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I really want to see a game at...
The Great Playoff Race
Danny Granger + Reggie Miller: I saw this on 24, and was like
Starting Lineups
Point Guard
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Since his insertion into the starting point guard spot, Jarrett Jack has responded with good all-around numbers, and has been careful with the ball as well, keeping his turnovers down. Derrick Rose is in the starting lineup again and last time he faced the Pacers, he almost got a triple-double, validating his Rookie of the Year candidacy. Jarrett Jack has had a tough time defending 2-guards, so guarding the closer-sized Derrick Rose should be a matchup he can handle. Stopping Rose will stifle the potent offense of the Bulls, but it's a two-part strategy.
Shooting Guard
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Ben Gordon torched the Pacers when he was launching jumpers over Jarrett Jack. Now that Brandon Rush will be assigned to lock him down, the offensive capabilities of the Bulls will be greatly lessened. The Bulls offense centers around the guards. Brandon Rush has really come alive and has been shooting the lights out of the Bulls and Wizards. He will need to be on again against a familiar opponent in order to prove that he is more than just a flash in the pan and that he can be a long-term wing player for the Pacers.
Small Forward
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Danny Granger has been a beneficiary of Rush's success. Both of the on the floor at the same time forces the Bulls to focus on 4 three-point shooters, 1 wily post player, and 3.5 slashers (Troy's little pump-drive thing kinda counts). John Salmons is a little injured, and its very likely that the athletic Tyrus Thomas will match up against Granger. Granger will need to get to the line and saddle the Bulls depleted frontcourt rotation with fouls. John Salmons is an offensive threat, able to shoot threes and go for bunches of points, injured or not.
Power Forward
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Coming off of a 3-game absence, Troy Murphy must contest well against Tyrus Thomas for rebounds. The more athletic Thomas has the ability to get around box-outs and on the other end, posterize his defenders. Tyrus Thomas is also an intense shot-blocker, swatting 7 Pacer attempts during the last meeting. His interior tendency, however, will open up chances for Troy to disrupt the Bulls with his three-point shots. Both power forwards are very different players, so the Pacers should exploit the matchup as best they can.
Center
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Two rookie centers of different styles can either mean easy pickings inside, or several quick fouls and another early finish for the foul-plagued Roy Hibbert. Joakim Noah is an energy player, drawing charges and fighting for boards, while Hibbert is an offensive post player. Should Hibbert be knocked out early, the Pacers will have to dig deep to find help off the bench. The team plus-minus leader, Jeff Foster, is doubtful for today's game with a foot problem.
The Key Reserves
The Bench
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Coming off the bench, T.J. Ford has done well, and his assist averages have gone up probably due to the fact that he feels less responsibility to be "the man" on offense. O'Brien should carefully monitor the matchups. because if Rose is matched up against Ford, he will take advantage of the size difference and post up. Former Pacer Brad Miller bolsters a Bulls bench full of bluster
. His passing from the post ensures that the Bulls will get good looks.The Coaches
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Vinny Del Negro, first year coach, has taken a semi-young Bulls team and charged them into the playoffs. Both coaches will be dealing with injuries to their energy big men, and valuable swingmen. The frontcourt rotations and rebounding can very much decide the game. The Pacers are looking at a slim chance at making the playoffs, but it has been done before, and winning this game would place them 3.5 games outside of the playoffs, with only two away games (OKC and ATL) and four difficult opponents (San Antonio, Atlanta, Cleveland, and Detroit).
Injury Report
Pacers
Mike Dunleavy-Out(Knee)
Marquis Daniels-Doubtful(Wrist)
Jeff Foster-Doubtful(Foot)
Bulls
Luol Deng-Out(Shin)
Jerome James-Out(Achilles)
John Salmons-Probable(Groin)
Final Points
-Contain Gordon and Rose
-Do not lose the battle for rebounds
-If we score more than the Bulls, chances are we will win (John Madden logic)
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Tradition
Cone Bone
I don't care, she's beautiful to me...
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"Sometimes you just have to win it, even if you're not sure what you're fighting for"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RSwOTrdu06Q
