Preview: Orlando @ Chicago vs <font color="Blue">Orlando Magic</font> at <font color="Red">Chicago Bulls</font> When: Tuesday, December 16th Where: United Center Time: 8:30 ET TV: Local Records Bulls: 5-16, Eighth in Central Magic: 4-20, Seventh in Atlantic Previous Games <u>Orlando</u> <ul>December 13th, Won 105-102 @ Atlanta December 12th, Loss 99-95 vs New Jersey December 10th, Won 95-91 @ Washington[/list] Last 10: 3-7 <u>Chicago</u> <ul>December 13th, Won 86-75 vs Indiana December 12th, Loss 109-95 @ Milwaukee December 8th, Loss 96-82 vs San Antonio [/list] Last 10: 2-8 Probable Starters Andrew DeClercq vs Eddy Curry Juwan Howard vs Antonio Davis Gordan Giricek vs Jerome Williams Tracy McGrady vs Kirk Hinrich Shammond Williams vs Jamal Crawford Injury List <u> Orlando</u> Tyronn Lue (hip flexor) Pat Garrity Reece Gaines Grant Hill <u> Chicago </u> Tyson Chandler Scottie Pippen Roger Mason Jr. Team Updates <u>Orlando</u> The Magic beat the Hawks and have won 3 of their past 4 games. McGrady had a huge game with 30 points, 7 assists, and 6 rebounds. Shammond Williams scored 12 of his 15 points in the fourth quarter and came up huge for Orlando. Zaza grabbed 7 boards and scored 7 points in just 18 minutes of play. Steven Hunter received a DNP and has seen his minutes slip away since Johnny Davis took over. <u> Chicago</u> The Bulls have been struggling all season and look to pick things up. They beat the Pacers 86-75 with great team effort. Kirk Hinrich and Jamal Crawford both tallied 18 points to evenly lead the Bulls to victory. [quoteright] "Honestly, I think I could. I want that responsibility. But I want to make sure my assists and rebounds are up there too." -Jamal Crawford, in the Dec. 10 Chicago Tribune, on whether he could lead the league in scoring.[/QUOTERIGHT] Keys to the Game <u> Orlando</u> <ul>Rebound the basketball.[/list] <ul>Play Defense[/list] <ul>Play with energy.[/list] <u> Chicago</u> <ul>Defend McGrady. He dropped 52 points in just 3 quarters of play against the Bulls. He is instant offense and if he gets off to a fast start, it could be a long night for the Bulls.[/list] <ul>Maintain the tempo of the game[/list] Current Team Leaders <u> Orlando</u><ul>Points: Tracy McGrady (24.4) Rebounds: Drew Gooden (7.7) Assists: Tracy McGrady (5.4) Steals: Tracy McGrady (1.2)[/list] <u> Chicago</u> <ul>Points: Jamal Crawford (16.7) Rebounds: Eddy Curry (6.9) Assists: Jamal Crawford (5.2) Steals: Kendall Gill (1.4)[/list] Key Bench Players <u> Orlando</u> Drew Gooden<ul>11.8 Points Per Game, 7.8 Rebounds Per Game, 1.4 Assists Per Game[/list] Zaza Pachulia<ul>2.7 Points Per Game, 2.9 Rebounds Per Game, .3 Assists Per Game[/list] Steven Hunter <ul>4.4 Points Per Game, 3.5 Rebounds Per Game, .2 Assists Per Game.[/list] Hunter has seen a decline in minutes since Davis took over, but he can produce when given the time. <u> Chicago</u> Marcus Fizer<ul>7.0 Points Per Game, 3.2 Rebounds Per Game, .5 Assists Per Game[/list] Kendall Gill <ul>10.0 Points Per Game, 3.1 Rebounds Per Game, 2.0 Assists Per Game[/list] Linton Johnson <ul>1.6 Points Per Game, 2.0 Rebounds Per Game, .9 Assists Per Game[/list] Key Matchup Tracy McGrady vs His defenders The 'X' Factor(s) Theres several to this game. <ul>Will Tmac get off to a fast start?[/list] <ul>Will the Bulls guard him? They don't seem to have an answer for him and the McGrady could take this game for his team[/list] <ul>Bench Production. The Magic have gotten great support from their bench and Drew Gooden looks to be adjusting to his new role. Zaza and Williams have stepped up to produce for the Magic as well.[/list] What to watch for The Magic have spent practice time trying to be more aggressive, and have worked on initiating the fast break. Ice's Take The Magic take this one. Recap and Boxscore following the game <font size="1">Go to NBA.com for the official preview</font>
I think the Magic will win this one easily. The way they've been playing I wont be suprised if T-mac puts up 40+ points with 11 rebounds 4 steals 9 assists. There bench has been producing points amazingly well. Gooden,Williams, and Pachulia have been they key to the Magic bench and some of their games. The bulls cannot defend Tracy well enough to contain him from playing a God-given game,MVP material game. Magic by 12 Great Preview Ice
Ice predicted a win. :shock: Amazing :mrgreen:. I also think we will win. Tmac will have a monster game, like what you guys have mentioned. I also think Howard is starting to get on a little roll. I'm not sure if I really want to trade him now that he's playing some good basketball. Gooden and Howard are starting to step it up as 2nd and 3rd scoring options. As long as our role players play good and doesn't just watch Tmac as he has a great game we will come away with the victory.
