<font color="Red">Bulls Probable Starters C- Eddy Curry PF- Antonio Davis SF- Linton Johnson SG- Kendall Gill PG- Jamal Crawford </font> <font color="Blue">Magic Probale Starters C- Andrew DeClerq PF- Juwon Howard SF- Gordan Giricek SG- Tracy McGrady PG- Tyronn Lue </font> Key Matchups: Controlling the paint: Who controls the paint will dictate who will win the game. If Chicago can get Orlando into foul trouble early, this will force the Magic to go to their bench much sooner than they want to. Gooden and Howard cannot match the size of a Curry/Davis frontline, which could lead to problems. On the flip side, Orlando wants to get Davis into early foul trouble. With Chandler out of the game, Davis is their only good weak side defender. Without Davis, McGrady will be able to penetrate rather easily. Tracy McGrady vs. The Zone Chicago figures to play some zone defense. Teams have been exploiting the Magic, frusturating McGrady with zone looks. This game shouldn't be any different. Force the Magic to beat you from outside. McGrady needs to get his outside shot going early. If that happens, Chicago cannot sit back in the zone, and must play man to man defense. With Pippen gone from the game, McGrady will be most likely guarded by Gill and Robinson. Bench Production The bench will play a very important part of this game. Chicago needs players like Fizer, Hinrich, Robinson, and Williams to step up. Fizer needs to establish low post position, and force the Magic to send help. If not, Fizer does have the low post arsenal to have a good game. Hinrich needs to play good defense and hit the open lookds he should receive off double teams. The Magic will be counting on Gooden to produce with a big game. He figures to get plenty of playing time. He could present problems with his quickness for the Bulls big men. Watch for Jerome Williams to match up with Gooden when that happens. Crawford's Defense Its no secret the Bulls are at their best with a Crawford/Hinrich backcourt. But that will only happen if Crawford shows he is capable of playing good defense. When this happens, likely, Crawford will guard Giricek, while Gill or Robinson guard McGrady. But Crawford cannot let Giricek roam free, or Giricek could have a great game. Crawford's defense needs to show up. Outlook: Chicago continues to struggle, as well as the Magic. This game is at home, which gives Chicago the advantage. But Chicago has been unable to close out tight games. Prediction: Bulls: 95 Magic: 87 Injuries Magic: Grant Hill, Reece Gaines, Pat Garrity Bulls: Tyson Chandler, Scottie Pippen, Roger Mason Jr.
Nice preview. I agree with Crawford's defense. He needs to step it up. Giricek has a great open jumper, but if you can get in front of him, and don't leave him open, you can contain him. The big question is to contain Tracy Mcgrady. He is basicly the whole team, and it should be intresting who they put on him. They will prolly go zone most of the game though. Whenever I say the Bulls will win, they lose. When I say they will lose, they win. So, it might be our lucky charm. Magic 91 Bulls 88
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting The Prophecy:</div><div class="quote_post"> Whenever I say the Bulls will win, they lose. When I say they will lose, they win. So, it might be our lucky charm. Magic 91 Bulls 88</div> Say the Bulls wont win another game this season lol. Anywho, I think Curry will have a big scoring night. I think from 17-22 pts for him and 6-10 reb. Crawford will near a triple double (like he has in the past several times) 17 pts 9 ast 7 reb for him. Fizer will likely get major minutes, i think he can get anything from 10-15 pts and 5-10 reb off the bench. Bulls 89< Magic 82
I'm not sure, but is Eddy Curry playing? I know that he had a bruised knee or something, I'm wondering if he's gunna be ok for the game.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting The Prophecy:</div><div class="quote_post">I'm not sure, but is Eddy Curry playing? I know that he had a bruised knee or something, I'm wondering if he's gunna be ok for the game.</div> Yeah he has a bruised knee, but i think hes going to play since the game is on Tuesday,which i think will give him time to heal
Magic are starting to not struggle. Tmac should have a big game. Chandler being out is going to definetely help the Magic, as he killed them last game. Magic's key is to stop Antonio Davis and Eddy Curry and the bench will need to do good.
Yeah, but stopping Davis and Curry is easier said than done for a small team like the Magic. I think as long as we keep defensive pressure on McGrady at all times and don't forget about Giricek, then we'll be fine. We'll make their other players like Lue, Hunter, Howard and Gooden beat us, since they can't by themselves. If we can hold the McGrady/Giricek combo to less than 30 points, we ought to win.
Maybe I am being crazy, but I disagree starman.....I say we let Tracy try to beat us. The Magic are 4-20. McGrady hasn't been able to win by himself. The record justifies that. I say we stop everyone else and make McGrady beat us. 20 times it has worked for opposing teams......I like those odds.
Actually, that doesn't sound too crazy. I'm just worried that TMac getting hot will inspire his teammates to raise their level of play as the game goes on, and that the opposite will have the opposite effect - TMac going cold might demoralize the troops, setting the rest of them off. But I suppose that letting TMac do it all will tire him out, which is a good thing.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting saad:</div><div class="quote_post">dang, jamal crawford and linton johnson look the exact same vintage...</div> Thats because Jamal and Linton are twins.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Vintage:</div><div class="quote_post">Thats because Jamal and Linton are twins.</div> HAHA. Jeez, after all the work the man put into it, sue him for making one mistake. :mrgreen:
Gill has 23 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists. Fizer off the bench for 8/8 ERob contributing with 10 points. Looks like an all around, good performanc thus far by the TEAM. Lets see if they can hang on for the win.
Key Points: Paint. I said Chicago needed to win in the paint to win. They edged out Orlando 38-36 inside. Crawford's defense. While it wasn't spectacular, it was enough to warrant him 43 minutes of playing time. Nicely done. TMac's shooting. A lot of factors contributed to McGrady's 9-25 shooting. We stopped everyone else but McGrady and Gooden. We made McGrady try to beat us, and we won. Like I said, I don't believe McGrady can beat us by himself. Tonite proved that, even though he did get a good game from Howard. Bench Production- We needed to get good bench production to win. And did we ever! Fizer was ever important, giving us 10 points and 11 rebounds off the bench. And Gill's 29/6/4 performance was amazing. And Hinrich.......a career night for the young man. Great game, great win.
I was impressed with what I saw from Crawford's defense. He held Giricek to only 10 points and 3-16 shootings. Nice Work Jamal. Only two people who really got off scoring wise were Gooden and Tmac. Crawford and Hinrich combined for 18 assists.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting The Prophecy:</div><div class="quote_post"> Crawford and Hinrich combined for 18 assists.</div> Woah i just realized that. Thats some great passing :thumbsup:
