<div align="center"><font size=""6""> <font color=""Blue"">Utah Jazz</font> @ <font color=""Red"">Chicago Bulls</font></font> Where:United Center Date: Saturday, Nov. 12, 7:30pm TV: WGN, NBALP <font color="Red">Chicago Bulls</font> <font size=""2""> Lineup: Chris Duhon, Kirk Hinrich, Andres Nocioni, Darius Songaila, Tyson Chandler</font> <font color="Blue">Utah Jazz</font> <font size=""2""> Lineup:Keith McLeod, Gordan Giricek, Andrei Kirilenko, Mehmet Okur, Greg Ostertag </div> </font> <font size=""7""> Match-up Break Down:</font> Point Guards: Keith Mcleod: PPG 8 | APG 3.2 | SPG 0.8 Chris Duhon: PPG 11 | APG 9.3 | SPG 2 Chris Duhon will likely play in tonight?s game, after sitting out the game against the Golden State Warriors due to a knee contusion. Chris Duhon has had a superb season so far for the Bulls in the three contests he has played in he is averaging close to a double double, while at the same time holding his own of the defensive end, by forcing turnovers. The best improvement that Duhon has shown this season is his jump shooting ability. Last year at times he struggled hitting the mid-range shot consistently, but this season it has been a different story thus far. Duhon has also shown some great court vision this season he has improved his assists numbers by over six assists a game. He showed a lot of potential to be an elite setup man last season when he led all rookies in assists, and at least thus far, it seems like he has lived up to expectations. The Jazz will counter Chris with Keith Mcleod a guy who is also an underrated player. Keith has played pretty well for the Jazz this season, though it seems like only a matter of time before the point guard of the future Deron Williams takes over Mcleod is showing he is a solid player. He is also shown some pretty good defensive abilities. Though his numbers due not hint that he is a dominant defender, he has done an admirable job thus far this year. Both players are underrated by everyone who does not follow them closely, but this should be a good match -up between two fundamental point guards. It is hard to give an advantage, Duhon is hurting, but I still have to give him a minor edge. He has a triple double, and is averaging nearly a double double like I stated before. Advantage: Chicago Bulls Shooting Guards: Gordan Giricek: PPG 10.6 | APG 2.2 | 3P% .30 Kirk Hinrich: PPG 17.8 | APG 5.5 | 3P% .545 Kirk Hinrich has been nothing short of brilliant this season. He has scored over 20 points in each of the last two games, and his scoring average would be well into the twenties if you take out the game in which he got injured. Hinrich has been shooting a great three point field goal percentage over 50% from the arc is just a testament to how good his shot is. I expect that number to drop as the season goes on, obviously, but it does not change the fact he has a very good shot from long range. Gordan Giricek has been playing solid basketball for the Jazz this season as well averaging ten points a game. His three point shot is not even in the same area code as Hinrich?s as Gordan is shooting only 30% from the arc. Gordan does have a size advantage over Hinrich that may play into the match-up when he is playing Hinrich on defense I doubt it though due to Hinrich?s versatility. Advantage: Chicago Bulls Small Forwards: Andrei Kirilenko: PPG 14 | RPG 9 | BPG 3.8 Andres Nocioni: PPG 7.3 | RPG 2.5 | APG 0.3 Andri verses Andres is another interesting match-up AK is an all NBA defender who is leading the NBA is blocked shots so far this season. While Andres is a great defender in his own right neither back up from any player they are matched up again, and both have some scoring ability on the offensive end. Everything Andres does AK does better is the theme in this match-up. Not really much that needs to be said in this one. Advantage: Utah Jazz Power Forwards: Mehmet Okur: PPG 19.2 | RPG 8.2 | BPG 0.8 Darius Songaila: PPG 5.8 | RPG 4.3 | BPG 0.5 Mehmet Okur is having a career year for the Utah Jazz so far this season he has had some offensive outbursts, and is rebounding very well for them. With the injury to Boozer Okur?s performance has been a big positive for the Jazz this season as they hope to make a playoff run. Songaila mean while on the Bulls side has also been a welcome addition for the Bulls. His statistics do not impress a lot of people yet anyone who watches knows how big he has been for the Bulls this year. He is a gritty defender, and a guy who can make a long range shot when it is asked of him. There is a lot about this match-up that cannot be told in the numbers. However, Okur has the advantage none the less. Advantage: Utah Jazz Centers: Greg Ostertag : PPG 2.8 | RPG 5.4 | BPG 1.8 Tyson Chandler: PPG 7.3 | RPG 10 | BPG 1 I do not see anyway Tyson could not have the advantage in this match. He had a rough game against the Warriors on the offensive end, but if you exclude that game he is averaging a double double. Mean while, Ostertag is older, and has not averaged any where near the statistics that Chandler has. He is really a default starter right now for the Jazz until Boozer makes his long awaited return to the lineup. No match-up to break down here this should be a dominant night for Chandler. Advantage: Chicago Bulls <font size=""7""> Key Bench Players:</font> Ben Gordon: PPG 15.5 | APG 2.8 | 3P% .429 Luol Deng: PPG 11.8 | RPG 5.8 | APG 1.3 Michael Sweetney: PPG 10.8 | RPG 7.8 | BPG 1 It is a well know fact that the Bulls use their bench more than 90% of the league. So I thought it was only fitting to add a bench break down to my