpo and Jabari Parker], they understand they need to surround them with veteran guys like myself. It’s been great.”

There’s more from the Central Division:

• The Cavaliers are just 1-3 since trading for Kyle Korver, but the veteran shooter believes he and the team are adjusting to each other, according to Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com. The Cavs just returned from a long road trip, giving Korver his first chance to get a taste of life in his new home. “It’s great to have a practice here in Cleveland,” he said. “… The more time we spend together, the better chemistry we’re going to have. A lot of what my game is based on chemistry. Getting a good feel for the guys, me getting a feel for them, them getting a feel for me and how I play. Every day gets a little better.” 
• Injuries and illnesses are juggling the Bulls‘ rotation and hampering player development, writes K.C. Johnson of The Chicago Tribune. Denzel Valentine, Jerian Grant and Paul Zipser have all been in and out of the lineup recently as coach Fred Hoiberg tries to find healthy and effective combinations. “We have so many young guys and all of them at some point over the course of the year have given us good minutes,” Hoiberg said. “… It’s something that we’ll continue to juggle until we find the right group. It’s unfortunate. Denzel has had some good moments and then has had a setback on a couple of different moments.”
• Pistons point guard Ish Smith did his best to keep a team-first attitude when he learned of his brief benching last week, relays Rod Beard of The Detroit News. Smith, who was the starter for the season’s first 21 games while Reggie Jackson was injured, had appeared in all 41 before coach Stan Van Gundy told him he wouldn’t be playing. Van Gundy compared it to a baseball manager giving a slumping player a game off. “In shootaround, I wasn’t happy at all when he told me,” Smith said. “That was the decision he made and when I talked to my mother and my family, they said, ‘Get your head out of your behind and be a good teammate.’”