<div align="center"> <font color=""White"">@</font> <font color=""Darkred"">Chicago Bulls (3-5)</font> @ <font color=""Purple"">Los Angeles Lakers (4-5)</font> Time: Sunday, Nov. 20, 8:30pm at Lakers TV: NBATVHighDef, CSN-Chicago <u>Probable Starting Five</u> <font color="DarkRed">Chicago Bulls</font> <font size=""1""><font color=""DarkRed"">PG</font>- Chris Duhon <font color=""DarkRed"">SG</font>- Kirk Hinrich <font color=""DarkRed"">SF</font>-Andres Nocioni <font color=""DarkRed"">PF</font>- Michael Sweetney <font color=""DarkRed"">C</font>- Tyson Chandler</font> <font size=""1"">Coach: Scott Skiles</font> ____________________________ <font color="Purple"> Los Angeles Lakers</font> <font size=""1""><font color=""Purple"">PG</font>- Smush Parker <font color=""Purple"">SG</font>-Kobe Bryant <font color=""Purple"">SF</font>-Lamar Odom <font color=""Purple"">PF</font>- Kwame Brown <font color=""Purple"">C</font>- Chris Mihm</font> <font size=""1"">Coach: Phil Jackson</font> <u>Injury Report</u> <font size=""1""> C. Duhon (Probable) Obtained: Nov 10, 2005 Injury: Right heel contusion K. Hinrich (Probable) Obtained: Nov 2, 2005 Injury: Left game - sprained left ankle </font></div> <u>Game Most Valuable Player</u> [IMGR]http://www.nba.com/media/bulls/hinrich_041202.jpg[/IMGR] Consistent and Hinrich have been synonyms this season. He has taken the role of leader and ran away with it this season. Though he is probably not the most exciting player in the league or any where near the most popular. He is the glue that has held the Bulls together so far this year. As well as the key to getting them back on track. He will have a tough match-up tonight against Smush Parker who has proven to be a good defenders who forces a lot of turnovers. Hinrich however, has done a good job of holding on to the ball this season averaging just a tad over two turnovers a game. That will be one of the main keys for the Bulls to win. Turnovers have been the Bulls “Achilles Heal” this season. When the Bulls have limited their turnovers they have won. <div align="center"><u> Predicted Numbers: 20 points, 3 rebounds, 8 assists</u></div> <u>Keys to the Game</u> <ul><font color="DarkRed">Shoot well</font> the Bulls have been shooting a horrible percentage the last two games. They have not shot over 40% during this losing streak, and they have shot poorly from the line as well only shooting sixty percent they need to improve in both those areas in order to win tonight.[/list] <ul><font color="DarkRed">Shut down Kobe</font> the worse I have seen the Lakers playing this season was in the game against the 76ers. When Kobe Bryant was smothered by the 76ers defense. Although, the Lakers stayed in the game until the end make no mistake about it that was due to 76ers errors, not Laker efficiency. Andres Nocioni, and maybe even Eddie Basden if Skiles chooses to use him tonight will need to play the best defense they have played all season to stop Kobe who is coming off a 40+ point game against the Knicks.[/list] <ul><font color="DarkRed">Get rebounds</font> the Lakers big men have been struggling so far this season Mihm has shown flashes, but seems to disappear depending on what day of the week it is, and Brown has not even shown flashes of life let alone a successful season this year. Tyson can not take either lightly however, and has to take advantage of his match-up by dominating the board, and getting what he can on the offensive end.[/list] <ul><font color="DarkRed">Transition defense</font> the Bulls have struggled all season with their transition defense. Easy buckets and dumb fouls to give other teams three point plays have plagued the Bulls this year. After a turnover the Bulls seem to give up, and think they can get that basket back next time down the court. They can not think that way tonight.[/list] <ul><font color="Purple">Get Lamar Odom involved</font> the Bulls will struggle with the Lamar Odom match-up they really have no one who can guard Odom in their starting lineup. Nocioni would be a option, but they need him to guard Kobe, and Deng the next best option is not starting. So chances are that Odom will have several inches over whoever the Bulls put on him early tonight.[/list] <ul><font color="Purple">Get Kobe going early</font> he has been struggling with his shot these last few games ( if you take out the Knicks game) so it is essential to get him going early. They also need to take advantage of the Bulls inability to get off to good starts. If the Lakers take the lead early with the Bulls confidence the way it is chances are they will win this game.[/list] My Prediction: The Bulls need to stop the bleeding tonight, but the Lakers need some help themselves also one game under .500 you can bet they want this win just as bad. The Bulls finally made a lineup change against the Sonics, and started Sweetney. It managed to allow them to get off to a good start, but they did not hand on to that huge lead they had early. Bulls cannot win if they keep having these lapses during the games. I don’t think it will happen tonight, but lets see what happens. No prediction from me on this one.
Nice preview. Kirk should do good. And BG better have a nice shooting game again. Our defense needs to be better like you said though.