I think Tmac will put up about a high scoring game close to 40. Gooden will play well also and we will take the win. :thumbsup:
The Magic should be able to take this game. After that 19 game losing streak, the team is slowly coming together and gelling. If T-Mac drops at least 40 on Chicago, and gets the rest of his teammates involved, it'll be a long night for Chicago.
The only problem with Tmac dropping 40+ is that his teammates tend to just watch him and not move around too much. They don't try to help him out. I would much rather Tmac just avg around 20-25 pts and then his teammates stay involved the whole game.
Super preview Ice :thumbsup: Magic aren't playing bad basketball over their last few, and I think it will continue here with a win over Chicago. Jamal's gonna have to live up to his quote and drop a career high, because T-Mac should have a big night. Kendall Gill used to be an excellent on-ball defender in his time at Seattle and New Jersey, but age is catching up to him now.
another injury for the bulls, eddie curry is out 2-4 weeks... pippen, curry, chandler, robinson, mason jr, all injured...
Mason Jr. was traded, saad Alright, the Magic and the Bulls each have a great chance against eachother. There is one main thing that is stopping the Bulls---INJURIES! My Predictions: Jamal Crawford 17 pts 9 ast 7 reb Antonio Davis 9 pts 11 reb Marcus Fizer 18 pts 10 reb (he has averaged 17.0 pts, 10.0 reb the last 2 games) Tracy Mcgrady 37 pts 4 reb 6 ast Shammond Williams 15 pts 2 reb 6 ast I gotta have faith in my team, even w/ these injuries Bulls 89 Magic 82
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting sportsrock37:</div><div class="quote_post">Lue isn't playing, so Shammond Williams will start tonight.</div> This could help us and hurt us.It could help us because Williams been playing amazingly coming off the bench.It could hurt us because he's never started before and could freeze up and turn the game over.
The Magic dropped yet another game and are now 4-21. The final was 102-88. Kendall Gill played a GREAT game and dropped 29 Points. He was on fire and shot 13-17 from the field. His outside shooting pulled the game away for the Bulls. Tmac had his usual night with 26 Points and 8 Rebounds. Gooden and Gordan both got double doubles for the Magic. Kirk had a huge game with 21 points and 10 assists. Good game for the Bulls. The fans seemed to get into it, and Kendall Gill going 12/13 in the 3rd quarter killed the Magic. The Magic didn't play defense and needed to stop him during the run. Box Score Recap <div class="quote_poster">Quoting :</div><div class="quote_post">This should be an easy Win :mrgreen: </div> Easy wins are not in the Magic's vocabulary. They are too inconsistent this season.
Way too many easy baskets for the Bulls. btw, TimFlem, Shammond Williams has started 2 in a row for us.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting sportsrock37:</div><div class="quote_post">Way too many easy baskets for the Bulls. btw, TimFlem, Shammond Williams has started 2 in a row for us.</div> Didn't know that. Thanks for telling me. We loss to the bulls making us 4-21. Why?
Look at the quote that you just quoted. We gave up way to many easy baskets. They got layup after layup, while we settled for long 2's or 3's. We have no defense.
I hate the bulls, I hate 3 pointers, and I especially hate Kendall Gill. It's so embarrasing losing to the Bulls.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Drew Gooden:</div><div class="quote_post">I hate the bulls It's so embarrasing losing to the Bulls.</div> It's embarrasing to lose to anybody, really, If you think about it. I hate the bulls also. I hate every team that defeats the Magic when we know we should've won. But I also respect them.
