Bulls/Magic preview
The Magic (23-16, 7-8 home), losers of 5 of their last 6 games, will try to get to the .500 mark at home tonight against CHI (14-21, 7-11 road). The Bulls are coming off a miserable 105-84 loss to ATL on SUN, and are now 5-4 under interim coach Jim Boylan. Luol Deng led CHI with 28 pts.
The probable starting lineup for CHI:
G... Kirk Hinrich (11.3 ppg, 6.1 asts)
G... Chris Duhon (5.4 ppg)
F... Luol Deng (18.3 ppg, 6.9 rebs)
F... Joe Smith (10.3 ppg, 5.3 rebs)
C... Ben Wallace (4.5 ppg, 9.1 rebs)
Top reserves... Ben Gordon (19.1 ppg); Andres Nocioni (14.0 ppg); Tyrus Thomas (5.9 ppg); Aaron Gray (4.7 ppg); Joakim Noah (4.2 ppg)
CHI is averaging 93.9 ppg, while allowing 97.7 ppg; ORL is averaging 103.8 ppg, while allowing 101.1 ppg.
The Magic's lead in the SE is now down to 1 1/2 games over WAS. CHI has beaten the Magic 6 of the last 7 games in ORL, but the Magic are 6 pt favorites tonight (www.pinnaclesports.com).
The probable starting lineup for CHI:
G... Kirk Hinrich (11.3 ppg, 6.1 asts)
G... Chris Duhon (5.4 ppg)
F... Luol Deng (18.3 ppg, 6.9 rebs)
F... Joe Smith (10.3 ppg, 5.3 rebs)
C... Ben Wallace (4.5 ppg, 9.1 rebs)
Top reserves... Ben Gordon (19.1 ppg); Andres Nocioni (14.0 ppg); Tyrus Thomas (5.9 ppg); Aaron Gray (4.7 ppg); Joakim Noah (4.2 ppg)
CHI is averaging 93.9 ppg, while allowing 97.7 ppg; ORL is averaging 103.8 ppg, while allowing 101.1 ppg.
The Magic's lead in the SE is now down to 1 1/2 games over WAS. CHI has beaten the Magic 6 of the last 7 games in ORL, but the Magic are 6 pt favorites tonight (www.pinnaclesports.com).
posted by Mike from Illinois @ 2:54 PM
1 Comments:
At 3:05 PM,
Mike from Illinois said…
Just like the previous game with the Bulls, this game really worries me. The Magic are coming off the 4 game road trip, and do not traditionally do well in their first home game back after a road trip of several games.
Also, CHI is coming off a really poor game against ATL; they will want to bounce back against the Magic. Former FL star Joakim Noah will be available after a two-game suspension for insubordination to an assisant coach. Deng is back after missing several games. Gordon has done really well coming off the bench, with the exception of the ATL game.
Even though CHI has one of the lowest scoring averages in the league, they have done much better offensively under Jim Boylan.
The Magic have gone through their worst 3 game stretch of defense this season on the recently completed road trip. We'll see how much the Magic have been working on improving their defense with their performance tonight.
Bulls will make this a very close game, but I'm hopeful the Magic will do what it takes to get the win, just like they did in CHI 2 weeks ago.
Magic by 1.
Post a Comment
<< Home