<div align="center"> <font color=""White"">@</font> <font color=""DarkRed"">Chicago Bulls (7-6)</font> @ <font color=""Green"">Boston Celtics (6-8)</font> Time: Friday, Dec. 2, 6:30pm at Celtics TV: CSN-Chicago, NBALP <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=""green"">Boston Celtics</font> <font size=""1""><font color=""green"">PG</font>- Delonte West <font color=""green"">SG</font>-Ricky Davis <font color=""green"">SF</font>-Paul Pierce <font color=""green"">PF</font>- Raef Lafrentz <font color=""green"">C</font>- Kendrick Perkrins</font> <font size=""1"">Coach: Doc Rivers</font> <u>Injury Report</u> <font size=""1""> Marcus Banks Injury: Stress Facture Status: Out </font></div> <u>Game Most Valuable Player</u> [IMGR]http://www.nba.com/media/bulls/deng_050129.jpg[/IMGR] As Ben Gordon shined on the biggest stage in professional basketball Luol Deng?s struggles went unnoticed. After arguably his best game of the season, a 21 point outing against the Orlando Magic, Luol Deng did not find his rhythm all night against the Knicks. As he played a total of 18 minutes, and shot 2-6 from the field. Continuing his inconsistent season so far. I expect him to rebound tonight against the Celtic though. The Bulls young stars always tend to bounce back quickly from games they struggled in. Deng is still averaging over 12 points a game this season and should be viewed as a constant threat when on the court. With all the weapons the Bulls have on the offensive end of the court Deng is going to have a favorable match-up at certain points during the night, it will be up to him to take advantage of them. One thing Skiles has emphasized so far this year to Luol is consistency he needs to start showing it, and he will start tonight. <div align="center"><u> Predicted Numbers:18 points, 5 rebounds,2 assists</u></div> <u>Keys to the Game</u> <ul><font color="DarkRed"> Don?t forget your game in the locker room</font> be it the first half or the second half the Bulls have given a lack luster performance that has cost them immensely this season in terms of there record. They had at least three wins signed, sealed, and delivered going into the fourth quarter this year only to see it slowly dwindle. Some of that is attributed to bad play calling and bad personnel but players have to execute when on the floor. Find your scorers I don?t want to see Pike and Nocioni shooting in the fourth quarter when Hinrich and Gordon are on the floor, and are known to be fourth quarter play makers.[/list] <ul><font color="DarkRed">Hit the boards</font> I really don?t need to take this any further the Bulls need to hit the boards plain and simple.[/list] <ul><font color="DarkRed"> Tyson what are we going to do with you?</font> After fouling out with a grand total of zero points against the Knicks Chandler should be coming into this game with a chip on his shoulder. If I don?t see some type of passion from him when he is out there tonight then he was simple looking for a payday this summer. There is no way a NBA player can go scoreless, when he starts for a team, and not play with a chip on his shoulder the next game.[/list] <ul><font color="DarkRed">So Skiles you plan on playing the best players down the stretch tonight? </font> I can not tell you how frustrating it was watching our lead dwindle, and dwindle, until it finally disappeared, and looking over to the Bulls sideline seeing Luol Deng on the bench. While players like Pike and Nocioni where jacking up shots. Frustration does not even begin to describe it.[/list] <ul><font color="Green">Pierce the Bulls early</font> if Paul Pierce gets going early there is a big chance he can have a career game tonight. The Bulls backcourt does not match-up well at all with Davis and Pierce. They have a huge size advantage, and should be able to get some easy points if their shots go down early.[/list] <ul><font color="Green">Perkrins who? </font> can he have two great games in a row? If so the Celtics will be in great position to pull out a win tonight. They are at home, and Kendrick?s confidence is high. If they get Chandler is foul trouble early Perkrins could have an advantage down low all night.[/list] My Prediction: I don?t even know any more with this Bulls team you beat the Spurs, but can?t beat the Knicks. Nothing is a given with this team even if they are playing the Atlanta Hawks chances are it will be a close game. I would think this would be one of those games where you have to come out, and establish yourself early, and never look back, but what do I know? What do I have to lose I will say Bulls win 98-87, but chances are they will be in a dogfight until the end.
sheesh we lost 1 game after winning 4 straight and 3 of them on a tough road trip and not many days off.
