Bulls news: Otto Porter Jr. claims his hip is 'fine' despite slow start to season

Through the first four games of the season, Bulls small forward Otto Porter Jr. hasn't looked like himself. Is his hip a bigger deal than we thought?

Through the first four games of the season, Chicago Bulls small forward Otto Porter Jr. hasn't looked like himself.

Porter is averaging just 7.3 points while shooting 26.5 percent from the field and 21.1 percent from beyond the arc. The Bulls are 1-3 on the season and coming off a terrible loss to the New York Knicks on Monday, a game which saw Chicago blow an 18-point lead.

Porter says his hip is “fine” despite struggling on the floor. K.C. Johnson of NBC Sports Chicago reported over the weekend the Bulls are closely monitoring Porter's hip.

“I’ve always had little hip issues,” Porter said, via Darnell Mayberry of The Athletic. “That’s just because of how my body is: tight hips, long, lanky. I deal with that on a daily basis. That’s nothing new. So my hip, I always work on that. But for me it’s just early. I’m getting my legs up under me … So my hip is fine.

“I’m still getting used to the new system and everything, a new team. I’m still getting my legs up under me. But I’ve got to keep shooting. Keep shooting open shots. Keep being aggressive, (keep) being in a position to be aggressive.Hopefully (Wednesday) night I can start putting it together.”

The Bulls take on the Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday. Chicago will look to snap its two-game losing streak and get back in the win column.

For that to happen, Porter will have to play better. In the 15 games he played for Chicago last year, Porter put up 17.5 points, 5.5 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.2 steals while shooting 48.3 percent from the field and 48.8 percent from the 3-point line.