BullsEye Blog

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The best thing about the Bulls push to make the play-offs is that they have played their way into the 8th spot, instead of getting where they are because of poor play by the other teams.
The teams chasing the Bulls have a more difficult schedule the rest of the way in terms of who they are playing and their home vs road schedule.

The Bulls still have to go out and win their games, because you never know when a team behind you is going to get hot. There is not much separation between the Bulls and the 2 or 3 teams that are trying to get into the 8th spot.
And who knows, if the Bulls get on a roll and Detroit or Philadelphia slip, they could move up to 7th or 6th.
The Bulls also have to play hard the rest of the way because Charlotte holds the tie-breaker against the Bulls and you don't want to go into the final game of the season needing to win to beat a team out who holds a tie-breaker over you.

Even though the Bulls have a favorable number of home games vs road, the Bulls have to win a couple of these games on the road because they could lose a couple at home and in that case, they will have to make them up on the road.

Posted by WGN Sports at 6:47 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

* The Bulls have won four of the last five games with the Thunder, but Oklahoma City won the first meeting of the season in Chicago. * Chicago has won each of its last seven home games, but has lost seven straight on the road. * Oklahoma City has won six of its last nine games after losing their previous seven games. * Derrick Rose needs just eight assists to pass Reggie Theus (429 in 1978-79) for fourth place on the Bulls’ rookie assist list. * Since Thabo Sefolosha was traded by the Bulls to the Thunder, he has recorded multiple steals in nine of his 11 games. * Kevin Durant has averaged 32.1 points over his last 10 home games, scoring less than 31 points just twice over the stretch.

Copyright 2009 STATS LLC

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The key to beating the Celtics is to push the ball and get out and run. It's been proven by the Atlanta Hawks that if you have some athleticism and are able to get out in transition and not allow them to set up defensively in their halfcourt game, which they are one of the best if not the best in halfcourt defense, they can be beat. The Bulls tonight will have to get out and run and will have to get at least 20 to 25 points on the fastbreak. Chicago must also limit their turnovers, they can not turn the ball over against this team. The Bulls have been blown out when they turn the ball over against the Celtics. That is all set up by Boston's halfcourt defense because they are able to load up and cut down the driving lanes.

Posted by WGN Sports at 6:32 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

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The Celtics got off to one of the best starts in league history this year at 25-2, which included a 19-game winning streak. There was talk that they might eclipse the Bulls' record of 72-10, set in the 4th championship season. To reach that stratosphere, you have to remain injury-free, which the Celtics have not done, with Kevin Garnett out the last 11 games. So now that the record is by the books, Boston can focus on the play-offs and possibly catching Cleveland for the best record in the conference.

This Boston team would like to put themselves into history with some of the great Celtics teams of the past, the Bulls, the Lakers, the Pistons, even the San Antonio Spurs, but to do that they will have to win another title or two. If not, they'll be remembered as a great one-year team but not much beyond that.

Posted by WGN Sports at 5:50 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

* The Celtics have won the last six meetings between the teams, with each of those victories coming by at least 10 points. * Boston has lost three of its last four games and is just 3-4 since the beginning of the month. * Chicago snapped a three-game losing streak with its 97-79 win over New Orleans on Saturday. The Bulls have won six straight home games heading into tonight’s contest. * Paul Pierce has been held under 20 points in each of his last four games, after scoring at least 20 in nine of his previous 10 contests. * Ben Gordon is averaging 25.9 points over his last eight home games, shooting 52.1 percent from the field and 51.6 percent from three in those contests. * Ray Allen has averaged 25.1 points over his last eight road against the Bulls, hitting at least four three-pointers in six of those contests.

Copyright 2009 STATS LLC

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Life on the scorer's table is a big party, hanging out with my partner Neil Funk. I am having the best time since I have been able to do this. He makes it alot of fun, we give each other the business here and there. I think that it adds to the broadcast that the fans know that we have a sense of humor but we are also serious and passionate about the game. I am learning alot. Neil is a seasoned pro. I have learned more from him this year than I had in all of the past. It is like having an old library next to you, like having access to old books from the Revolutionary and Civil wars. It has been blast.

