<div align="center"> <font color="red"> Miami Heat (19-24)</font> at <font color="DarkRed"> Chicago Bulls (25-19)</font> Game Date: Saturday, Jan. 27, 7:30pm at Bulls TV: NBATV, WGN <font size=""1""> Chicago knocked off one of the NBA's best teams in its last outing. Now it looks to continue their success over the league's best squad from a year ago. The Bulls go for their third win over the Miami Heat this season as the teams meet tonight at the United Center. *Introduction taken from bulls.com</font> </div> [div=50%] <font size=""1""> <font color="Red"> Miami Heat</font> <font size=""1""><font color=""red"">PG</font>- Gary Payton <font color=""red"">SG</font>- Dwyane Wade <font color=""red"">SF</font>- Jason Kapono <font color=""red"">PF</font>- Udonis Haslem <font color=""red"">C</font>- Shaquille O‘Neal</font> <font size=""1"">Coach: Ron Rothstein </font> <font size="3">Season Stats</font> Leading Scorer: Dwyane Wade - 28.5 PPG Leading Rebounder: Udonis Haslem - 8.8 RPG Assist Man: Dwyane Wade - 7.9 APG The 'X' Factor: Alonzo Mourning (10.1 PPG, 5.7 RPG, 0.2 APG) [imgl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/gary_payton.jpg[/imgl]<font color="red">Gary Payton </font> PPG: 5.6, RPG: 2.2, APG: 2.7 Gary Payton use to be known as “the glove” because of the pressure he applied to opponents with his ferocious defense, which consisted of ball pressure and straight smack talk. Nowadays, the glove has turned into a mitten. To be frank, if it wasn’t for the smack talk, it wouldn’t even be that much. Payton is a shadow of his former all star self, but is still a dangerous shooter when left open. His defense is no longer “all nba” caliber but his ability to get in opponents makes him a viable veteran option at point guard. [imgl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/dwyane_wade.jpg[/imgl]<font color="red">Dwyane Wade </font> PPG: 28.5, RPG: 4.8, APG: 7.9 Dwyane Wade, returns home for the second time this season, his first return home resulted in a Heat lose, as well as an injured hand. I’m sure Wade will be looking for a little bit of revenge against his hometown team tonight. Wade typically tends to struggle against the Bulls, will he break out for a big game tonight? Your guess is as good as mine, but whenever you have a player who is averaging 29 a game, you have to respect and game plan for him. [imgl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/jason_kapono.jpg[/imgl]<font color="red">Jason Kapono</font> 10.2 PPG, 2.4 RPG, 1.1 APG Jason Kapono has made huge strides in his game this season. He leads the league in three point field goal percentage, and has added a much needed dimension to the Heats offense. His ability to stretch the court will be even more dangerous now that Shaq is back. With Shaq demanding double teams down low he will get his fair number of open shots during the course of a game. [imgl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/udonis_haslem.jpg[/imgl]<font color="red">Udonis Haslem</font> PPG: 11.3, RPG: 8.8, APG: 1.6 Amidst the story lines of “when will Shaq be back” and “Wade getting too many calls” the fact that Haslem, a player who went undrafted, is averaging a near double double has gone unnoticed. “Mouthguard” has put up a solid season and will definitely be one of the big factors, should the Heat pull out a win tonight. Haslem has become arguable the Hetas best low post offensive player, with Shaq’s injuries and obvious decline this season. [imgl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/shaquille_oneal.jpg[/imgl]<font color="red">Shaquille O’Neal </font> PPG:12.0, RPG: 6.5, APG: 1.0 Shaq has really cashed in on the lifetime achievement award this year, starting the all star game, despite averaging career lows in every single category. I have always been a Diesel fan, but him starting the all star game is the biggest robbery in Florida, since Bush beat Gore. Still the simple fact that Shaq is 7’1” and 300 pounds means he is someone we will have to worry about, with our shorter front court. [/div] <font color="Darkred"> Chicago Bulls</font> <font size=""1""><font color=""DarkRed"">PG</font>- Kirk Hinrich <font color=""DarkRed"">SG</font>- Ben Gordon <font color=""DarkRed"">SF</font>- Luol Deng <font color=""DarkRed"">PF</font>- PJ Brown <font