Game 20 Preview: Houston Rockets at Chicago Bulls
by ak2themax on Dec 4, 2010 9:00 AM CST
in Game Previews
Email
PrintThe Bulls are 9-8 and have lost two in a row. The Rockets are 7-12 and have won two in a row. The Rockets couldn't miss in Memphis, but that's yesterday. Now, they have to play a struggling Chicago team.
The Bulls were bested in Chi-Town by the Orlando Magic a few nights ago and then lost to the Celtics last night. They played with Boston for the first half, but allowed the Celts to pull away in the second half.
The Rockets couldn't hold off the Bulls in their first meeting in Houston. The Rockets had a lead going into the fourth quarter, and then in a surprise move, blew the lead quickly. D-Rose hit several long jump shots and the Rockets lost down the stretch.
Now, it appears the Rockets have temporarily solved their fourth quarter problems, but it's only been two games, so don't get your hopes up.
Onto the matchups...
Matchups:
PG: Kyle Lowry vs. Derrick Rose:
Rose is averaging 26/8/4 this season. He's really worked on his jump shot, as we saw in the first matchup this season. If we can keep him out of the paint and force the other Bulls to beat us, we have a real shot to steal this game.
Lowry had arguably the best game of his career against his former team. 28/12/3 is a great stat line, and I'd like to see more of it before AB comes back. He's making that contract look good.
Advantage: Bulls
SG: Kevin Martin vs. Keith Bogans:
K-Mart got out of his mini-slump against the Grizz. Next up, Chase Budinger.
Keith Bogans just isn't very good. We all know this.
Advantage: Rockets
SF: Shane Battier vs. Luol Deng:
OK, Rudy Gay ate Shane's lunch, but Shane still played well and hit a big three in the fourth quarter. So there.
Deng is shooting 41% from the field, so the Rockets need to let him shoot those long twos like he enjoys partaking in.
Advantage: Even
PF: Luis Scola vs. Carlos Boozer:
Boozer has only played two games since coming back from injury, He's shooting 40% and averaging 9/2. Hopefully he's still a little injured and plays ineffectively against us. Which we all know won't happen. I see him getting 25/10 tonight.
In his last five games, Luis is averaging 14/6 and 61% shooting from the line. What's wrong with him?
Advantage: Even
C: Chuch Hayes vs. Joakim Noah:
I think Brad Miller will get a lot of burn tonight. He should against his former team. We all remember how he killed the Rockets since he knew our offense and defensive schemes.
Noah is a beast. Last time, there was a lot of talk about Noah and whether or not he was an actual good player. He is. Get over it.
Advantage: Bulls
---
Bench:
Bulls: C.J. Watson, Kyle Korver, Ronnie Brewer, Omer Asik, Taj Gibson
Rockets: Ish Smith, Courtney Lee, Chuck Hayes, Jordan Hill, Chase Budinger
Advantage: Rockets
Injuries:
Bulls: None
Rockets: Brooks out, Yao out
Prediction: Bulls
40 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
I don't want to be a Battier hater
But having him over Gay and even with Deng is definitely a stretch. Battier’s a great defender, but both of those guys are capable of carrying their teams through stretches. They’re both tremendous jump shooters and can get their shots at any time. Deng, as well as being a plus offensive player, is also good defender and rebounder. Battier’s value is in hitting threes and playing defense, two important attributes, but he’s not more valuable than either of those guys.
Please
keep doubting Battier, he feeds on it and has been playing better with people riding his ass now that he’s out of his slump. It’s about contributions to their team. In the head to head match up he breaks even with Deng because he’ll make Deng claw and reach for his points.
I'm always right, this isn't conjecture, merely statement of fact.
agreed...I would have Battier over Deng any day. And with Gay's contract, Memphis can keep him
ROCKETS!!!!!!!!!!!!
admittedly
Gay has been playing really well to live up to that contract. Would I pay $14 million/year for a 22/7 guy? No. Scola, for example, averages 2 fewer points and 2 more rebounds for $6 million less. However, Gay is shooting ridiculously well for a wing (49%) and it’s not his fault that the Grizzlies offered him too much money.
How many Biletnikoffs does he have? NOT TWO!
I'd like a player to come out and be like, "Wow, I really didn't deserve that contract"
That’d be awesome
If you're a fan of basketball, watch a movie called Sonicsgate. It's free, just google it.
I agree the contract is ridiculous
But Battier is still the less valuable player. People underrate players with big contracts because they’re overpaid, but don’t see their value, even if it’s less than the contract. Joe Johnson is a great player, and a stellar weapon, but he’s not a $20 million player. Still, he’s a legitimate all-star at times and people don’t give him enough credit now. Gay is the same way. He’s merely an average defender but he can create all kinds of offense. Worth $80 million? No. Better than Battier? Yes, in my humble opinion.
by Patrick Harrel on Dec 4, 2010 2:24 PM CST up reply actions
The problem, aside from the contract
is that Gay really turned it on in terms of his overall effort and his game just in time for a deal.
The knock on Gay has always been – amazing talent, half-assed approach. (Now mind, this is a half-assed pro player, so it’s more effort than most people ever make.)
"Each in turn... volunteered his suggestions, his invaluable suggestions."
Twitter - xiane1
The Dreamshake
If we get a big game out of either Hays or Battier...
We win. We can win without it, but we seem to need a “surprise” out of someone to win, and Hays and Bat have big upsides versus what they normally do. Without a stud, we need an outlier.
If everybody plays average we lose.
by albertchester on Dec 4, 2010 5:24 PM CST up reply actions
As a huge Battier supporter I have to say
He just needs to hit his open shots. He’ll be averaging 12-14 if he would just hit his open shots.
