Game 44: Bulls (28-16) @ Mavericks (30-13)

[Lord Cuban]

@
____28-16 Record (0.636), 4-6 Last 10, W1 Streak______30-13 Record (0.698), 7-3 Last 10, W3 Streak_____
_________________15-6 on road________________________________14-6 at home________________
________________4th in the East_____________________________4th in the West_______________

______________________________________Starting Lineups______________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________
_______________PG: Derrick Rose_______________________________________PG: Rajon Rondo______________
_____________________________________________________________________
_______________SG: Jimmy Butler_______________________________________SG: Monta Ellis________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_______________SF: Tony Snell__________________________________________SF: Chandler Parsons_________
_____________________________________________________________________
_______________PF: Taj Gibson________________________________________PF: Dirk Nowitzki______________
_____________________________________________________________________
_______________C: Pau Gasol___________________________________________C: Tyson Chandler____________

______________________________Mavericks-Bulls Scouting Report:______________________________

Storyline to watch
This marks a return to big-boy basketball. The Mavericks (30-13) got a walkover in Minnesota against the undermanned Wolves. Now they catch a Chicago team that had lost three of four going into Thursday night’s home game against San Antonio. It’ll be interesting to see how much juice the Bulls (27-16) have left.

Matchup to watch
The Bulls have a lock for most-improved player in Jimmy Butler, who is averaging better than 20 points and six rebounds per game. Chandler Parsons is coming off of one of his best shooting games of the season and will get the first chance to try to limit Butler. It should also be interesting to watch Rajon Rondo battle Derrick Rose. Those two had some good tussles when Rondo was with the Celtics.

Scouting the Bulls
They have been without center Joakim Noah, recovering from ankle and hand injuries. … Rose remains one of the most dangerous point guards in the game, when healthy, which he is these days. He averaged 20.5 points and hit 7-of-15 3-pointers in the two games leading up to the Spurs’ meeting Thursday.

Scouting the Mavericks
They beat the Bulls 132-129 in double-overtime in Chicago in early December when Monta Ellis had 38 points, Tyson Chandler had 14 rebounds and Dirk Nowitzki had 10 assists. … They have held all three opponents to 95 points or less during their three-game winning streak (86.3 average). … Rick Carlisle (599-412) will become the 24th coach in NBA history with 600 career wins with a victory.

By Eddie Sefko for Dallas News

[fuller4379]

Looking forward to a great game. We need this one because the west is so crazy competitive. The difference between 2 and 6 is only 1.5 games.

1. Golden State 34-6

2. Memphis 30-12
3. Portland 31-13
4. Dallas 30-13
5. Houston 29-14
5. LA Clippers 29-14

7. San Antonio 27-17
8. Phoenix 26-18
9. Oklahoma 22-20
10. New Orleans 21-21

[HMFFL]

Mavs are a seven point favorite in this one.
Chicago won as an eight point underdog last night against the Spurs.

[NZB2323]

Bulls fan here. I'm watching the game with a Mavs fan tonight. I've always rooted for the Mavs when they're not playing the Bulls ever since you guys beat the Heat in 2011. Should be a good game tonght. I'm glad this game is on national TV because we didn't get to see the overtime thriller earlier in the year.

I'm not sure if Noah or Dunleavy will play tonight. They were both cleared yesterday but neither one played at all.

And yeah, there's some bad blood between Rondo and the Bulls.

[2Mas]

Pumped for this. Damn man, I'm so glad Rondo is back on an important team. I miss ESPN games, the big stage Friday night against contenders.

Pumped for Dallas. Winnable game. Keep moving forward. I'm sure it's gonna be a great atmosphere.

[dirkforpres]

Hopefully the Spurs wore them out last night... D Rose played a great game... Not having Noah would help a bunch, plus Gibson has been playing pretty sorry this season, so Dirk and Tyson should have pretty solid games. At home, rested, healthy, and coming off a big win. Mavs SHOULD win this.

[N8N]

Well we can't seem to beat the Western Conference playoff teams, hope we can at least beat the Eastern ones. Took a double overtime with a monster game from Monta the last time we beat the Bulls.

I am optimistic though. Rondo "should" show up against Rose. Tyson always delivers. Hope Monta and Parsons both have good games. Should be fun.

[Imon]

I'm a bit surprised to see Noah playing.
I don't think the Spurs really worked the Bulls that hard last night considering it was a blowout and seeing how the Mavs are starting a bit sluggish it seems the Bulls are working off some excess energy from last night.

[dirkules_41]

Awful start so far. Let's get some better execution on both ends going.

[dirkules_41]

Can anyone explain our stupid 2-for-1 strategy at the end of quarters to me? We usually trade one good look at the basket for 2 bad ones. I don't quite think that's how a 2-for-1 is meant to work. Lackluster quarter, can only get better.

[MavfanAus]

Monta, please "don't" have it all.

[Captain_Obvious]

Bulls hit everything they throw up

[N8N]

Basically hot shooting by the Bulls but we've been playing decent defense. They're just hitting their perimeter shots.

We're scoring off of their turnovers though. Barea, Parsons and Dirk kept us afloat offensively. Love our transition offense. We just have to keep forcing those turnovers and crash the glass.

[dirkules_41]

We gotta keep attacking the rim like we just did. We settled for way too many jumpshots early in the game - yes Monta and Devin I'm talking to you...

[avon barksdale]

We really played a solid half, if rose is going to be steph curry and the bulls are going to shoot like spurs then we'll lose but great game so far

[N8N]

I'm a bit surprised to see Noah playing.
I don't think the Spurs really worked the Bulls that hard last night considering it was a blowout and seeing how the Mavs are starting a bit sluggish it seems the Bulls are working off some excess energy from last night.

Thought Noah was going to sit it out as well. Bulls are used to playing long minutes anyway so maybe back to back games are not that big of a deal to them.

[avon barksdale]

But man rondo has been playing like s***

[N8N]

We really played a solid half, if rose is going to be steph curry and the bulls are going to shoot like spurs then we'll lose but great game so far

I have to agree. Save those early-in-the-clock jumpshots from Devin and Monta, we played decent.

[Lord Cuban]

Ellis

[N8N]

Kind of hard to get the lead when we get careless for spurts and they're hot downtown.