color=""DarkRed"">C</font>- Ben Wallace</font> <font size=""1"">Coach: Scott Skiles</font> <font size="3">Season Stats</font> Leading Scorer: Ben Gordon- 21.3 PPG Leading Rebounder: Ben Wallace- 10.0 RPG Assist Man: Kirk Hinrich- 6.3 APG The 'X' Factor: Luol Deng (18.0 PPG, 6.6 RPG, 2.2 APG) [imgl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/kirk_hinrich.jpg[/imgl]<font color="DarkRed">Kirk Hinrich</font> PPG: 15.0, RPG: 3.1, APG: 6.3 Hinrich has performed well during this little mini win streak the Bulls are on. Hinrich managed to post up a stat line of 15 points, 8 rebounds, and 5 assists against the leagues best team, the Dallas Mavericks. Kirk is one of the biggest keys to having this team win, when he plays well the offense flows a whole lot smoother. He will have an easy defensive match up against Payton tonight so expect him to excel offensively. [imgl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/ben_gordon.jpg[/imgl]<font color="DarkRed">Ben Gordon</font> PPG: 21.3 PPG, RPG: 2.8, APG: 3.5 Ben Gordon went off yet again for 31 points recently. Gordon is making one final push for the all star squad, coached by possible none other than Scott Skiles. If Gordon does make the team he will be back to a role he is very a custom to, coming off the bench. Gordon has been shooting the ball well these last couple games, and the Heat have struggled defensively this season, I expect yet another huge game for him. [imgl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/luol_deng.jpg[/imgl]<font color="DarkRed">Luol Deng</font> 18.0 PPG, 6.6 RPG, 2.2 APG Luol Deng must have read my preview before the Dallas game, just when I was criticizing him for being in a slump Deng rebounded with 21 points and nine rebounds in a statement game for the Bulls. Deng will be another guy to look at tonight he is coming in with a chip on his shoulder, considering the dirty play Posey had on him the last time these two teams met. [imgl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/pj_brown.jpg[/imgl]<font color="DarkRed">PJ Brown</font> PPG: 5.0, RPG: 4.3, APG: 0.5 PJ Brown is back to playing the way he was during his heyday with none other than the Miami Heat. Brown has had two straight double digit scoring games, and has emerged as a much needed scoring presence down low for the Chicago Bulls. I don’t know how well he will match up against the much more athletically gifted Udonis Haslem tonight. So we will have to see just how good Brown is at 7:30 tonight. [imgl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/ben_wallace.jpg[/imgl]<font color="DarkRed">Ben Wallace</font> PPG: 6.6, RPG: 10.0, APG: 2.2 Ben Wallace, much like Luol Deng, must be reading JBB, I get on him for not having double digit rebounds for three straight games and he comes up huge with 17 in one night. We brought in Wallace last off season to stop players like Shaq. So far it has paid off, the Heat have been unable to beat the Bulls this season, will it continue? </font> <div align="center"> </div> <ul><font color="DarkRed"><font size=""1"">Stop Shaq</font></font> <font size=""1""> the player formerly known as the Diesel has been anything but this season. He has yet to score 20 in a game this year, and has only played in seven games. He is no longer the dominant force he use to be…..or are we writing him off to early? I have a bad feeling Shaq is set to have a huge night against the Bulls. So please Skiles don‘t leave Wallace on an island with Shaq tonight.</font>[/list] <ul><font color="DarkRed"><font size=""1"">Bench Play</font></font> <font size=""1""> the bulls bench was completely pathetic to say the least against the Mavericks the other night. Had it not been for the incredible performance from our starting five, we likely would have been blown out of the water by Dallas. Lets see how these guys rebound tonight.</font>[/list] <div align="center"></div> <font size="1">The Heat are down right now, so its time for us to kick them. They just lost to the New York Knicks, as Steven A. Smith would say “the Newwwwwww Yorrrrrk Knicksss” with both Shaq and Wade in the lineup and are 0-2 since Shaq’s return. Lets put that final nail in the coffin tonight. Bulls by 12. </font>
Nice preview, hopefully Shaq doesn't play much today, he's played like what 14 minutes each the last 2 games?
