<div align="center"> <span style="font-size:24pt;line-height:100%">@</span> November 16, 2006 - 8:00 pm ET<span style="color:#FF0000">Game aired on TNT</span></div> <span style="color:#FF0000">Chicago Bulls</span> <span style="color:#000000">(3-4)</span><span style="color:#000000">PG</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">Chris Duhon</span> <span style="color:#000000">SG</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">Kirk Hinrich</span> <span style="color:#000000">SF</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">Luol Deng </span> <span style="color:#000000">PF</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">Andres Nocioni</span> <span style="color:#000000">C</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">Ben Wallace</span> <span style="color:#000000">Key Bench Players:</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">Ben Gordon, P.J. Brown, Thabo Sefolosha, Tyrus Thomas, Adrian Griffin, Malik Allen</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">Houston Rockets</span> <span style="color:#000000">(5-3)</span><span style="color:#000000">PG</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">Rafer Alston</span> <span style="color:#000000">SG</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">Tracy McGrady</span> <span style="color:#000000">SF</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">Shane Battier</span> <span style="color:#000000">PF</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">Juwan Howard</span> <span style="color:#000000">C</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">Yao Ming</span> <span style="color:#000000">Key Bench Players:</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">Luther Head, Kirk Snyder, Dikembe Mutombo, Steve Novak, Scott Padgett</span> Injury Report<span style="color:#000000">HOU:</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">Bonzi Wells will not play (rest & rehabilitation)</span><span style="color:#000000">HOU:</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">Chuck Hayes will not play (left knee)</span> Who To Watch Out For<span style="color:#FF0000">Ben Wallace</span><span style="color:#000000">Season Stats: 5.7 ppg, 10.0 rpg, 1.1 spg, 1.3 bpg</span><span style="color:#FF0000">Kirk Hinrich</span><span style="color:#000000">Season Stats: 18.3 ppg, 2.0 rpg, 5.9 apg, 1.3 spg</span><span style="color:#FF0000">Luol Deng</span><span style="color:#000000">Season Stats: 18.0 ppg, 6.3 rpg, 2.0 apg, 1.1 spg</span><span style="color:#FF0000">Tracy McGrady</span><span style="color:#000000">Season Stats: 18.6 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 6.4 apg, 1.3 spg</span><span style="color:#FF0000">Yao Ming</span><span style="color:#000000">Season Stats: 26.4 ppg, 9.5 rpg, 1.9 bpg</span> Rookie Watch <span style="color:#000000">CHI:</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">Tyrus Thomas</span><span style="color:#000000">Overall Selection: 4</span><span style="color:#000000">Season Stats:</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">3.2 ppg, 2.4 rpg, 0.8</span> <span style="color:#000000">CHI:</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">Thabo Sefolosha</span><span style="color:#000000">Overall Selection: 13</span><span style="color:#000000">Season Stats:</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">5.9 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 1.6 apg, 0.9 spg</span> <span style="color:#000000">HOU:</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">Steve Novak</span><span style="color:#000000">Overall Selection: 32</span><span style="color:#000000">Season Stats:</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">2.7 ppg, 1.0 rpg, 0.3 apg</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">Chicago's X-Factor</span><span style="color:#FF0000">Ben Gordon</span><span style="color:#000000">Season Stats: 13.4 ppg, 3.1 apg</span><span style="color:#FF0000">Gordon got brought back to the bench. He needs to come in with a positive attitude and light up the scoreboard like we all know he can do. He is obviously not happy about losing his starting job, but he can't let that affect his play. He needs to come out strong and put the ball in the basket. He hasn't been himself lately, and he's shooting very low percentages.</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">Houston's X-Factor</span><span style="color:#FF0000">Shane Battier</span><span style="color:#000000">Season Stats: 9.4 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 3.1 apg, 1.6 spg</span><span style="color:#FF0000">Battier needs to do what he does best: defend, play scrappy, knock down open shots. He has to really play good defense on Luol Deng as well, he's playing excellent ball.</span> Key Matchup vs. <span style="color:#FF0000">Ben Wallace</span> <span style="color:#000099">vs.</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">Yao Ming</span><span style="color:#000000">Yao has been on a tear lately and he's playing great basketball. Big Ben is probably still the best defensive player in the NBA, he has to do his job and slow him down. We'll see if he can do that.</span> CelticBalla's Extra Thoughts/NotesHouston is very thin at PF, and with Chuck Hayes out it looks even worse. Chicago looks pretty solid at that spot with Nocioni's toughness and the defensive ability of P.J. Brown off the bench. But Chicago's bench is arguably the deepest in the league, Houston's isn't so pretty. I think the benches have to step up big. CelticBalla's PredictionI see Chicago's defense taking this one. It's going to be a tough battle between both teams - defense vs. star power. But I think Chicago is going to start to get it together and I see them taking it.
