Los Angeles Clippers VS Chicago Bulls
Where: United Center in Chicago, IL
When: Saturday, December 18th, 2010 @ 5PM
TV:
Radio: KFWB News Talk 980
PG: #5 - Baron Davis SG: #10 - Eric Gordon
SF: #15 - Ryan Gomes PF: #32 - Blake Griffin
C: #9 - DeAndre Jordan
Key Reserves
Bledsoe - Butler - Aminu - Smith
PG: #1- Derrick Rose SG: #6 - Keith Bogans
SF: #9 - Luol Deng PF: #5 - Carlos Boozer
C: #22 - Taj Gibson
Key Reserves
Watson - Korver - Brewer - Asik
Inactive List:
Los Angeles Clippers - Brian Cook (Ankle) is doubtful.
Chris Kaman (Ankle) are out.
Chicago Bulls- Joakim Noah (Thumb Ligament) is out.
Team Leaders
Eric Gordon - 23.8ppg (9th)
Blake Griffin - 12.3rpg (2nd)
Baron Davis - 5.8apg & 1.3spg
DeAndre Jordan - 1.3 bpg
Derrick Rose - 23.9ppg (8th) & 8.4apg (8th)
Carlos Boozer - 8.4rpg Ronnie Brewer - 1.5spg
Taj Gibson - 1.5bpgThe Bulls come into today's game having won 7 straight, but this game will start an 8-10 week period without Joakim Noah. Last season, they went on a 10-game losing streak while he was out. This year, they have a different cast and a different coach. Rose is playing out of his mind, so while they may have taken a big hit, they're not likely to go stone cold as they did last season. Boozer, Gibson, Asik and Thomas will likely each have their turns filling in for Noah in the middle.
Former AAU teammates, Derrick Rose and Eric Gordon got the opportunity to team up once again earlier this summer in the FIBA World Championship in Turkey. Not only did they come back home with gold medals, they came back with increased skills and a higher intensity that has allowed each to take their game to a higher level. Gordon has posted a top 10 scoring average and is top 3 in drawing fouls. He is also leading the entire league in 2nd half points. Rose's biggest improvement has been in distributing the ball and perimeter shooting. After 2 seasons of shooting below 27%, he is now shooting 41% from beyond the arc.
Lastly, we have the match-up of Blake Griffin and Carlos Boozer. The question is who will outperform who on the offensive end as neither would be considered defensive dynamos. Since making his debut, Boozer has averaged 17.6 points and 8.4 rebounds. Griffin has averaged 20.4 points and 12.3 rebounds for the season.