Mike Sweetney has paid immediate dividends for the Bulls since being named the starter in the two games in which he has started he has two double doubles tonight he has 17 points in 17 minutes of action to go along with 10 rebounds. The Bulls are pulling away now early in the third quarter 9:19 left Bulls with a five point lead 57-52 they have scored six unanswered points. We would not be any where close to being ahead right now if not for Sweetney he is the only player in double figures for the Bulls. Kirk Hinrich has seven points and Luol Deng has nine off the bench. We have used Basden sparingly tonight like I expected due to his defensive abilities, but Kobe Bryant is still playing great basketball 29 points right now.
Yeahh, great game for the Bulls. We really needed this. Great games from Duhon and Sweets, and the team as a whole. Hope they can make a streak out of this win.
of course I dont mind being wrong on these. Clutch 3 pointers towards to end. Duhon finished with 21, Deng had 14, Hinrich 16 and Sweetney 20.
This team needs to learn how to win by more than one or two points. These close games are killing me, but nice win none the less. Chris Duhon was a animal tonight 21 points, and hitting clutch shots at the end to seal the game for us. I got a little bit worried when Kobe took that shot at the end, but thankfully he did not make it. Michael Sweetney what can you say 20 points and 12 rebounds pretty much speaks for itself. Tyson Chandler had another Tyson Chandler type game only six points, but 15 rebounds tonight we controlled the boards from beginning to end which was really the deciding factor tonight we won the rebounding battle by ten rebounds. Ben Gordon struggled shooting 30% from the field, and finished with only six points Deng continued to shine off the bench though shooting 50% and scoring 14 points. We need to have one guy on our team who we can give the ball, and say go out there and get us this win. Gordon can be that guy, but he has not shown he can do it on a consistent bases so far this year. Overall nice win hopefully they give a good effort next game, and we can break even.
gordon can be that guy that just go out there help the bulls win, he did that after the all star break last season, this seaon he coudln't do that yet i hope he wont have another game struggling from the field, glad the bulls won, when kobe had 40 somthing at the end of the 3rd i was like man the bulls lost but glad they came back!!
yeah tell me about it, I cant stand these close games and I cant even watch the games i am looking at game center. I am really happy with Sweetney, but it seemed like he missed a lot of shots after he got to 19 points (give or take) hey, we double our record for wins on the annual road trip, from 1 to 2. lol.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">[imgr]http://www.nba.com/media/bulls/k-Hinrich200.jpg[/imgr]Kobe Bryant was at times unstoppable but rarely was unselfish. Bryant scored a league season-high 43 points but took seemingly every shot for the Los Angeles Lakers, missing his final four attempts in a 96-93 loss to the Chicago Bulls, who posted their first road win of the season. A seven-time All-Star, Bryant made 17-of-34 shots as he hoisted at least 25 for the ninth time in 10 games this season and at least 30 for the fourth time. Bryant poured in 37 points through the first three quarters but failed to take over down the stretch. With about eight minutes remaining, Bryant emerged in transition and split two defenders with a beautiful wraparound move, making a layup for a three-point play. He added a 20-foot jumper on the next possession for an 84-77 lead with 7:20 left but did not score again. The Bulls, who came in with a three-game losing streak, ended the contest on an 11-1 run while showing that two scoring options are better than one. Chris Duhon and Kirk Hinrich combined for 19 of Chicago's 22 fourth-quarter points, with each drilling huge 3-pointers down the stretch. Lakers guard Smush Parker sank a shot from the arc for a 92-85 lead with 4:03 left, but Hinrich and Duhon answered with consecutive 3-pointers to bring Chicago within a point. Andres Nocioni completed the comeback with a driving layup to give the Bulls a 93-92 lead with 1:59 remaining, but Lamar Odom answered with a free throw to tie it with 1:25 to go. After the teams exchanged empty possessions, Chicago's Mike Sweetney drove to the rim and was clobbered by Lakers rookie center Andrew Bynum. Sweetney, who finished with 20 points and 12 rebounds, made 1-of-2 from the line to give the Bulls a 94-93 lead. The Lakers opted not to take a timeout, instead pushing the ball upcourt. Bryant forced a shot, attempting an off-balance jumper over three defenders that failed to hit the rim. Duhon sank a pair of free throws to push the lead to three points. On the Lakers' final possession, Bryant's 3-pointer clanged off the front rim and Odom's game-tying attempt at the buzzer rimmed off. A 2004 second-round pick, Duhon continued to prove himself to be an overachiever, pouring in 11 of his 21 points in the fourth quarter. The former Duke star made 5-of-7 shots from the arc, adding eight assists and five rebounds. Other than Bryant, Chris Mihm was the only Laker in double figures, scoring 13 quiet points. Parker was the only other Laker to take more than seven shots, making 3-of-12 for eight points. </div> <div align="center">Box Score l Recap</div> <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">I am really happy with Sweetney, but it seemed like he missed a lot of shots after he got to 19 points (give or take)</div> Well he finished shooting 50% from the field so at least he had a good shooting night overall. He was trying to force it a bit at the end trying to make something out of nothing, but I would not hold that against him. We out scored the Lakers 11-1 down the stretch of the fourth quarter.
Duhon keeps impressing me. As much as i would like Hinrich to play (and defend) the PG position for the majority of his minutes, we just need Duhon in the game right now, he's one of our best players. Good job chris !