Andres Nocioni might miss tonights game, he missed practice yesterday with an injury... Shaq out tonight!
<div class="quote_poster">Brian Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Did Shaq have a setback? I thought he already returned against Indiana</div> He did he is not playing tonight most likely because it would be the second half of a back to back. They don't want to push him too much. Ben Gordon is on fire 4/6 early just taken it at everyone. He had a nice pass but Deng missed the shot. Wallace has come to play two blocks so far, and he is arguing with Mourning.
Thabo told Wright to get that **** out my house! A straight block party right now Ben Wallace with three, Sefolosha with one, Hinrich and Gordon taken it to the Heat. BTW I'm going to say the intentional/flagrant happens in the fourth, because he is too much of scared to do it any time earlier.
This is pathetic, no calls on the Heat this is some of the worst refereeing I have seen in my entire life. Seriously this is really horrendous right now. First the screen foul that wasn't called against Mourning against Hinrich (yes he did move) then the foul against Hinrich before the end of the half, which was really out in the open and not called. That was pathetic. Had it been a bigger name player there would've been an instant call, that's what I've always hated about favoritism in the NBA. Anyway, the Bulls are playing very well, excellent second quarter for Noce as he just seemed to go off on the Heat. Nice open shots and a great drive into an under the basket shot with the foul. I'm hoping for some better officiating in the next half because this is really sickening. Not only against the Bulls, but they've even missed some calls against the Heat. I want to see real officiating, so wake up and get the whistle out of your asses people!
Bulls up by 10 with one quarter to go. Basically we need to stop Wade and we should win. Gordon has 26, Noc and Hinrich with 17 Wallace has 12 boards and Deng with 11.
Hopefully Big Ben is alright, he couldn't get up on his own so I'm really worried. Bulls gave up the lead, but have a 4 point lead right now with under a minute to go, so hopefully we pull it out.
He messed up his knee when Haslem came down on it. The announcers said word from the locker room is a left knee sprain... that doesn't sound good. Isn't that what Odom had?
<div class="quote_poster">I-Miss-MJ Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">What happened to Big Ben?</div> I couldn't really tell what happened, but he was holding his knee and he looked like he was in a good amount of pain. He had to be helped off the floor.
Ben Wallace has a knee strain, he should be good to go by the next game. The worst would likely be that he misses one game, but I doubt it. It looked serious, but the commentary team has already relayed the information. Plus I've had a similar injury in high school. Hurts like hell, but knowing Ben he should be able to play again soon. Good win for the Bulls. Gordon, Hinrich and Noce getting it done offensively tonight and Ben Wallace doing his job on the defensive end. He didn't need to score for the team to get this win. Two wins against the two teams that faced each other in the NBA Finals last season. How sweet it is right before the next Western road trip.
<div class="quote_poster">M Two One Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Ben Wallace has a knee strain, he should be good to go by the next game. The worst would likely be that he misses one game, but I doubt it. It looked serious, but the commentary team has already relayed the information. Plus I've had a similar injury in high school. Hurts like hell, but knowing Ben he should be able to play again soon.</div> I don't know about that Odom's knee sprain didn't look nearly as serious and he missed an entire month because of it. EDIT: My fault I jumped the gun. Are you sure its a strain, because all I have heard is sprain.
