<div align="center"> <font color="Purple">Milwaukee Bucks (16-11)</font> at <font color="DarkRed">Chicago Bulls (12-17) </font> Place: Monday, Jan. 2, 7:30pm vs. Bucks TV: WGN Superstation, NBALP </div> [div=50%] <font color="DarkRed">Chicago Bulls</font> <font size=""1""><font color=""DarkRed"">PG</font>- Chris Duhon <font color=""DarkRed"">SG</font>- Ben Gordon <font color=""DarkRed"">SF</font>- Kirk Hinrich <font color=""DarkRed"">PF</font>- Luol Deng <font color=""DarkRed"">C</font>- Tyson Chandler</font> <font size=""1"">Coach: Scott Skiles</font> <font size="3">Season Stats</font> Leading Scorer: Luol Deng - 14.2 PPG Leading Rebounder: Tyson Chandler - 8.1 RPG Assist Man: Kirk Hinrich - 6.4 APG The 'X' Factor: Ben Gordon (13.2 PPG, 1.9 RPG, 2.6 APG) <font size="3">Backcourt</font> [imgl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/chris_duhon.jpg[/imgl]<font color="darkred">Chris Duhon </font> PPG: 10.4, RPG: 3.3, APG: 5.6 Chris Duhon has been a rock thus far this year for a Bulls team searching for answers. As the Bulls are in disarray looking for answers, Chris Duhon has remained the one constant for this team all year. Duhon is coming into this game averaging career highs in all three major statistical categories. There are questions on whether or not he will be able to play tonight after suffering a injury in overtime against the Phoenix Suns, he did not return to that game, and his status remains in question for tonight’s game. [imgl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/ben_gordon.jpg[/imgl]<font color="darkred">Ben Gordon </font> PPG: 13.2, RPG: 1.9, APG: 2.6 Ben Gordon received his second start of the season, fifth of his career, on new years eve against the Suns. Scott Skiles had rumored all week he was planning on making big changes to the lineup, and so he did as he moved Kirk Hinrich, all six feet three inches of him, to small forward while inserting Tyson Chandler and Ben Gordon into the starting lineup. Ben Gordon performed relatively well in the start scoring 15 points, grabbing five rebounds, and dishing out five assists. The one draw back to his night was the same draw back that has hurt him all year his horrible shooting percentage continued despite the change of role as he shot 7-19 against Phoenix. <font size="3">Frontcourt</font> [imgl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/kirk_hinrich.jpg[/imgl]<font color="darkred">Kirk Hinrich </font> PPG: 13.4, RPG: 2.8, APG: 6.4 I know what you’re thinking. Is there an error in this preview? Well the answer is no Kirk Hinrich is indeed our starting small forward now. I personally thought Skiles went over the deep end when I heard about this lineup, and in fact still do, however, Hinrich did not seem to miss a beat as he made the transition scoring 25 points in his first ever start as a small forward. Scott Skiles has taken it upon himself to bring new meaning to the term “going small”. [imgl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/luol_deng.jpg[/imgl]<font color="darkred">Luol Deng</font> PPG: 14.2, RPG: 6.0, APG: 1.6 Well Deng, now in his third different role of the season, has played pretty well for the Bulls. Thus far he has lead a very balanced Bulls team in scoring while ranking third in rebounds. In his first start of the season as a power forward Luol Deng scored 16 points while grabbing a carrier high 14 rebounds. Expect Deng’s rebounding numbers to skyrocket if he remains in this role the rest of the season, which knowing Scott Skiles, is highly unlikely. [imgl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/tyson_chandler.jpg[/imgl]<font color="darkred">Michael Sweetney </font> PPG:5.1, RPG: 8.1, APG: 1.1 Tyson Chandler’s statistics this far this season are deceiving. Chandler struggled for the better part of the first quarter season with a sports hernia. Due to this he struggled with fatigue, and his offensive game. However, for about the last week he has been performing exceptionally well, excluding the Suns game, he has scored double-digit points twice in the past week and a half, and has shot exceptionally well too. Expect him to have a big game tonight. [/div] <font color="DarkPurple">Milwaukee Bucks</font> <font size=""1""><font color=""Purple"">PG</font>- Mo Williams <font color=""purple"">SG</font>-Michael Redd <font color=""purple"">SF</font>-Bobby Simmons <font color=""purple"">PF</font>- Andrew Bogut <font color=""purple"">C</font>- Jamaal Magloire</font> <font size=""1"">Coach: Terry Stotts</font> <font size="3">Season Stats</font> Leading Scorer: Michael Redd-24.6 PPG Leading Rebounder: Jamaal Magloire- 10.1 RPG Assist Man: TJ Ford- 6.7 APG The 'X' Factor: Mo Williams (15.6 PPG, 2.8 RPG, 3.8 APG) <font size="3">Backcourt</font> [imgl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/maurice_williams.jpg[/imgl]<font color="purple">Mo Williams </font> PPG: 15.6, RPG: 2.8, APG: 3.8 Mo Williams will be taking the place of an injured TJ Ford tonight. Not much of a drop off as Mo Williams has had a great season thus far being the sixth man. Williams has hit several game winning shots and is averaging a career high in points per game. Williams is coming off a big 30 point performance against the Knicks so expect his confidence to be at a high when this game starts. [imgl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/michael_redd.jpg[/imgl]<font color="purple">Michael Redd</font> PPG: 24.6 PPG, RPG: 4.4, APG: 2.8 Michael Redd has been living up to that max deal he signed last summer with the Bucks. He is averaging over 24 points a game, and the Bucks are off to a quick start. Michael Redd has had a lot of