24 hours after losing to the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Toronto Raptors (5-6) will do battle at home against the struggling Chicago Bulls (2-8). The Raptors beat the Bulls earlier this season in a blow out 101-71. Carlos Delfino led the Raptors with 16 points and 7 rebounds. Andres Nocioni led the Bulls with 20 points and 5 rebounds.
The Raptors ran into a red hot Lebron James who is playing the best basketball in his young career. James recorded his third triple-double (37-12-12) of the season on Saturday. A jumper with 16.7 seconds left sealed the game for the Cavaliers. Chris Bosh tied a career high with 41 points.
The Bulls are struggling so far this season. They lost Saturday afternoon 85-78 to the New York Knicks, there third in a row. Andres Nocioni was the best Bull on the floor, scoring 23 points and grabbing 9 boards. The Bulls are at the end of their 6 game road trip where they’ve gone 1-4.
Starters:
Jose Calderon/Kirk Hinrich
Anthony Parker/Ben Gordon
Jamario Moon/Luol Deng
Chris Bosh/Andres Nocioni
Andrea Bargnani/Ben Wallace
Key Match-ups:
Forward Chris Bosh is playing dynamite basketball right now. He torched the Cavaliers with a combination of driving to the basket and knocking down jump shots. Bosh was 15-17(88%) from the free throw line and 13-25(52%) from the field. CB4 will be matched up with either Ben Wallace or Tyrus Thomas. If Bosh comes out to play like he has in the last three games then he should enjoy success Sunday afternoon.
Guard Ben Gordon has struggled in his last two games, but is always a threat to score. It will be up to Anthony Parker to limit Gordon’s open shots, especially from beyond the arc.
Predictions:
The Bulls are in complete disarray. They’ve been blown out by 20 three times already this season and shoot an NBA worse 38.6 % from the field. Raptors should hand the Bulls their 9th loss of the season and give the ACC faithful a home court win.
X-men:
Bulls: Andres Nocioni. Nocioni is averaging 17.2 ppg and 6.8 since he was made a starter. He can play either forward position, which creates mismatches on the floor.
Raptors: Jason Kapono. Kapono has seen increased minutes off the bench lately and is knocking down shots, shooting 58.4% from the field in the last five games.
Game Notes:
Raptors head coach Sam Mitchell will have his second chance at tying the franchise record for wins (113) with Hall of Famer Lenny Wilkins; TJ Ford missed his second straight game with the stinger in his arm; Calderon started his second straight game and tied a career high with 13 assists; Injured forward Jorge Garbajosa will see a specialist on Monday for his ailing ankle and leg; Forward Joey Graham was active for the Cleveland game, but didn’t see the floor. Graham has missed the last eleven games; The Raptors are 2-4 so far this season at the ACC.
Bulls forward Luol Deng has missed the last 3 games with lower back pain, but should be in the line up Sunday afternoon; While being blown out by the Raptors on November 10th 101-71, the Bulls fans in the United Centre chanted “Ko-be, Ko-be”.
Technorati Tags: TJ Ford, Jose Calderon, Anthony Parker, Andrea Bargnani, Chris Bosh, Sam Mitchell, Chicago Bulls
November 25th, 2007 at 7:10 pm
Good win for the raptors, they needed to get back to .500 and needed a win at home. i do have a little bit of a problem with todays game. there was a stretch in the 3rd quarter where bosh and calderon were off the floor and dixon was running the point. the raps took terrible shots and the lead was cut down to 3 or 4. if the bulls were a team capable of capitalizing on terrible play (like the Mavs and Cavs) then the raptors would have lost today. it just goes to show you how much the team needs both Ford and Calderon. BC needs to sign Calderon asap, before he wants out. Teams are going to be lining up for this guy and the raps wont be able to hold him. What i liked about the game today is the balanced attack. Moon, Delfino, and Calderon allowed Bosh not to have to score 30+. Moon is also a madman. I dont think he should be on the perimeter late in the game, but man can this guy hussle. he filled the stat sheet today(15 pts, 9 rbnd, 6 blks, and 3 steals)
November 25th, 2007 at 7:36 pm
Correction. I was wrong about Sam Mitchell tying the record for most wins. he went ahead of Wilkins today. Congrats Sam.
November 25th, 2007 at 7:41 pm
Jose Calderon is the man. In the 3 games that he’s started he has 35 assists and only 3 turnovers. that is unnreal!! I dont like Dixon at the point. he’s a college #2 and doesnt handle the ball nearly as well as Ford or Calderon. the team isnt the same with him at point, but Martin isnt bad aslong as he doesnt jack up shots the entire time he’s out there. Moon is a stat sheet filler. he qualifies for rookie of the year voting, just like Garbo did last year.
November 25th, 2007 at 7:59 pm
Moon for Rookie of the year!! It is a possiblity i guess. he will have some competition from Kevin Durant in Seattle(18.5ppg & 4.2rpg)and Al Horford in Atlanta 8.5ppg & 9.8rpg). It is early in the season, but if Moon continues to get playing time and gaining confidence then he could win.
November 26th, 2007 at 8:38 am
id rather have dixon at point than martin. dixon at least is a threat to score, and not just lob up nasty shots. that being said, i dont want either of them at point for any stretch of a game.
November 26th, 2007 at 3:11 pm
moon is so athletic as martin is so pathetic !
November 28th, 2007 at 11:29 am
well said Coach…well said