<div align="center"><font size=""6""><font color=""Black"">San Antonio Spurs</font> @ <font color=""Red"">Chicago Bulls</font></font> Where: United Center When: Monday, Nov. 7, 7:30pm TV: TV: NBALP, WCIU <font color="Red">Chicago Bulls</font> <font size=""2""> Lineup: Chris Duhon, Kirk Hinrich, Andres Nocioni, Darius Songaila, Tyson Chandler</font> <font color="Black">San Antonio Spurs</font> <font size=""2""> Lineup: Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili, Bruce Bowen, Tim Duncan, Rasho Nesterovic </font></div> <font size=""7""> Match-up Break Down:</font> Point Guards: In this contest we will see the future of the NBA at the point guard position as two very young, and talented point guards face off against one another. On the Bulls side of the ball we got Chris Duhon who has been having a great season for the Bulls thus far. He is averaging a double double this season with 14.5 points per game and 11 assists. Meanwhile, on the Spurs side we have another young talented point guard who has seen the promise land, and hopes to return once again along side Tim Duncan. He needs no introduction he is Tony Parker though a key part of passed Spurs teams he has expanded his game to a new high this season. He has averaged over 20 points a game, and is running the offense for the Spurs as well as ever. He had a good game against the Spurs overall unfortunately for him no one else on his team did. He turned the ball over four times, but did have 24 points. The Spurs do not make many mistakes on offense, and he is why. Iwhy I expect him to come into this game, and control a mistake free offense as usual. This match-up is really equal Parker has the advantage on the offensive end. At the same time Duhon has had a great season as well. So I will give the advantage to Parker though both are equal on the side of running their teams offense. Tony’s offensive game gives him the advantage in this match-up. Advantage: San Antonio Spurs Shooting Guards: Probably one of the best match-ups we will see in this game. The Olympic hero Manu Ginobili against the Bulls captain who has been excellent this season Kirk Hinrich. Hinrich played amazingly against the Nets even though he was questionable before the game due to a sprained ankle. He did not show any signs of being injured, and I hope he is completely healed, because he will be doing a lot of running around in this match-up as he chases Manu around the court. In these two we have completely different styles Hinrcih is a traditional player always making good decisions, taking quality shots, and getting teammates involved. Then we have Manu who has an unorthodox style of play you never know what he is going to do. The phrase “never meet a shot he did not like” comes to mind when thinking of Manu. He will make people just gape at some of the shots he takes, and makes. His match-up just like the point guard match-up is pretty even. So I will have to go with what they have done so far this season to give an advantage in this match-up. Manu has not really played like Manu up to this point in the season .However, Hinrich has played the best ball of his career so far this season. He is averaging 18 points a game, and evolving as a leader. With those things taken into account... Advantage: Chicago Bulls Small Forward: This match-up does not feature two superstars, or prolific scorers, so a lot of people are overlooking it. However, a true basketball fan knows how big this match-up is these players will probably not guard one another all game, because they are the best defenders on their respective franchises starting lineup. Bowen is a 1st team all NBA defender, and Nocioni when he was signed by the Bulls at the start of last season was deemed on of the toughest players in the NBA, before ever playing one NBA minute. Ask Dwayne Wade Nocioni is a player who can frustrate even the most potent scorers in the NBA. Bowen also has frustrated his share of NBA “superstars” in Ray Allen and Kobe Bryant. Some have called him a dirty player, but anyone who watches sees he is just simply a disruptive defensive force. Though both have a reputation of being good tough defenders. This advantage really comes down to whom is the better of the two at defense, and that is Bowen. Bowen will probably guard Ben Gordon, and Kirk Hinrcih in this game, and could very well shut them down. We will have to see what happens. Advantage: San Antonio Spurs Power Forward: Songaila starts, but Sweetney is the man at this position for the Bulls, Sweetney played inspired basketball against the Nets during Saturdays contest. He fouled out in the middle of the fourth quarter, but did still manage to finish the game with 14 points. Sweetney and Songaila will need all the help they can get in this contest against the three time NBA finals MVP Tim Duncan. Sweetney will not match-up well with Duncan because he is undersized playing against a player with a good mid range jumper, and excellent post skills. There for, I do not think we will see Sweetney guarding Duncan all game. When he is on the floor all I can say is we better hope Chandler is in there as well. Should that take place we could allow Sweetney to guard Rasho with Chandler on Duncan. Though he is still undersized against Rasho, Rasho’s post skills are limited to say the least. It is need less to say who has the advantage in this match-up, but just if your wondering... Advantage: San Antonio Spurs Center: Tyson Chandler will need to be a force on the offensive end in this game. Which is asking a lot from Chandler, and his limited offensive post skills, but if the Spurs put Rasho on him then Chandler will need to show everyone that he can succeed on offense if he does not have a good defender on him in the low post. Another guy who will probably defend Chandler in this game is Mohammed. A guy who was big for the Spurs last season, but played himself first out of the starting lineup in the preseason, and now apparently out of significant playing time as he only played a little over five minutes against the Mavericks during the Spurs last contest. He is still a good player however, and could probably match up well with Chandler when the Spurs are on defense so I would not be surprised to see him in a bigger roll in this game. Still I have to say the advantage here goes to Tyson Chandler. Advantage: Chicago Bulls <font size=""7""> My Game M.V.P Prediction:</font> <font size=""5"">[IMGL]http://www.nba.com/media/bulls/deng_041206.jpg[/IMGL]</font> Deng will be the Bull who matches up the best with the person he will be going against in this contest. So he is my pick to be the game most valuable player from a Bulls perspective. Ben Gordon although brilliant thus far this season