With the exception of the 3rd Quarter this was a good games. In the 4th Quarter the Bulls really played well. They made smart decisions and showed great heart while trying to climb back from the hole they started digging in the 3rd. Deng was solid and clutch free throws from Chandler and Duhon helped seal everything. Hinrich was off but Gordon continued to play well. This was a needed win after that Knicks loss and things look much better this year than at this point last year.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">[IMGR]http://www.nba.com/media/bulls/BGordon_300_051202.jpg[/IMGR] Luol Deng helped the Chicago Bulls overcome a cold third quarter and a red-hot Paul Pierce. Deng scored 10 of his season-high 26 points in the fourth quarter as the Bulls posted a 106-102 victory over the Boston Celtics, who got a season-best 43 points from Pierce. Chicago shot 61 percent (14-of-23) from the field in the first quarter and held a 54-38 lead with 2:30 left in the half before Boston bridged the halves with a 24-7 spurt, capped by Kendrick Perkins' layup midway through the third quarter that put the Celtics in front, 62-61. The Bulls scored just 15 points in the quarter, when they were nearly outscored by Pierce. The All-Star swingman contributed 12 and two assists in the session, setting up Mark Blount's jumper with 17 seconds left that gave the Celtics a 75-71 edge entering the fourth period. Pierce added a pair of free throws that made it 84-77 four minutes into the final quarter and Boston still held a 93-89 advantage with 4:10 remaining before Chicago took control with an 11-2 run. Deng scored five points during the burst, which was capped by two free throws from Tyson Chandler that gave the Bulls a 100-95 lead with 1:21 to go. Pierce scored five points down the stretch, twice cutting the deficit to two, but Deng and Chris Duhon combined to make 6-of-6 free throws to seal the victory. Ben Gordon scored 20 points, Andres Nocioni added 16 and Chandler chipped in 10 and 16 rebounds for Chicago, which has won five of its last six games. Mark Blount scored 14 points off the bench for the Celtics, who were outrebounded, 47-34, and committed 20 turnovers.</div> <font size=""1""> <div align="center">Recap l Box Score l Standings</div></font>
chicago has had trouble holding on to their leads in the late 3rd and early 4th. but im happy they won. go bulls!
It does seem like they've had problems keeping their lead. They also have a habit of being able to come from behind or have late surges. It's just a matter of timing and if the comeback surge comes before the lapse. I chalk that up to them being a young team and that'll improve over time.
One of my more accurate previous of the season though the numbers where a bit off the predictions for the most part where correct. A big game from Paul Pierce, a MVP of the game performance from Deng, and a pretty good game from Tyson Chandler as he nabbed a double double. One thing I did not like about this game though was the shot selection the Bulls had for the most part in the third quarter. They where taking bad shots, and settling to much which really allowed the Celtics to take advantage. You look at the game statistics we lost in almost every category three point shooting, field goal shooting, free through shooting, but still found a way to win. Nice win, and wait to bounce back, after arguably the most disappointing lose of the season.
Ya, I was expecting big things from Kirk this year, he seems to have taken a step back, very reluctant to get into the paint and draw fouls.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting FedEx227:</div><div class="quote_post">Ya, I was expecting big things from Kirk this year, he seems to have taken a step back, very reluctant to get into the paint and draw fouls.</div> Woah, way too early to say he's taken a step back. He's played very well so far this year. I think what I-Miss-MJ was saying is the more recent past(2-3 games) he's been a little off. Every player goes through these stretches but I'd agree he hasn't been himself. He's still making plays but their more defensive ones or all around ball movement.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Bulls center Tyson Chandler probably turned in his best game of the season Friday against the Celtics, even though he?s planning to go for more tests to help determine why he?s getting fatigued so quickly. Chandler produced a season-high 16 rebounds, scored 10 points and had a critical blocked shot against Ricky Davis with two minutes left when the Bulls led by 2 points. ?This is the type of game I expect out of myself,? Chandler said in the locker room. ?Now it?s just all about doing it consistently.? Chandler went to the doctor Nov. 21 after the West Coast trip and was diagnosed with a hiatal hernia, which involves an irritation of the diaphragm and can hamper breathing. Despite taking medication for the last 11 days, Chandler hasn?t seen his condition improve. ?It?s not back at all,? he said. ?It?s difficult because I get fatigued so early because of it.? During this week?s road trip, Chandler spoke by phone to team physician Dr. Kathy Weber and expects to go back for more tests on the next off day, probably Tuesday. ?I was a little upset because obviously I felt like it?s hurting me, as far as my performance,? Chandler said. ?They?re telling me it could take two to four weeks, and then it may kick in. I don?t know. ?It?s frustrating. They?re going to get those tests done and hopefully figure out something.? Rivers roots from afar: Celtics coach Doc Rivers might be the happiest sports fan in New England right now. The Maywood native is a Bears and White Sox fanatic. ?I even have my players talking about the Bears right now,? Rivers said before Friday?s game. ?I never could get them on the White Sox bandwagon the whole year. Even until the last day when they beat the Red Sox, Paul (Pierce) kept saying it was a fluke.? When the White Sox clinched the World Series, Rivers said he was sitting in his apartment, celebrating by phone with his brother Grady.</div> <div align="center"><font size=""1""> Daily Herald</font></div>
