<font face="Tahoma"><div align="center"> When- January 1st, 2005 Where- Chicago TV: Bulls- NBA TV, CSN-Chicago/ Magic-WRBW Last Games Orlando 105, Milwaukee 111 Chicago 90, New Jersey 94 Davis is one of the most contriversal coaches in the league not for anything he says, but for the moves he makes. The plays he runs often over looking or not running enough plays for one player who is doing very well that ngiht. A lot of people think that the Magic right now are winning jsut on pure talent not on Davis' coaching skill. A big reason why this is believed by some is that his career coaching record coming into this season in two years of coaching experence was 55-120 in the regular season. He also makes moves like sitting a player at the wrong times of the game or not sitting him quickly enough when he is in foul trouble, but still right now he is the Magic head coach, they are winning, and I trust his choices as long as we continue to win. <font color="DeepSkyBlue">Steve Francis</font>-PPG 22.0 RPG 6.20 APG 6.9 <font color="DeepSkyBlue">Cuttino Mobley</font>-PPG 17.6 RPG 3.1 APG 1.9 <font color="DeepSkyBlue">Grant Hill</font>-PPG 19.6 RPG 4.1 APG 3.8 <font color="DeepSkyBlue">Dwight Howard</font>-PPG 10.6 RPG 10.1 APG 1.2 <font color="DeepSkyBlue">Tony Battie</font>-PPG 5.2 RPG 6.7 APG .6 <font color="DeepSkyBlue">Hidayet Turkoglu</font> -PPG 13.1 RPG 3.4 APG 2.1 Steve Francis performed very well for the Magic there last game shooting 7-15 from the field in 39 minutes of play finishing with a total of 24 points, 9 assists, and 12 boards. He will look to continue building his stats and making his case for a all star appearence against the Chicago Bulls he did however have a total of five turnovers this game which is one more than his usual average not good considering the Bulls are a young team that will like to run on the break when they force so he needs yo cut down on his turnovers to prevent easy buckets. Cuttino Mobley had the same type of game as Francis except without the turnovers he shot 6-11 from the field in 32 minutes of play. He was also 3-6 from the three point line and finished the game with a total of 17 points. His problem last game was that he did not rebound finished with a total of zero rebounds that game. When your point guard out rebounds you by twelve rebound there is a problem. He will need to use his body to bang the boards in this game. Grant Hill had a great game 12-20 from the field finished with a total of 26 points however six turnovers killed him that game. He also had three steals so so far it looks like the reason they lost to the Bucks was mroe turnovers than anything there two main guys combined for 11 of theteams 23 turnovers. Dwight Howard needs to perform in this game he had a double double against the Bucks finishing with a total of 11 points and 11 rebounds for the Bucks he also had three turnovers however that doesnt seem to bad until you think aout the fact he is a power forward and does not handle the ball that much. Kelvin Cato may finally return tonight, but I dont know if he will start so Im just gona leave Battie as the starter for now. Tony had a decent game considering he normally is a back up finishing with 8 points and 8 rebounds last game against the Bucks Tony needs to also cut down on his turnovers four against the Bucks from your center no wonder they lost the starting lineup combined for 20 of the 23 team turnovers. Then the teams sixth man Hedo once again performed well on the offensive end shot 6-12 however had no rebounds so now we have two of our bigger guys Mobley and Hedo being out rebounded by Francis dont get me wrong I know how great a rebounder Francis is, but twelve rebounds to no rebounds thats unheard of these days. The team will need him to step up in this game on the boards in order to be successful I just hope at least one of the two can perform. * Cut down on turnovers will be the key thing for the Magic to do to win this game during there two game slide against the Knicks and the Bucks they are averaging a total of roughly 18 turnovers a game. While oyu are averaging that it is nearly impossible for you to win teams can get out on the break at any oppurtunity on you and just out run you every time up and down the court. * Make the three or stop taking it these last two games the team as shot 38 and 26 percent from three point land yet they have attempted a combined total of 28 three point field goal attempts. Its the old live by the three die by the three saying and lately the Magic are being murdered beyound the arc they need to take it inside more if they are not falling. * Hit the boards the Magic are second in the NBA in rebounding averaging 45 rebounds yet the last two games they have gotten 38 rebounds in the lose to the Knicks and 44 in the lose to the Bucks. In the Bucks game it wasnt that bad, but they had a ton of three point field goal attempts and only shot 26 percent from that area of the field. * Be consistant with blocks the Magic are third in the league in blocks per game averaging 6.22 yet the last two games have averaged 4.5 a gane. They need to be consistant with that and the return of Cato will really help them. Magic MVP Projected stats : 29 points, 9 rebounds, 10 assists Scott Skiles On November 28, 2003, Scott Skiles became the 15th head coach in Chicago Bulls franchise history. After a two-year absence from the game, Skiles, 40, returned to the sidelines as coach of the Bulls and posted a 19-47 mark during the 2003-04 season. While at the helm in Phoenix, Skiles compiled an overall record of 116-79 (.595), including a 5-8 (.385) postseason mark. The Suns twice made the playoffs while he was there, including a first-round series win over the defending World Champion San Antonio Spurs in 2000. " target="_blank">http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/chris_duhon"></a> PG- Chris Duhon (PPG 3.8 RPG 1.90 APG 4.7) SG- Kirk Hinrich (PPG 15.6, RPG 3.8, APG 6.6) SF- Loul Deng (PPG 12.8, RPG 5.10, APG 2.4) PF- Antonio Davis (PPG 5.6, RPG 4.9, APG 1.0) C- Eddy Curry (PPG 14.7, RPG 6.3, APG .8) Ben Gordon-PPG 12.8 RPG 2.30 APG 1.6 Chris Duhon had a horrible game for any player in the NBA let alone a starter 0 points, 1 assist, 2 rebounds. They can not have that from there starting point guard if they are going to be successful he did this in 20 minutes of play he played the least amount of minutes of any Bulls starter in that game he did however hold on to the ball having zero turnovers that is the only bright side I saw. Kirk Hinrich had a good game against the Nets in the losing effort 30 points in 43 minutes of action leading the Bulls in both catagories minutes and points. He did however have three turnover and only three assists which is bad considering he averages six assists per game this season for the Bulls maybe he is starting to think like shooting guard since he was moved to that position in the starting rotation. Loul Deng had the second least minutes for any Bulls starter surprisingly. He performed very poorly in that game in 21 minutes he had 4 points, 6 turnovers, and 8 rebounds. I think the turnovers where the biggest problem for him that game which cost the Bulls six turnovers means six lost chances to win the game and the Bulls only lost by four points if they had three less turnovers from Deng possibly they could have won that game. Antonio Davis had a Davis type game for the Bulls against the Nets in the lose 3 points, 4 rebounds he is more of a body they are going to need against Orlando than anything him and Curry are going to be banged around in the post all night in the game against Orlando I wouldnt be surprised to see them get knocked to the floor a few times. Eddy Curry had a decent game with 16 points against the Nets in the Bulls last game, but showed his biggest problem which is being a horrible rebounder for his size he finished with 7 rebounds and is only averaging 6 on the season for a player that is 6'11 to be averaging only .10 more rebounds then Steve Francis a 6'4" 6'5" point guard that is pretty sad. He needs to improve that this game for the Bulls to win it I do not see them winning unless he improves that area of his game. Finally Ben Gordon this is my question to Bulls management and Scott Skiles why is this guy not starting?!?! He had 19 points off the bench for the Bulls in there last game in 24 minutes of action. He also had however only one rebound that game which was a factor in the Bulls lose. * Stop ball rotation around the perimeter and in general. The Nets passed for 20 assists and the Bucks passed for 27 assists on the team. While the Bulls where left behind in rotating on help defense both of those games which was a reason for there lose with Steve Francis running the point it will be tough to stop the ball movement, but they have to keep up with there man and put pressure on him when he has the ball so to revent easy passes. * Exploit Cato the Bulls will need to bang around with Cato down low this game to exploit him his first game back the Orlando defense may struggle until he gets in the swing of things I think when he is in there is they are physical with him they ca take advantage of him. ( thanks sportsrock for this key) * Keep Oralndo off the galss like said before they are 2nd in the league in rebounding, and Howard averages a double double they need to some how keep them off the glass, and prevent second chance offensive rebounds by the Magic as often as they can. Bulls MVP Projected stats: 19 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists I think the Magic need to win this game if they are thinking about estabilishing themselves as an elite team in the east at any point in this season the reason the Heat have such a lead in the division right now is because they have won there easy games the Mgaic havent. Though the Bulls have been hot lately and they may pull off a upset I do not know who will win its a toss up between two of my favorite teams.</div></font>
Im excited to see Grant HIll back on the court. But lets hope the Bulls come out strong in the New Year Very cool preview, and I wonder why Gordon doesnt start as well.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Vince:</div><div class="quote_post">Im excited to see Grant HIll back on the court. But lets hope the Bulls come out strong in the New Year Very cool preview, and I wonder why Gordon doesnt start as well.</div> Gordon wasn't playing well as a starter, and that could be why. The three games that he's started this year have possibly been three of his worst games this year.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting I-Miss-MJ:</div><div class="quote_post">wow, up by 23 at half. Go Bulls (and don't pull another clippers games)</div> LOL lets hope that doesnt happen. So far kirk has 16 and curry 15 to lead the bulls
Looks like this will be an easy (and very good) victory, i was a little worried that the 5 game win streak was luck but it doesnt seem like it. Did Curry and Hinrich play at all in the 4th?
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting I-Miss-MJ:</div><div class="quote_post">Looks like this will be an easy (and very good) victory, i was a little worried that the 5 game win streak was luck but it doesnt seem like it. Did Curry and Hinrich play at all in the 4th?</div> Yeah I think they took Hinrich out with 8min left. Curry played most of the fourth as well.
The Bulls are playing really good right now. Gordan and Hinrich are shooting the ball really well. They are scoring and distributing the ball well. They have a bright future.
I just watched this game. Really good play from Chicago, wow. Deng played pretty well . I wish Skiles would get some more time for Frank Williams though, tis a shame he can't get a break.
