The Bulls’ Dalen Terry taking big picture approach to shrinking minutes

DETROIT — The excitement in Dalen Terry’s voice was palpable.

New season, new jersey number, new outlook.

“The last two years I wasn’t being myself, I was trying to be what people wanted me to be, and it’s time for me to be myself,” The Bulls guard insisted back in October. “That’s why I changed my number. Man, we’re going to leave that in the past. I’m trying to do what’s best for the team and not worry about pleasing everybody.”

Fast-forward barely a month, and the season hasn’t started off anywhere close to what Terry envisioned. In the final year of his rookie contract, with restricted free agency coming next summer, he has appeared in seven of 11 games but has only received a sprinkling of minutes — up to an average of just 5.9 per game after he logged 10 in an embarrassing 124-113 loss to the Pistons on Wednesday night.

It’s wearing on him. He averaged 13.5 minutes last season and was a contributor as the Bulls prioritized depth over star power.

Rather than sulk, he’s trying to keep the big picture in perspective.

“I feel like it’s been a situation I’ve been in my whole life, to be honest with you,” Terry said Wednesday. “With this being a contract year and things not starting like you want them to, guys can go into a dark place. But I just look at it like, ‘Man, it’s just basketball, and we’re winning right now.’ So my feelings aren’t really the priority.

“I just get my feelings out when I’m working out. Get in the gym as much as possible and just stay ready for any situation. Guys are in. Guys are out. [I’m] just being ready . . . knowing [coach Billy Donovan] can call me first, second or third quarter and I’ve got to be ready.”

Even if he’s not in the Bulls’ future plans, he could be for many other teams — some of whom might call Bulls personnel to learn more about him beyond what he puts on film. So he’ll continue to focus on his résumé-building.

“Playing my role is real big for me,” Terry said. “I know what I’m capable of, I know I can do a lot more things, but that’s just not what the team needs me to do. I know if it was up to me, I would play in Chicago forever, but I want to carve my way out here as much as I can.

“If I do go to a different team and they see me, they’ll be like, ‘OK, this is your role.’ And I can do that. I just have to adapt to the different situations I’m in.”

At the moment, his situation is like that of forward Julian Phillips. They’re typically the last guys in the rotation if Donovan goes deep into the bench on a given night.

That’s not easy for Terry, who brings high energy and isn’t the sit-and-watch type. But he doesn’t have much choice.

“I think those guys staying professional, staying ready [is] really important,” Donovan said. “I like Dalen’s attitude. I think he had a good summer, worked hard. Sometimes oppor-tunities present themselves in different ways. With some of the injuries we’ve had to endure, he has to keep himself ready, and I think when he’s been called upon, he’s done a good job.”

Terry has been on the plus side in the plus/minus category in three of the last four games. But will that buy him more minutes?

“All my career, no one can say, ‘He doesn’t work hard,’ ” he said. “If I can just make sure that’s the narrative by the end of the year, no matter what my situation is, I’ll be OK.”