I see Rockets taking it. No one on the Bulls can guard T-Mac, and Ben gives up 9-10 inches to Yao. If Rockets can slow down game like they did with Miami, run pick and roll with Yao/Mac, get T-Mac involved early, and get role players like Shane Battier open shots...they will win this one easily.
Yeah, I am feeling Houston here too. If T-Mac comes and does his thing and Yao brings the intensity down low, Rockets should take it.
I think the Rockets will win this one, but the X-factor will be McGrady, not Battier. The Rockets are good when Yao is carrying the team, but when he and T-Mac are both hot they are unstoppable. So if McGrady has a good game, I see the Bulls' chances as slim.
Tmac looks early on even though he did have a careless turnover and missed good look 3. It's nice to see him playing well.
Man, I see the rockets taking this one as well. Yao has proven to be unstoppable IMO. Tonight WILL be his ultimate test going up agaisnt a great defender, but the height differential is way too big. Chicago is going to have no way to stop him. T-Mac is going to get ALOT of looks because they are going to have to double, therefor he is going to have a great night. Also, who is going to guard T-Mac is a big question for me...They cant put Hinrich on him or he is going to get dominated. There is just way to big of a height differential.
Wow, did anyone just see T-Mac say he's going to retire once his contract is up in Houston. (which is in 3 years and he'll only be 30)
Good first half for Houston, Chicago is shooting horribly. Yao is controlling the glass, but he's really struggling offensively. Big Ben is abusing him. T-Mac is looking like Steve Nash out there, he's making some excellent passes. He's just an incredible player. I'd really like to see T-Mac get it going in the 2nd half with his scoring though.Chicago is shooting terribly. The only Bulls really shooting well are Hinrich and Deng. Other than that, people are ice cold (Nocioni especially, wow). Skiles is going very deep into this bench though, even Sweetney got some run. So Thabo though?EDIT: Wow, did you guys just see that at halftime? Kobe sent in four PS3's (for Charles, EJ, Kenny, and Reggie). That's sick!
Awesome by Rockets so far. T-Mac heating up in 2nd half. he is a fantastic playmaker, but I agree with everyone on TNT...he NEEDS to be this team's #1 option. And CB32, I saw that at halftime as well. Kobe is the fu*king man.
Well, it's over now. They are relying too much on Yao. he is still not #1 option material. T-Mac needs to stay agressive like he was early in game and 3rd quarter.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Nitro1118 @ Nov 16 2006, 09:48 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Well, it's over now. They are relying too much on Yao. he is still not #1 option material. T-Mac needs to stay agressive like he was early in game and 3rd quarter.</div> And Houston wins by one.
Holy sh*t, We're so lucky man.Nice game by TMac. If he didn't take 7 3pt ampt. He woulda been 8-10 I couldn't watch this game man. Volleyball sucks.
THAT SHOULDA BEEN TRAVEL ON ALSTON.. MAN WTF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!THAT WAS SOOOOOOOOOOO RETARDED!!!!!!!!!!!
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (KCX @ Nov 16 2006, 10:52 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>THAT SHOULDA BEEN TRAVEL ON ALSTON.. MAN WTF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!THAT WAS SOOOOOOOOOOO RETARDED!!!!!!!!!!!</div>I agree, that definitely was a travel. On the replay, CLEARLY a travel. Bad no-call.But that was a hell of a game. Chicago really came back from the middle of the 3rd quarter on. Ben Gordon carried the Bulls through that entire 2nd half, wow, excellent game from Gordon. Chicago though, they really need to get their act together. 3-5 now, they need to pick it up, along with most elite teams in the NBA right now (excluding San Antonio).Oh, and Noc - that was NOT a foul at the end lol. Nice shot though.
