11-2-05: Charlotte Bobcats @ Chicago Bulls Game Preview

<div align="center"><font size="6">Chicago Bulls Season Opener Special</font>



Date: Wednesday, November 2nd, 7:30 PM
Where: United Center
TV: CSN-Chicago, NBALP

<font color="RED">Chicago Bulls</font>



Lineup: Chris Duhon, Kirk Hinrich, Luol Deng, Michael Sweetney, Tyson Chandler

<font color="Orange">Charlotte Bobcats</font>



Lineup: Raymond Felton, Kareem Rush, Gerald Wallace, Emeka Okafor, Primoz Brezec

* Felton may be replaced by Knight in starting lineup</div>

<font size="6">Match-up Break Down:</font>
Point Guards:

Chris Duhon, will most likely be ready to play after taking a nasty spill in the Bulls last preseason game. He fought hard to get his starting spot all preseason against Ben Gordon, and came out on top. Duhon lead all rookies in assists last season he will be looking to improve on his assists numbers this year. Duhon’s game is do what you can, but do not try to do too much he will be a good player to get the ball where it needs to be do not expect him to take control of the game however.

Duhon will be paired up against a talented duo of Knight and Felton. Felton the former UNC Heel had a busy preseason promising the playoffs, and adjusting to the NBA game. Though he might not start if the Bobcats opt to go with the veteran Knight. Felton, will get his sooner or later. It is hard to tell how well he will play in a real NBA game, but he did score 20 points during the preseason in one contest. So I expect him to take his fair number of shots. Knight is another guy like Duhon who does not turn the ball over much, and gets the ball where it needs to be. After resigning with the team this off season he should play a big role as a mentor, and as a floor leader for this Bobcat franchise.

Advantage: Charlotte Bobcats

Shooting Guards:

Kirk Hinrich will start this season playing shooting guard. A back court of Hinrich and Duhon is very affective in limiting turnovers. Hinrich will likely expand his game on the offensive end as he has done the last two seasons. He had a coming out party in the playoffs averaging over 20 points against the Wizards. With Curry’s exodus Hinrich will have to play well on offense to help fill the scoring void left on the team. He will however, be sure to get his teammates involved as well. Hinrich will be matched up against Kareem Rush who is a talented young shooting guard who like Knight resigned with the franchise this off season. He cans go for 20 on a given night depending if he is on or not, but he is no where near as consistent as Hinrich. Because of that....

Advantage: Chicago Bulls

Small Forward:

Luol Deng was one of the best offensive rookies last season in the NBA he slowed down due to injuries in the second half of last season, but he is back, and better than ever. After growing an inch during the off season, as well as adding several pounds of muscle. Deng is set to have a great sophomore season for the Bulls organization. He, similar to Hinrich, will get more opportunities to take shots due Curry no longer being there. Matched up against Deng is the high flying Gerald Wallace, another one of the Bobcats young talentes Wallace is a good scorer with incredible leaping abilities. After having the best season of his career last year Wallace is poised to have another good year for the Bobcats this year. I do not know if his scoring will go up or down due to the additions of May and Felton however, if he gets the opportunities he will get his points.

Advantage: Chicago Bulls

Power Forward:

The new big man in Chi-town Sweetney has paid immediate dividends for the Chicago Bulls after the trade with New York. An excellent preseason averaging over 15 points a game. He has also over compensated in the rebounding department averaging more rebounds during the preseason than Curry ever thought about averaging during his time in Chicago. However, Curry will be matched up against last seasons rookie of the year Emeka Okafor. The double double wonder had a great rookie season, and won the rookie of the year over former U-Conn teammate/Chicago Bull Ben Gordon. He is a threat to get at least 15 and ten every night. Though I like Sweetney I have to say that in this area...

Advantage: Charlotte Bobcats

Center:

Tyson Chandler’s time is now after resigning with the Bulls for 60 million dollars this off season there is a lot of hype surrounding Chandler. After having a less than sensational preseason averaging six points and six rebounds Chandler will need to step up and be a force for the Bulls to be successful this season. Last year the Bulls offense ran through the center position due to Curry‘s ability to draw double teams. Though I do not expect much of the same from Chandler he along with Songaila, and Allen will have to do there best to hold the center position down on the offensive end.

Chandlers counter part, Primoz Brezec, had a great season last year like many players on the Bobcats roster the best of his career. I expect his numbers to either hold steady for decrease a bit due to the addition of Sean May, however he is still a good NBA center. Chandler’s defensive abilities however will hold him in check.

Advantage: Chicago Bulls

<font size="6">Chicago Bull Keys to Victory:</font>


- Bench production will be key the Bulls have one of the best second units in the NBA. Reigning NBA sixth man of the year Ben Gordon will have to have a big game against the Cats to help them get the win. After struggling with his offensive game all preseason, which cost him the starting job, Gordon is back in the role he feels most comfortable with, and set to make an impact.

- Defensive pressure is the second key the Bulls had one of the best defensive games last season with Chandler, Nocioni, and Hinrich leading the teams dominant defense. Now after adding a former college defensive player of the year in Eddie Basden they will try to make it one of the teams trade marks again this season.

- Start off well, all the games the Bulls lost in the preseason they trailed after the first quarter. A good start will be key for them to be successful this season, and in this game.

- Do not take the Bobcats lightly a lot of teams did last season, and it cost them. The Bobcats are a team with a lot of heart, and they will come out ready to play.
<font size="6">
Prediction:</font>

I believe the Bulls will win this home opener after starting last season 0-9 they know how much they need a good start to this season. Playing in the toughest division in the NBA this season also puts a lot of pressure on them to win the opener. I think they will step up and perform well. Final score 102-91.

