76ers @ Bulls 3/14/08

[The Guilty Party]

@


Game Time: 8:30PM EST
TV: CSN, NBALP
Radio: WIP 610
Games Remaining: 17 (Home: 9; Away: 8

Records
76ers: 31-34 (Won 1 Straight)
Bulls: 26-38 (Won 1 Straight)

Previous Meetings
Nov. 2nd @ CHI: 76ers 96, Bulls 85
Jan. 11th @ PHI: Bulls 100, 76ers 97

Probable Starters



Despite all of the problems that the Bulls have going on internally, they have been playing decent ball lately so it wouldn't shock me if they won the game. That said, the Sixers have been playing better than solid ball and have beaten their last 4 opponents who have a winning percentage below .500 by a 25+ point average. I don't think the margin will be that big but I do think the Sixers win this hence...

My Prediction: 76ers by 10+



6. 31-32
7. 31-34
8. -4.0
9. -4.5
10. -4.5

[Sixerscan]

Out of the 3 teams below us the Bulls have the best chance to get hot and pass us. So it is important that we crush their souls tomorrow so this does not happen.

[tk76]

For all that the Bulls were supposed to be so young and talented heading into this year- I think the Sixers actually now have the edge.

This win would go a long way to locking up a playoff spot- but I expect an intense game. This is a playoff game for both teams.

Things I hope to see:

-Thad continue to be more agressive on offense. More drive and spin.

-Smith building on the last few good shooting games, and showing a bit more strength on the boards.

-Lou hopefully having a ounce back game, either driving more or hitting his shots. Overall I don't expect his jumper to truly retrun until he gets to work again with Mark price in the offseason.

-Dala continue his recent willingness to really attack defenders off the dribble and go up strong for dunks. getting to the line 10X is more important than how many jumpers he hits

-Carney being anywhere close to where he was last night. Also, shoot less, drive more. he hit his jumpers last niight, but he isn't even worthy yet of being called a streak shooter.

-Evans being Evans (without the dribbling.)

[The Guilty Party]

This win would go a long way to locking up a playoff spot- but I expect an intense game. This is a playoff game for both teams.

I appreciate that this will be an intense game or at least it should be but as I've said in a lot of other game threads recently (I'm starting to feel like a broken record) this one game isn't going to make or break the Sixers or the Bulls. If the Sixers win, it helps them keep pace with the Wizards and puts a little more seperation between them and the Bulls but not necessariy the Nets or the Hawks.

If the Bulls win, it helps them get closer to the 8th seed but it doesn't mean all that much since they are more than capable of losing a bunch of games after that.

[tk76]

Sorry, but I'm fired up!

Its a great change from watching the team tread water the previous 4 seasons.

[The Guilty Party]

Hey man... I'm all fired up as well. There's a difference about being excited/fired up/drunk on the kool-aid for your team than saying that this is a playoff game of sorts.

Playoff intensity? Hopefully. But this isn't a make or break game especially since we went into Detroit last night and Pissed-On their basketball squad.

[tk76]

I guess I mean that it is more important to win this game than our win over the Pistons, since we are competing in the standing with them.

[PrimeTime21]

Hopefully Lebron and the Cavs will make up for the loss last night to NJ and beat the Wiz tonight, if that happens, and Philly beats the Bulls tomorrow they will be tied for 6th spot.

Catching Toronto isn't out of the question either because they are out west and without Bosh.

[Sixerscan]

Butler is playing for the zards

[The Guilty Party]

Cleveland seems to be doing their part thus far since they are up 54-46 at the half.

[The Guilty Party]

By the way, I LOVE that I'm back to scoreboard watching for all of the right reasons. Man, it feels good to be a fan again.

[Sandalf42]

I like the Sixers not in a blowout, but in a comfortable win.

Sixers by 7

TGP, what happened to the Kool Aid man?

[tk76]

TGP, what happened to the Kool Aid man?

I know who I'll be blaming if our fortunes take a turn for the worse.

[The Guilty Party]

Hey man... our winning ways were going before the Kool-Aid man was my avatar. Then again... I had been using this avatar for the previous two years and they were miserable. How cool would it be if my avatar is what controlled our winning ways? I'd glady trade my team's success to prove in my power.

[eyeatoma]

^^Dude, you've become a slave of the board...I think the kool-aid man is necessary, at least until this run ends...This is the exact time when people start getting all nervous about jinxes and stuff. Just like you're the only one who can make the thread, you're now pretty much our mascot. You've created a monster...

[The Guilty Party]

Seriously man... this is out of control but who am I to put the jinx on us? I mean, I change the avatar and suddenly Caron Butler is back and the Wizards beat the Cavs. That's it man.... we're riding the Kool-Aid Man out for the rest of this season!!

[eyeatoma]

Seriously man... this is out of control but who am I to put the jinx on us? I mean, I change the avatar and suddenly Caron Butler is back and the Wizards beat the Cavs. That's it man.... we're riding the Kool-Aid Man out for the rest of this season!!

[THFM]

sixers by 10

[The Guilty Party]

As a random around the league question... I was looking at the Warriors payroll today and if/when they do re-sign Ellis and Biedrins, it looks like they will be right up against the tax with only 8 guys signed to a contract. Seeing as their owner obviously doesn't want to pay the tax, I would probably use our space by taking on some salary as long as the incentive for the Sixers was Brandan Wright.

Of course, this is assuming that Ellis gets around $11MIL per and Biedrins get about $9MIL per. Do you think Biedrins will get less than this??

[ITK9]

^ no way.biendris should normaly get at least as much as Sammy.