room to expand his game this season due to all the weapons the Bucks added during the off season and he has taken full advantage of that. He had a rough shooting night against the Knicks, but will be looking to rebound in tonight's contest against an undersized Ben Gordon. <font size="3">Frontcourt</font> [imgl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/bobby_simmons.jpg[/imgl]<font color="purple">Bobby Simmons </font> PPG: 12.0, RPG: 4.9, APG: 1.2 Bobby Simmons is a player who will be at a distinct match up advantage tonight, as most small forwards will be as long as Skiles keeps this lineup. Simmons, one of the leagues most improved players last season signed a lucrative contract with the Bucks during the off season, and has been performing very well for the Bucks so far this year. His scoring is down a bit, but that is to be expected with all the offense weapons the Bucks have. He has not had that big game yet this year, but tonight might be the night that changes. [imgl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/andrew_bogut.jpg[/imgl]<font color="purple">Andrew Bogut</font> PPG: 8.7, RPG: 7.2, APG: 2.1 Andrew Bogut, the number one overall pick, has been living up to his billing so far this season. He was said to be a big man who could come in and contribute right away, and he has done just that. His season has been over looked so far due to the sensational play of rookie Chris Paul. However, Bogut is quietly putting together a great season for a rookie. [imgl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/jamaal_magloire.jpg[/imgl]<font color="purple">Jamaal Magloire</font> PPG: 9.6, RPG: 10.1, APG: 0.6 Magloire has been the model of consistency in Milwaukee this season. He is averaging a virtual double double, and doing a more than admirable job giving the Bucks a post presence down low. He has opened up things for shooters such as Williams, Ford, and Redd. As well as limiting opponent second chance opportunities. You won’t see him on the highlight reel a lot but I am sure any team would love to have a Jamaal Magloire on it. <div align="center"> </div> <ul><font color="DarkRed">Forcing turnovers</font> will be key tonight due to the Bulls lack of size in there lineup. They will not be able to stop the Bucks if they allow them to get comfortable in half court sets. Steals, drawing charges, and frustrating the Bucks will be essential to our victory tonight.[/list] <ul><font color="DarkRed">Feed the ball inside</font> Tyson Chandler has improved his play as of late, but he still is not getting the shot attempts to be a real post presence. The Bulls need to feed the ball inside early. That will allow them to open things up for their shooters.[/list] <ul><font color="DarkRed">Bench Scoring</font> surprisingly Michael Sweetney saw no playing time off the bench against the Suns do to coaches decision. If this guy is good enough to start why would he not be a good sixth man option? Skiles needs to get his bench guys to perform well tonight the Bucks are a team that have a lot of offensive options so the Bulls will need to find some way to hang with them.[/list] <div align="center"></div> <ul><font color="Purple">Attack the inside</font> if the Bucks can get the Bulls big men in foul trouble early they essentially have won half the battle. The Bucks should not settle for outside shots tonight if they attack the basket they will be in prime position to pull off a win.[/list] <ul><font color="Purple">Get to the line</font> the Bucks got to the free throw line 46 times against the Knicks if they can get any where near that number tonight chances are they will probably win the game. The Bulls don‘t draw many fouls, and when they do they tend not to convert on the free throws so by the Bucks getting easy points from the line it will put even more pressure on the Bulls to score.[/list] <div align="center"></div> The Bulls are on a six game losing streak, and I am not going to sugar coat it this season looks bleak. However, we have to win eventually, and tonight is as good a night as any. I am just going to keep predicting a Chicago victory until we finally win one. We have to win a game eventually right? Happy news years everyone.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting I-Miss-MJ:</div><div class="quote_post">I am surprised we benched Nocioni.</div> You and I both. I thought he was the one guy in the starting lineup if anyone who had his spot pretty much locked down. He was one of the only players on the team, during this losing streak, that was out there playing hard on both ends. I am really not a fan of this lineup, I think I?ve made that pretty clear, but this does give us some more athletic players in the lineup.
Nice analysis BKS, and I'd like to see a lineup of Jannero, Badsen, Deng, Sweetney and Chandler, that might work
Didn't get a chance to watch the first 3 quarters of the Suns-Bulls game, and found out about the line-up later. Was wondering why Hinrich was guarding Diaw. Hopefully we can actually get a win against the Bucks.
2 amazing things so far at half. 1. We are leading (by 9) 2. We are 100% at the Free Throw line (10/10)
Whoa, the Bucks dominated the 3rd quarter out scoring the Bulls 30-18, Bulls head into the fourth trailing by three. This is why we lose basketball games, quarters like this one have been the storyline of the season. On a brighter note though my boy Ben Gordon finally playing a good game all around 11-19 from the field 23 points.
finally, gordon had a good shooting night... i thought the bulls would win though, nocioni could have gotten more minutes, hinrich could have taken more shots