 

Awesome preview BKS. You are one of my favorite game analysts here on JustBBall. Excellent job as usual.

As far as the game goes, I am looking forward to seeing Tyson Chandler vs. Emeka Okafor. Emeka is looking to have another successful season while Chandler will be adjusting to a new role, being the main big man for the Bulls. He has always had Curry by his side and it will be interesting to see how he handles being alone in the paint without another star. Felton and Hinrich will be another exciting matchup since these are two young point guards who are looking to lead their teams into success this season and in many seasons to come.

Thankfully I have a preview of NBA League Pass for the first two weeks of the season so I will be able to tune in for this game.

 

Wrong picture on Kirk Hinrich, you put Chris Duhon.

Nice preview. I'm also looking forward to seeing Tyson play. Also hoping that Sweetney does well. And hopefully Ben Gordon shoots well.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting airness23jordan:</div><div class="quote_post">Wrong picture on Kirk Hinrich, you put Chris Duhon.
</div>
Thanks for telling me I was doing the preview off a template from one of my preseason previews. So I forgot to add Chris Duhon?s name in and move Hinrich to shooting guard. Thanks for the feedback guys. Can?t wait for the season to start.

 

Raymond Felton will not start. Brevin Knight will be the starter until Felton proves he can run the team better, or if Knight goes down with an injury. Great preview though, and I think the Bulls will easily win this one by about 7-10 points.

 

I think the Bulls will take this one as well, the matchup I look forward to most is Sweetney and Okafor, but the second matchup that also intrigues me is the Felton and Duhon matchup.

I think the Bulls have a much better team at this point but I do believe Charlotte will put up a good fight.

 

Hey man, glad to see this preview, I must have stopped posting before you started them up. I too think we are going to take this game. Its going to be a close one though. Probably a little too close.

 

This wont be an easy game because although the charlotte bobcats had a bad season last year it wasnt because of lack of effort. They pushed alot of teams to the limit last year and ended up on the wrong end of alot of L's. But the bulls will win this one. 89-97.

GO BULLS!

 

I think the Bulls will win this one. They come in to this year with a lot to prove, as a lot of the so called "experts" have bashed on them all preseason, saying that they aren't going to go much of anywhere this year. I think they'll take that to heart and come out and begin this year on a positive note, and hopefully keep it going all the way to the playoffs.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">[imgl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/chris_duhon.jpg[/imgl]- As of Monday afternoon, Duhon (neck) is listed as probable for the team's regular season opener versus the Charlotte Bobcats on Wednesday, November

- "He looked good [at practice Monday], coach Scott Skiles told the Chicago Tribune. "A little bit rusty, maybe, but he looked good. So I would imagine he will be ready [for Wednesday's season opener]."

- Duhon fell and hit his head on the court before being taken off the Target Center floor on a stretcher during the Bulls’ 100-92 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Tuesday, October 26.

- Duhon was taken to Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis and all tests performed have turned up negative.

- Duhon returned to the Berto Center after further tests on Thursday, October 27, but sat out practice and will likely continue to do so for 3-5 days.</div>
Good to here that Duhon has made a speedy recovery. Hopefully, he won’t be hindered while on the court.

 

Great preview. I think and hope the Bulls will win this one, but I do not see it being that high scoring of a game

 

down by 20 in the 3rd.

what an atrocious display.

 

The Bulls are sleeping out there right now. They got off to a slow start falling behind by double digits in the first quarter, and have yet to make even a run at reclaiming control of this game. Chris Duhon and Tim Thomas are currently the leading scorer for the bulls with six points a piece. Duhon has had the best overall game thus far of any member of the Bulls his stat line read 6 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists. Though his numbers are not superstar like he has done a little bit of everything.

Ben Gordon has five points, and Chandler has five points and four rebounds. The Bulls have complied a total of 14 turnovers thus far as apposed to the Bobcats five turnovers. To get back in the game they will need to limit those turnovers in the second half. I had a feeling they would take the Bobcats lightly and fall behind early now lets see if they can make a comeback. Curry was really the guy that got the offense going early last season, and without him they have no one out there to get the team in a rhythm.

 

I just got back from work in time to see this amazing comeback. I don't know how many points they were done by the most(think 22) but they came all the way back to send it into OT. They had 6 three pointers in the 4th quarter with everyone contributing. It's going to be another cardiac type of year.

 

how the hell did we get this to Overtime?

outscored Charlotte 30 to 9 in the last quarter. Songalia (didnt think Centers/Forward could hit 3s) hits a 3 pointer with 12 seconds to tie it at 98 to send it in to OT.

 

Duhon is two rebounds away from the first triple double this season. He has been beasting people out there. I new the Bulls where going to make a run, but even I thought the game was out of reach.

 

god I hate being in a country with no NBA coverage. Need torrents.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Best Kept Secret:</div><div class="quote_post">Duhon is two rebounds away from the first triple double this season. He has been beasting people out there. I new the Bulls where going to make a run, but even I thought the game was out of reach.</div>

After watching this team last year I don't think any lead is out of reach. They didn't just do it against bad teams either last year.

 

How in the hell was this taken to OT? The Bulls were down 21 at one point, and then Songaila drains a three in the waining seconds to send it to OT? Wow, what a game. Definitely shows the resiliency of the Bulls. Down by a bunch, but didn't give up and just get chipping away, despite sub par performances thus far by Gordon, Chandler, and Hinrich.

 

I really hope Hinrich is alright. Can't afford to lose him.

And though we don't have Curry and need his size the main reason we won a lot of games last year was Ben Gordon and the 3 pointers. Curry didn't supply those 3 pointers and that part of the Bulls game is still intact.