<font face="Tahoma"><div align="center"> Chicago Bulls @ New Orleans Hornets When- January 7th, 2005 Where: Chicago TV: CSN- Chicago Last Games Philadelphia 106, Utah 99 Chicago 95, Hornets 89 Skiles played for 10 seasons in the NBA with five different teams (Milwaukee, Indiana, Orlando, Washington and Philadelphia). He appeared in 600 games, including 371 starts, and averaged 11.1 ppg and 6.5 apg, while shooting .889 from the free throw line (4th best in NBA history). He still holds the NBA record for most assists in a game with 30, set on Dec. 30, 1990, as a member of the Orlando Magic. That same season, Skiles was named the NBA?s Most Improved Player, when he averaged a career-best 17.2 ppg and 8.4 apg. An All-American at Michigan State, he was drafted by the Milwaukee Bucks in the first round (22nd overall) in the 1986 NBA Draft. As a senior in high school he scored 39 points in the state finals to lead Plymouth High School to the Indiana State Championship in 1982. Skiles was born in LaPorte, Ind., on March 5, 1964, and is the fourth-youngest active coach in the NBA, behind Golden State?s Eric Musselman (11/19/64), Seattle?s Nate McMillan (08/03/64) and New Jersey?s Lawrence Frank (08/23/70). He has two sons, Scott, Jr. (15) and Sean (11), and one daughter, Shelby (8). <font color="Red">Chris Duhon</font>-PPG 3.8 RPG 2.0 APG 4.0 <font color="Red">Kirk Hinrich</font>-PPG 15.8 RPG 3.9 APG 6.6 <font color="Red">Luol Deng</font>-PPG 12.9 RPG 5.2 APG 2.3 <font color="Red">Antonio Davis</font>-PPG 5.5 RPG 5.3 APG 1.0 <font color="Red">Eddy Curry</font>-PPG 15.0 RPG 6.4 APG .8 <font color="Red">Ben Gordon</font>-PPG 13.5 RPG 2.40, APG 1.8 Chris Duhon, leads all rookies in assists per game average. One of the biggest reason he starts for the team he allows Hinrich to play shooting guard, and use his perimeter shooting more often, while also allowing Ben Gordon to come off the bench and give the team some instant offense. Chris Duhon has been solid for the team all year like said before with his passing ability and ability to hold on to the ball he averages a total of 1.68 turnovers a game he also ranks ninth in the ational Basketball Association in Assists Per 48 Minutes (9.8). He is also a player who gives us a proven winner on the court handling the ball he was part of two Final Four teams in college, and also was the only player in ACC to finish with 1,000 points, 800 assists, 475 rebounds so he will be a good overall player in the future for us probably not a future long term starter, but a very good role player for the team with his winning attitude. He will provide us with what Bobby Jackson proivdes the Kings with in the future hopefully. Kirk Hinrich, has been solid so far this season for the team much like he was last year for us he ranks currently eleventh in the National Basketball Association in Assists Per Game(6.6), and ranks seventh in the league in Assists Per Turnover Ratio (2.86). If there is one small very minor down side to Hinrich's game its the three ball not that he shoots bad from three (35%), but he shoots to often he ranks fifteenth in the league in Three Point Field Goals Attempted. He won Chicago Bulls player of the year in his first season with the team last year, and is looking to get the award one more time he is off to career high in points per game, rebounds per game, and steals per game. He is however shooting a lower three point field goal percentage this year which may hinder the Bulls chances at times. Luol Deng, in his first season with the Bulls is making a case for the rookie of the year award he has averaged so far this season very good overall numbers he ranks third amoung rookies in points per game average only behind fellow teammate/ rookie of the year canidate Ben Gordon. He has been consistant for the team to say the least he will look to continue it tonight for us against a less than talented New Orleans team. Antonio Davis, is the solid leading vetern on the floor for a very young Bulls team he is not what he use to be in his prime, but he provides the young guys with a vetern leadership attitude on the floor and in the locker room which is what the management was looking for from him when they traded Rose, Marshall and Baxter to the Raptors for him, Williams, and Jeffries one of the reasons he is the only one still on the Bulls roster today out of those three. Eddy Curry did not play against the Pistons do to being sick, but is expected to return to face the Hornets this game he will probably hopefully dominate the paint the Hornets do however have PJ Brown a very under rated player who will be a good defender. Curry is playing for a contract this season with the Bulls he is averaging a career high in points per game and rebounds per game so far this season as he is in the best shape of his career. Has still not lived up to expectations, but he is getting there. Lastly, Ben Gordon, our sixth man of the year (hopefully) he is averaging 13.5 points per game like you know from looking up in this thread which is good enough to rank him second amoung all rookies in points per game average only behind fellow UConn star Okafor. He should be starting had it not been for his three bd starts earlier in the year he ranks currently nineteenth in the NBA in Points Per 48 Minutes (27.4), and fourth in the NBA in three point field goal percentage (.473). * Keep turnovers low the Bulls have two guys in there back court that rank high in the National Basketball Association in Assists Per Turnover Ratio, but they also have a who ranks first in the NBA in turnovers per 48 minutes in Ben Gordon he needs to be smarter tonight and take care of the ball do not make careless turnovers like trying to do to much and bouncing the ball off your foot or other careless mistakes such as that. * Stay cool when you are down the Bulls have a tendency to lose confidence when they are down early in the last fourteengames they have gone 9-5 because they have gotten off to early leads and held them, but when they have fell behind they have had a tendency not to put up much of a fight to get back in the game am I saying this is something they do all the time? no, but its something they do 65% from the time at least. Hard-working, driven, successful and well-respected, Head Coach Jerry Sloan completed his 16th season at the helm of the Jazz with the same intensity and work ethic that has characterized his life as a player and a coach for more than 30 years in the NBA. The 62-year-old native of McLeansboro, Illinois let?s his coaching achievements speak for themselves, with the ninth-best winning percentage in NBA history (.620 percent), eighth most wins all-time (917-561), two NBA Finals appearances (1997 and 1998) and five Midwest Division titles. He has also guided the club to 16 consecutive winning seasons, made 15 straight trips to the NBA Playoffs (1989-2003) and had ten 50-win seasons. He recorded his 900th career win at Phoenix on February 7, 2004 becoming just the eighth coach in NBA history to record 900 wins and posted his 800th win at the helm of the Jazz vs. Atlanta on January 10, 2004? He coached his 1200th career game with Utah vs. Boston on December 8, 2003 and is the all-time leader in consecutive games coached with one franchise (1,263). After leading the Jazz to a 53-29 mark in 2000-2001, he became just the third coach in league history to win at least 50 games in ten seasons (Pat Riley with 16 and Phil Jackson with 11). <font color="Blue">Kieth Mcleod</font>- 7.1 PPG 1.90 RPG 4.7 APG <font color="Blue">Raja Bell</font>- 11.5 PPG 3.3 RPG 1.5 APG <font color="Blue">Matt Harpring</font>- 13.4 PPG 5.7 RPG 1.9 APG <font color="Blue">Carlos Boozer</font>- 20.1 PPG 9.7 RPG 3.0 APG <font color="Blue">Curtis Borchardt</font>- 2.0 PPG 2.7 RPG .6 APG I do not know if AK will be back this game, but if he is back for it it will be one of our tougher games we have had lately. If not it should be a lot easier so it all depends on that he holds the Jazz's hopes this season. I think that this team has a couple under rated players like Harpring and a couple others on the benhc, but there starting lineup outside of the power forward and small forward lot is relativly weak so I think that they will need to step it up to win this game. * Well the only thing I can say is for them to hope AK is back he is there leader, and what holds there teams defense, offense, and playoffs hopes hin place without him they can not even put up much of a contest against the weaker teams in the league. I think that this game is up for grabs depending on if he plays or not. Key Players Projected stats Eddy Curry: 20 points, 8 rebounds, 2 assists Carlos Boozer: 18 points, 12 rebounds, 4 assists Like I said I can not really make a accurate prejection on this game until I know if AK is playing, but as it stands I think the Bulls will take this game by eight points final score of 98-90 and we will see a big game from a couple Bulls off the bench, and will have six guys in double figure scoring.</font></div>
Can the Bulls win? Although Utah is without their best player, Matt Harpring, Carlos Arroyo and Carlos Boozer can all put up big numbers. The Bulls better hope that Kirilenko doesn't recover in time and that the aformentioned trio don't have big nights. Then they'll have a win for sure. Jazz by 3.
If Kirilenko recovers by the game: Jazz by 13 If not, Bulls by 7. Curry's been playing great, Utah doesn't really have a great defensive frontline (with Kirilenko out). Boozer's average, and Borchardt's alright but he isn't strong enough to guard Eddy well. Look for a great game from EC.
I agree with ObieCent. Kirilenko is a major factor that the Jazz need if they're going to win. So if AK-47 is there: Jazz by 9 If not: Bulls by 2
AK47 wont be playing, he didn't even travel with Utah to this game. The Jazz have lost 7 straight, but as long as Jerry Sloan is coaching, they wont give up. This game should be won or lost in the frontcourt. Boozer is great in the low post, but his defense is just simply bad. The Bulls should look to go one on one with him on offense. Mehmet Okur will be a factor off the Jazz bench, he's a Center with 3 point range and can really punish teams if left alone. Utah can pick up fouls quickly, and often let games get out of reach by letting their opponent shoot lots of FT's. Carlos Arroyo and Gordan Giricek are trying to regain their starting spot and get out of the doghouse for Utah, so they should have an impressive game. Jazz by 5.
Well Bulls one and continue to improve to a very impressive season in Bulls standards that is since Jordan left. Curry was spectacular today twenty-one points on 8-14 shooting and also shot 5-5 from the free throw line, but his constant down side showed up again his lack of rebounding ability only five rebounds from your starting center who is 6'11" going up against a less than average center that is sad five rebounds wow. Deng exploded tonight 22 points lead the Bulls in scoring on 8-15 shooting any time you can get twenty points from two different players you know that your team is doing something right he also finished the game with seven rebounds he is the best over all player on this team imo. Gordon gives you scoring, but not much else, Curry also scoring, Chandler gives you rebounding, Hinrich assists, and some points, but Deng can give you assists, rebounds, and points. Nice win by the Bulls 11-18 now this season for the Bulls the Bulls are looking to me like they are going to eb the second team in two years to make the playoffs after starting out 0-9. Even if they dont I can not wait until next year if they keep everyone.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">If not, Bulls by 7.</div> Damn, off by one. Oh well Great game by Deng and Curry. It's been so long I hardly remember what it's like playing some consistant basketball. Geez. We can make a playoff push with the way we're playing. Good thing those 2 stepped up and made up for Gordon. He played alright, but his shooting was a bit off (4/13). Anyways, it may have not been pretty, but I'll take it.