previews as well. Some even say that the bench has even more talent in it then the starters. I wish I could break down all nine bench players, but I will stick to the key ones due to time restraints. Let's start out with the reigning sixth man of the year himself Ben Gordon. Air Gordon has had a great season so far despite losing out on the starting spot during the preseason Gordon has played amazing, and been one of the biggest pieces to the Bulls season so far. Gordon as you see above has average about 16 points per contest this season, which is good enough to place him second on the team in scoring. Gordon has also been shooting well from beyond the arc, similar to running mate Kirk Hinrich. This is surprising though since many suspected they would struggle having less room to shoot with the exodus of Eddy Curry. They have proved everyone wrong though ranking number one and two on the Bulls in scoring this season Another thing Gordon has shown he improved on so far this season is his vision though his statistic does not show it Gordon is doing a much better job at finding open teammates. Now that we got Gordon out of the way. Another big key for us off the bench needs to get some props as well. Luol Deng who has adjusted well to his new role off the bench this season though some feel he should be starting over Andres you have not heard one peep out of Deng?s mouth complaining about his situation. Deng has played well this season so far remove the Golden State game, and he is averaging around 14 points a night. Deng has expanded his game, and has really gained a lot of muscle from his off season work out regimen which has made him an even bigger, and more versatile threat down low. Add that to his length and he has all the weapons to become a prolific scorer in the league in the future. I was surprised by the lack of offense he showed during the game against the Warriors, but I think he will rebound well tonight. Finally we cannot talk about key bench players without mentioning the new big man in the windy city, Michael Sweetney. Sweetney has paid immediate dividends for the Bulls, and really made the lose of Curry a nearly trivial thing. Though we still struggle early in games, because there is no one down low to score points early there is nothing Curry can do about that until Skiles decides to start him. One constant so far this season for the Bulls in terms of down low scoring has been Sweets. Chandler and Songaila have performed admirable, but they take nights off, and some games they play like they are not even in the building whiles the Bulls are trying to setup there offensive scheme. You can never tell when Sweets is about to have one of his offensive outbursts. He is a beast down low despite being under sized. Some have compared him to another former Bull Elton Brand. Though I am not sure how accurate that comparison is one thing that the two do have in common is they are work horses, and do whatever it takes for their teams to win. <font size=""7""> My Game M.V.P Prediction:</font> [IMGL]http://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20051103/capt.ilnh10711030507.bobcats_bulls_ilnh107.jpg[/IMGL] Ok throw me a gone Ben and have a good game. I have only been right once so far this season, about the game most valuable player because of the depth the Bulls have it could be a different guy every night. However, Ben Gordon has been as consistent as anyone for the Bulls this season scoring in double figures every game so far this year. Ben will be matched up against possibly Deron Williams tonight if they happen to be on the floor at the same time. Though Ben is no veteran in the league he can still exploit Williams lack of experience at the NBA level. Gordon has also been getting to the line a lot so far this year, and except for that one free throw he missed against the Nets he has been performing well from the strip. I expect him to attack the basket and get high percentage shots all game. If they leave him open beyond the arc do not think he will not shoot it though. Ben has just been on fire, and I do not see that changing. <font size=""7""> Bulls Keys To Victory:</font> <ul> [*]For the fourth time so far this year I will put this as a key for victory for the Bulls. Get off to a good start though the Bulls have managed to win despite not leading one game at half time this year there comes a certain point where you cannot keep doing that, and winning consistently any longer. Teams will not let up on you if they know you are one of those second half teams, and with the great defenders the Jazz got I do not think the Bulls can come back if they fall behind early. [/list] <ul> [*]Smart fouls this pertains particularly to Tyson Chandler he has a chance to have a great game tonight if he can control himself, and not make stupid fouls like he has been doing he had five fouls against the Warriors, and made a foul that cost us the game against the Nets. Let's see what he does tonight. [/list] <font size=""7""> Prediction: </font> I will say the Bulls win this game tonight. I am sure Scott Skiles will be preaching to them to get off to a good start as many times as he can before the game. Heck I would not be surprised if he called the players and left them a voice message saying to get off to a good start. All kidding aside though i think the Bulls will take it to heart that a good start is needed they are probably as tired as we are of all these close games decided in the last minute. Though it is exciting it is always great to have a blow out win here and there. I got the Bulls winning 98-87.