will be guarded all game by good defenders either Manu or Bowen, same with Hinrich. Sweetney will have to go up against Tim Duncan so he will have a tough time getting some buckets. Deng however, even if he is guarded by Bowen at times will have the easier time scoring due to his length, and athletic ability. He also has a huge wing span which allows him to get his shots up when he wants to shoot. Luol has had a good season thus far 11 points a game with six rebounds, but not an incredible one like many people expected him to have, partly due to his bench role as opposed to starting role so far this year. I think this will be his break out game though even if the Bulls due not Bull out a win he will play well for them. Although, he does not start Skiles goes to his bench early and often so he will get his. Andres has not been playing incredible well as a starter in these first two games so who knows Skiles might make a lineup change soon. He did last season when he took Ben out, and the team began to roll of several wins in a row. I expect him to do the same thing this season if the Bulls lose a couple games early. <font size=""7""> Bulls Keys To Victory:</font> <ul> [*]Stop Tim Duncan it is easier said then done, but they need to contain him some how this game if they hope to have a chance to win this game. The Spurs offense starts with Duncan, though there are plenty of other good players who can score on the Spurs roster they are not at the same level when Duncan is not dominating inside. [/list] <ul> [*]Transition Defense, the Bulls need to get back on defense after a turnover or missed shot it has killed us all season so far, and it was the main reason we lost against the Nets. We did not defend the fast break, and then we fouled them, and gave them several three point plays in a row. We cannot afford to do that in this game if we hope to have any chance to win. [/list] <ul> [*]Stop committing stupid fouls. Another thing that cost us in the Nets game we allowed them to get 20 free throw attempts in the first half compared to our nine. Then when we fouled them we allowed them to score the bucket as well giving them several three point play opportunities like I alluded to earlier. If you are going to foul a player on the fast break you have to make sure the bucket does not go in . [/list] <font size=""7""> Prediction: </font> This is the first game so far this season in which the Bulls will face a team with depth equal to them, perhaps even better. The defending world champions have so many people who can beat you that it is pick your poison. Though I am a Bulls fan I got to say it is a long shot that we will pull out a win in this game. However there have been plenty of surprises this season so a win is not impossible. Right now if I had to make a prediction though I would say Spurs win 100-92. Bulls make a run at the end, but the Spurs come right back with clutch shots.
I don't forsee this game being as high scoring as you say it will. Both are realtively good defensive teams. I think the Bulls have had some tough luck so far this season. However, like you, I don't know if the Bulls can pull of a victory. I also agree with thinking Deng will be MVP of this game. For whatever reason, Skiles is not starting Deng, even though he did start when he was not injured last year. Andreas Noccioni is best suited coming of the bench. I think Deng is on the verge of becoming a supstar and needs to be out there playing getting his game together. I think Chandler will have a good game. If the Bulls pull this out, it will because the Spurs will have trouble finding people other than Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili scoring. I don't think Tony Parker will continue having the great games he has been having. He's going up some good defensive guards in Duhon and Hinrich and will have trouble once Ben Gordon gets in there. If the Spurs win I think it will be Spurs 85 Bulls 78 If the Bulls win I think it will be Bull 90 Spurs 80
This is going to be a good game. Hopefully Deng does good this game, because I want him to start, because I do think he is a good starter. And hopefully Gordon has another good game. Same with Kirk.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting BBall Guru:</div><div class="quote_post">I don't forsee this game being as high scoring as you say it will. Both are realtively good defensive teams. </div> Well the Bulls have yet to be held under 90 points this season, and the Spurs have scored over 100 points in both their wins so far this season. Though both are good defensive teams they tend to push the ball up and down the court when they can so the game is high scoring.
Chandler 4 - 4 shooting and 9 points with 4 minutes left in the first. About time he had some offense. now he gotta keep it up.
Spurs are pulling away right now they have taken a 12 point lead. Chandler like I-Miss-MJ said has gotten off to a good start on the offensive end, but he is getting no help, and no one is stopping Duncan.
Down by a field goal right now heading into the last two minutes of the game. Another close contest lets hope the Bulls pull this one out.
tony parker cheated!!!!!! a fake timeout wow what a good old trick in the book, why didnt the refs call a technical on him? david stern is too busy makin stupid dress codes but hes not worried about making rules prohibiting fake time outs
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting I-Miss-MJ:</div><div class="quote_post">huh? what happened?</div> Tony Parker was going to call a timeout, but then drove past Chris Duhon instead and scored the basket. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">[IMGL]http://www.nba.com/media/bulls/Hinrich200.jpg[/IMGL]Tony Parker played like a true champion in overtime. Parker scored eight of his 22 points in the extra period to lead the San Antonio Spurs to a 104-95 win over the Chicago Bulls. Tim Duncan collected 24 points and 16 rebounds for his fourth double-double of the season for the Spurs. Parker's biggest play came late in overtime when he acted as if he was going to call a timeout and then drove past Chris Duhon and converted a layup to give the Spurs a 100-95 lead. Manu Ginobili then found Duncan for a jumper with 41.3 seconds left to increase the advantage to 102-95 with 41.3 seconds left. The Bulls managed only four points in overtime. Luol Deng had 19 points and six rebounds and Ben Gordon added 13 points for Chicago. Ginobili had his first double-double of the season with 14 points and 13 boards while reserve Nazr Mohammed added 15 points for San Antonio. The Spurs reserves' were outscored, 45-32, but the win was their fifth straight in Chicago. </div> <div align="center">Recap l Box Score</div>
