Fri, 12/04 Bulls @ Cavaliers

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Game 17, Road Game 11
Friday, December 4, 2009 – 7:00 PM CT
Quicken Loans Arena
ESPN / WCIU / ESPN 1000 AM


BULLS VS. CAVALIERS ALL-TIME
ALL-TIME ................... Bulls lead 100-77
BULLS CURRENT STREAK ..... 2 Wins
BULLS HOME STREAK .............. 1 Win
BULLS ROAD STREAK ............... 1 Win

BULLS VS. CAVALIERS THIS SEASON
Nov. 05 @ Cleveland – BULLS WON 86-85
Dec. 04 @ Cleveland –
Mar. 19 @ Chicago –
Apr. 08 @ Chicago –



Chicago Bulls (7-9)
Home 5-1
Road 2-7
Div 3-1
EConf 5-4
WConf 2-5

Bulls Averages:
PPG: 91.4 (Opp: 96.8)
RPG: 42.9 (Opp: 43.7)
APG: 19.8 (Opp: 21.4)
SPG: 7.1 (Opp: 7.2)
BPG: 5.7 (Opp: 5.6)
TO: 14.6 (Opp: 14.8)
FG%: .435 (Opp: .453)
FT%: .741 (Opp: .728)
3p%: .311 (Opp: .319)

Probable Bulls starters



Derrick Rose - PG
John Salmons - SG
Luol Deng - SF
Taj Gibson - PF
Joakim Noah - C


Bulls Stats Leaders
Points: Deng 18.1, Rose 15.8
Rebounds: Noah 12.2, Deng 8.5
Assists: Rose 5.3, Hinrich 4.3
Steals: Salmons 1.94, Deng 1.19
Blocks:Thomas 1.75, Noah 1.69

FG%: Noah .522, Gibson .481
FT%: Deng .819, Rose .816
3FG%: Deng .600, Pargo .333

Injury report

Kirk Hinrich (Sprained left thumb) is questionable.
Jerome James (right Achilles) is out.
Tyrus Thomas (broken arm) is out.

For a full report and the latest on Bulls' injuries, check out the AthletiCo Injury Report.



Cleveland Cavaliers (13-5)
Home 7-2
Road 6-3
Div 2-1
EConf 8-5
WConf 5-0

Probable Cavaliers starters
Mo Williams - PG
Anthony Parker - SG
LeBron James - SF
J.J. Hickson - PF
Shaquille O'Neal - C

Injury report
Leon Powe (left knee surgery) – OUT

Bulls Game Notes

SERIES NOTES
Chicago owns a commanding lead in the all-time series, 100-77(.565), including a 60-29 (.674) mark in games played in the Windy City, and 40-48 (.455) in Cleveland … earlier this month, Chicago defeated the Cavs (86-85) in Cleveland for the first time since the 2007-08 season … Derrick Rose posted a double-double with 14 points and 11 assists, while Lebron James scored a game high 25 points for Cleveland … the Cavs won last year’s season series, 3-1, with Chicago’s one victory coming in the final game of the series … Chicago is 11-14 against Cleveland since the team drafted LeBron James No. 1 overall in June of 2003 … last season, (in three games) Luol Deng averaged 20.0 ppg, 7.3 rpg and 2.0 spg against Cleveland, while Lebron James nearly averaged a triple-double with 31.5 ppg, 11.5 apg and 7.0 apg for the Cavs … in their four games last season Cleveland outscored Chicago 105.6 to 96.0.

The win earlier this month was a good surprise. Perhaps the Bulls can make a second big surprise?

This will be a very difficult game for Bulls. Hinrich and Thomas are out. Pargo perhaps can't play, too.
So the Bulls perhaps play the game with only 3 guards. Rose, Salmons and NBA oldest player Hunter.

But Bulls will only have a chance if the whole team is shooting good and plays good defense. If Rose can improve his better play of the last games it wouldn't hurt the team. Rose averaged 19.8 points, 4.8 assists over the last six games while shooting 51.5 percent from the field.

I expect that the Bulls will have a tougher night guarding James, after the good work against James in the last game.

8:59 to go in 2nd quarter

Bulls trailing 30-32

Salmons 9 pts, Gibson 8 pts, Rose 6 pts
James 10 pts, Williams 5 pts, Varejao 5 pts

Nice to see that the Bulls are in the game.

2:57 to go in 2nd quarter

Bulls 40 Cavaliers 45

Cavaliers are shooting 62.5 percent...way to much...Bulls need some better defense

Halftime

Bulls 46 Cavaliers 47

Good first half from the Bulls. Trailing only by one.

Salmons 12 pts
Rose 9 pts, 6 ast
Gibson 10 pts, 5 reb
Noah 5 pts, 5 reb
Deng 4 pts, 3 ast, 2 reb

Johnson already played 7 minutes...also nice to see him playing

3rd quarter just started

Rose make layup for Bulls lead 48-47

Gibson to the line...shooting 2
Misses both


Bulls 48 Cavaliers 49

6:04 left in 3rd quarter

Bulls 54 Cavaliers 59

Go Bulls!

Little run by Cavaliers

Bulls trailing 56-64 with 3:56 remaining in 3rd

Go Bulls!

Bulls 42.1 percent shooting

Cavaliers 58.3 percent shooting, which is way to much for a Bulls win
Cavaliers have a bad FT shooting night 6-16 so far

Go Bulls!