<div align="center"> <font color=""White"">@</font> <font color=""Darkred"">Chicago Bulls (5-5)</font> @ <font color=""Black"">Houston Rockets (3-10)</font> Time: Saturday, Nov. 26, 7:30pm at Rockets TV: WGN <u>Probable Starting Five</u> <font color="DarkRed">Chicago Bulls</font> <font size=""1""><font color=""DarkRed"">PG</font>- Chris Duhon <font color=""DarkRed"">SG</font>- Kirk Hinrich <font color=""DarkRed"">SF</font>-Andres Nocioni <font color=""DarkRed"">PF</font>- Michael Sweetney <font color=""DarkRed"">C</font>- Tyson Chandler</font> <font size=""1"">Coach: Scott Skiles</font> ____________________________ <font color="Black"> Houston Rockets</font> <font size=""1""><font color=""Black"">PG</font>- Luther Head <font color=""Black"">SG</font>-David Wesley <font color=""Black"">SF</font>-Ryan Bowen <font color=""Black"">PF</font>- Juwan Howard <font color=""Black"">C</font>- Yao Ming</font> <font size=""1"">Coach: Jeff Van Gundy</font> <u>Injury Report</u> <font size=""1""> Tracy Mcgrady Injury: Back Spasms Status: Doubtful </font></div> <u>Game Most Valuable Player</u> [IMGR]http://www.nba.com/media/bulls/gordon_050411.jpg[/IMGR] Ben Gordon has been a force for the Bulls once again so far this season. The one draw back to his game has been his field goal percentage, but that is one of those things that a little run of good shooting nights could fix. He is definitely making a case for his second sixth man of the year award this season. I don’t expect him to find difficulty scoring tonight against a injury depleted Rockets squad. He scored 19 points last night against a very good defensive ball club so expect his confidence to carry over to this game. He also had five rebounds last night so he is doing other things besides just scoring this year. Luol Deng will also have a good game tonight he has had a pretty good year so far, some up and down shooting nights, but overall nothing you can really complain about. He has one of the easier match-ups of tonight’s game against Ryan Bowen or Derek Anderson. So he should find some success. As far as Gordon’s numbers go.... <div align="center"><u> Predicted Numbers: 27 points, 5 rebounds, 6 assists</u></div> <u>Keys to the Game</u> <ul><font color="DarkRed">Get off to an early lead</font> this Rockets team is still a very formidable club Tracy Mcgrady or no Tracy Mcgrady if you give them the opportunity to get there confidence going, and score some easy buckets early they can run away with this game. The Bulls have to get off to a good start, and plant that seed of doubt into the Rockets minds. They also got to keep up the pressure though none of that giving up a lead stuff that has become so common in the NBA these days.[/list] <ul><font color="DarkRed">Get everyone involved</font> last night we had several players in double figures contributing to the team, and we won against the defending NBA champions. We have to do the same thing tonight in order to win.[/list] <ul><font color="DarkRed">Sweets!</font> Getting Michael Sweetney going early will help us get off to a good start his double double ability has really anchored this Bulls team so far this year one of the front runners for Bulls season MVP in the early going. He has some tough match-ups tonight, but he is a tough player.[/list] <ul><font color="DarkRed">Hit the board</font> Tyson had 12 rebounds least night he needs to continue rebounding with that efficiency, and he needs to start scoring with better efficiency. He is the key for the Bulls to get their season back on track tonight by going over .500. We can not let Yao get some easy offensive boards tonight.[/list] <ul><font color="Black">Shoot well</font> the Rockets need to have a good shooting night tonight to be successful Anderson has struggled with his shot this season, and the Rockets field goal percentage has taken a hit while Mcgrady has been out. Yao needs to put this team on his shoulders and carry them tonight. He has to be the 7’6” monster he is capable of being.[/list] <ul><font color="Black">Run with the ball</font> the Bulls transition defense is nonexistent a lot of times. If the Rockets can force the Bulls into a up and down offensive contest they will have the advantage. It will also give the Rockets easy scoring opportunities.[/list] My Prediction: Alright, the Bulls made me look like a fool last night by beating the Spurs after I predicted a blow out lose for them. I will give them the benefit of the doubt tonight and predict a victory. Come on Bulls don’t let me down. I think the final score of this game will be low it will probably be slow paced if the Bulls control the pace. Final score prediction Bulls 88 and the Rockets 82.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">He has one of the easier match-ups of tonight’s game against Ryan Bowen or Derek Anderson.</div>Why should Ryan Bowen be on Gordon? Bowen is a 6-9 small forward and you think that Van Gundy will even think about having Bowen covering Gordon? Gordon will see single coverage from Wesley, Head and Anderson all night, and I highly doubt he'll score over 20 points. I can see Sweetney going off though.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Locke:</div><div class="quote_post">Why should Ryan Bowen be on Gordon? Bowen is a 6-9 small forward and you think that Van Gundy will even think about having Bowen covering Gordon? Gordon will see single coverage from Wesley, Head and Anderson all night, and I highly doubt he'll score over 20 points. I can see Sweetney going off though.</div> <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Luol Deng will also have a good game tonight he has had a pretty good year so far, some up and down shooting nights, but overall nothing you can really complain about. He has one of the easier match-ups of tonight?s game against Ryan Bowen or Derek Anderson.</div> I was talking about Deng.