Posted by WGN Sports at 5:18 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

With Luol out another two weeks guys are going to have to step up. John Salmons needs to keep playing well. Kirk Hinrich is banged up a little bit but he is going to have to continue to play, his presence is needed. The Bulls' will need the bench to elevate it's level of play. Brad Miller has played well, but everybody is going to need to contribute. Not just one or two individuals but the entire team. The defense will need to improve. If they do all of the above then the Bulls should make the playoffs.

Posted by WGN Sports at 6:31 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

When you talk about the best players in the NBA, the talk seems to center around LeBron James and Kobe Bryant, but if you ask me, Dwyane Wade should be in that discussion. He is clearly in the same class as the other two.

Wade can score when needed, he's an assist guy, a team defender and he can play in any system - up-tempo or half-court.

He's already won one title...then Miami traded Shaquille O'Neal and is rebuilding the team around Wade. Dwyane was hurt much of last year while the team suffered thru a bad season and never did Wade complain or say he wanted out when things got bad.

Now Miami is on the way up again and you can see they are putting the pieces around him.

Posted by WGN Sports at 6:27 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

* The Bulls defeated New Jersey twice in December, extending their winning streak to three games over the Nets. That’s Chicago’s longest winning streak in the series since a seven-gamer ended in April 1999. * Chicago beat Orlando on Tuesday to improve to 8-4 since January 28. The Bulls are 8-7 when playing on no days rest in 2008-09, already winning more games in such situations than they did all of last season (7-13). * The Nets ended their five-game losing streak when Devin Harris hit his remarkable half-court shot at the buzzer on Monday. New Jersey overcame a 12-point deficit in the victory over Philadelphia. * One game after matching a season low with three points while going 1-for-9 from the field, Derrick Rose hit 11 of 20 shots and led the Bulls with 22 points on Tuesday. * Devin Harris’ three-point heave was the culmination of a 39-point effort on Monday. The Nets are now 9-1 when Harris scores at least 29 points this season, as opposed to 15-26 when he plays and scores 28 or less. * Since joining the Nets in 2004, Vince Carter has averaged 27.7 points in 15 games versus Chicago, his highest rate against any opponent. He’s also averaged 7.1 rebounds per game against the Bulls as a Net, his second-best rate versus any team (7.4 vs. Philadelphia). * The Heat have won each of their last three games against the Bulls, including both meetings between the clubs this season. * The Bulls have been outscored 104.5 to 90.0 during their current four game road losing streak and are 10-23 overall away from home on the season. * Miami has won four of its last five home games, however, three of its four wins in that span have come by six points or less. * Dwyane Wade is averaging 36.4 points and 10.8 assists in his last eight games and has scored at least 24 points in each of his last five meetings with Chicago. Wade is averaging 19.5 points in his career against Chicago which is the lowest scoring average of his career against any opponent. * Derrick Rose ranks second among rookies this season in scoring (16.6 ppg) and first in assists (6.3 apg). Rose is averaging just 8.8 points and shooting 30.8 percent from the field over his last four road games.

Copyright 2009 STATS LLC

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* The Bulls have won five of the last six and nine of the last 11 versus the Bucks overall, and six straight in Chicago. * Milwaukee has lost four of its last five and six of its last eight games. * The Bulls have split their 14 games since February 1, but have won four straight at home. * Since February 4, Joakim Noah has averaged 10.5 rebounds and 1.7 blocks per game. Though just a .634 shooter from the foul line this year, Noah has hit 23 of his last 25 free throws (.920). * Tyrus Thomas has at least one block in 23 straight games, which is the longest streak for any player this season. * Richard Jefferson has scored 20+ points in four straight contests despite shooting just .378 (28/74) from the field and .250 (5/20) from three-point territory. He has, however, hit 32 of 33 free throws over that time (.970).

Copyright 2009 STATS LLC

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