If you're a fan of basketball, watch a movie called Sonicsgate. It's free, just google it.
It's that way with most teams anyway.
"Each in turn... volunteered his suggestions, his invaluable suggestions."
Twitter - xiane1
The Dreamshake
there've been some unrealistic comparisons between Battier and other SFs.
It’s fair to say that Battier has been good, he’s had his moments and lately he’s done great. I’ve already seen a couple clear mismatches between Battier and opposing SFs be mistakenly called a draw or in favor of Shane (Gay & Chandler), which could be a simple case of favoritism or being misinformed. In this case I can see the draw between Deng and Battier , but simply because of the Rose factor, I think everybody on the Bull’s roster is at an advantage.
by Nobody is Better Than Jordan on Dec 4, 2010 6:09 PM CST via mobile up reply actions
something I've noticed
but didn’t put in the preview: our bench is like that of a college bench. Whenever someone scores, almost always the bench is up and supportive. It’s incredible.
If you watch the baseline replay of Lowry saving the ball to Lee for the reverse layup, watch Battier. He does a little spin move high fist pump.
This team is happy right now, and playing like it.
How many Biletnikoffs does he have? NOT TWO!
Miller's first return to Chicago
Notable, I guess.
If you're a fan of basketball, watch a movie called Sonicsgate. It's free, just google it.
Second
He played (well, scoring 21 points) against our last meeting with the Bulls.
by basketball is cool on Dec 4, 2010 11:55 AM CST up reply actions
That was in Houston though
If you're a fan of basketball, watch a movie called Sonicsgate. It's free, just google it.
by .Bonzo on Dec 4, 2010 11:55 AM CST via mobile up reply actions
Ah hah
You are correct.
I’m an old man, I can’t remember things like that, lol.
by basketball is cool on Dec 4, 2010 11:56 AM CST up reply actions
I was thinking
Playing against Chicago, not in Chicago.
by basketball is cool on Dec 4, 2010 11:57 AM CST up reply actions
That was in Houston though
If you're a fan of basketball, watch a movie called Sonicsgate. It's free, just google it.
by .Bonzo on Dec 4, 2010 11:56 AM CST via mobile up reply actions
If we can win this we have Milwaukee, Detroit, Cleveland and Sacremento up next. With Yao and AB coming back, we can definitely make it back to 500
7 game win streak?
Don’t hold your breathe.
by basketball is cool on Dec 4, 2010 11:55 AM CST up reply actions
that's pretty tough for anyone
if the team keeps playing like this, though, and the defense improves, then maybe 9 or 10 games down the line we could be looking at .500.
How many Biletnikoffs does he have? NOT TWO!
I'm worried
that when Brooks comes back, the team will have to get used to him again and suffer for a few games – Yao is probably going to be even harder
That was the issue coming into the season.
How to play Yao, what works best. If Scola hadn’t stepped up early, and Lowry and Battier stepped up recently, I don’t know where we would be.
by basketball is cool on Dec 4, 2010 12:31 PM CST up reply actions
of curse there will be issues
but it’s good that they’ll be solved early. In the short run, Yao and AB coming back may cost the team a couple of losses. But in the long run, it can only make the team better, and it will put us in position to win big important games down the stretch.
How many Biletnikoffs does he have? NOT TWO!
How to play Yao, what works best.
If I were Adelman, my plan would rotate between these 3 steps:
1) Give the ball to Yao as much as possible
2) Just give the ball to Yao now
3) GIVE THE BALL TO YAO DAMNIT
Winners never quit. Quitters never win. But those who never win AND never quit are idiots.
by RocketsAstros on Dec 4, 2010 4:28 PM CST up reply actions
I'm expecting Coach Sleepy to play Lee a lot.
He does a great job defending Rose.
"Hakeem couldn't kick your ass cuz you were too
close kissin his!"- Sir Charles to Kenny Smith.
And he might have to
J.Feigen tweeter that Martin has been fighting the flu virus and it’s doubtful for tonight
by Carlos_HoustonSportsFanatic on Dec 4, 2010 5:41 PM CST via mobile up reply actions
What about trading Yao to the Heat? The Heat have 0 inside presence and could really use him. In return we could get a few 1st rounders some cash and other considerations. I know this seems far fetched but if that could happen do you think that would be in our best long-term interest?
What about building a model airplane
like the glue fairy tells us to do?
1.) You have to be able to absorb the contract under the cap, this is impossible for Miami.
2.) You don’t give away your cash cow.
3.) Selling your star for some cash and a punch in the dick (Miami doesn’t have first rounders for at least three years) is as intelligent as charging lions with a bullhorn.
4.) Your name should have denoted the post. Crazy.
I'm always right, this isn't conjecture, merely statement of fact.
Heat fan alert
If you're a fan of basketball, watch a movie called Sonicsgate. It's free, just google it.
The Rockets will never trade Yao
unless it’s for a top 5 player. Period. He’s worth too much.
How many Biletnikoffs does he have? NOT TWO!
What in God's name does Miami have to trade?
"Each in turn... volunteered his suggestions, his invaluable suggestions."
Twitter - xiane1
The Dreamshake
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
Related FanPosts on The Dream Shake
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Recent FanPosts
In Association With
Ball Don't Lie - NBA - Yahoo! Sport
- The Los Angeles Clippers, and Los Angeles Lakers? Gone till November
- The Jamaican national team reminds me that it has multiple NBA players
- Create-a-Caption: ‘Hey! Hey, I like your name!’
- A closer look at a big night for Brandon Bass, who ate well because Rajon Rondo kept feeding him
- Kevin Garnett takes a little shot at Philadelphia’s ‘fair-weather fans.’ His words, not ours (VIDEO)