44 all at the half. Hinrich needs a better shooting half if we wanna win. Harrington is the surprise with 12 points.
Bulls got a double digit lead now about to start the fourth quarter. They have to keep up the pressure no fourth quarter comebacks by the Rockets. Ben Gordon shooting well tonight 10 points so far on 4-7 shooting, and Othella has been a huge surprise 16 points. Nocioni another guy who has stepped up his game recently he has 11 points. No one else has really done much points wise Sweetney has seven, Duhon has nine, and Hinrich has two. Chandler is having another disappointing night 5 points 6 rebounds.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Best Kept Secret:</div><div class="quote_post">I was talking about Deng.</div> Confusing layout then. Why talk about Deng in a section dedicated to the "Game Most Valuable Player", Ben Gordon?
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Locke:</div><div class="quote_post">Confusing layout then. Why talk about Deng in a section dedicated to the "Game Most Valuable Player", Ben Gordon?</div> Game most valuable player as I predicted it was going to be Ben Gordon, I mentioned Luol Deng as another player who might have a big night so was basically saying to look out for him. Back to the present however, Deng is being shut down, and the Bulls are allowing the Rockets to come back a once eleven point lead is now down to six, and shrinking by the minute.
5 points now. Gordon hit a 3 to move it to 5 after Ming brought it to 2. getting to close for my liking.
Damn tie game the Bulls have no ability to close teams out they are shooting 45% compared to Houston’s 37% and we still can not shut them out. Lets hope they pull this win off.
Gordon missed 2 free throws. Hinrich scores a layup and got the foul, missed the free thorw, Gordon scores again. up by 4 points.
5 point win in the end. not a big fan of letting teams back in when we should be demolishing them. but a nice way to end the road trip and should take us off the bottom of the division.
Free throws killed us tonight even though we won we should have sealed it when there was a minute left if we could hit free throws. However, we shot just 64% from the line, and that made the game go until the last second. Ben Gordon had a great shooting night 6-9 from the field, finished with 18 points to lead the Bulls in scoring. Othella really did not do much in the second half after a big first half. I am just happy to be over .500 though now with the Magic and Knicks next on our schedule we have a very good chance to get a couple games over .500 .
you predicted gordon's points a little high today.. i don't think he'll get 20+ for a while since everybody is involved in the offense more, today's game 4 players had doulbe digits... hinrich shot poorly today, i'm also a rocket fan its kinda sad to see them losing this many games without T-MAC
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">[IMGR]http://www.nba.com/media/bulls/Ben300.jpg[/IMGR]The Houston Rockets finally got Yao Ming to be more assertive, but that aggression may have cost them in the end. Yao scored 14 of his season-best 30 points in the final period, but fouled out and could not prevent the Rockets from taking their seventh straight defeat, a 94-89 loss to the Chicago Bulls. The three-time All-Star center had come under fire for his lack of aggressiveness with fellow All-Star Tracy McGrady sidelined with a back strain. With Houston trailing, 75-60, in the opening stages of the final period, Yao scored six points during a 9-0 burst. The Rockets eventually tied it at 85-85 when David Wesley connected on a three-point play with 1:37 to go. Kirk Hinrich answered on the Bulls' next possesion when he hit a driving layup and got Yao to foul out in the process. Although Hinrich missed the free throw, the damage had been done. Ben Gordon and Andres Nocioni, who scored 17 apiece, each had uncontested shots near the basket for Chicago, which completed a six-game road trip with three straight wins. </div> <div align="center"> Recap l Box Score</div>
