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Preview, Bulls @ C's
- Subject: Preview, Bulls @ C's
- From: Steve Huffman <stevhuff@eastky.net>
- Date: Wed, 03 Dec 1997 13:35:36 -0500
Chicago Bulls (9-7) at Boston Celtics (7-9), 7 p.m.
Wednesday, December 3rd
- ---------------------
Boston Celtics on TV
SpChNE W1-14
SpChNe W1-14, Replay on Thursday @ 11:30 A.M.
SpChCHI W1-8,
SpChCHI W1-8, Replay on Thursday @ 2:30 A.M.
Direct TV
PrimeStar
NBA on Satellite TV
- -------------------------------
Chicago at Boston, 7 p.m. - W1-8s, W1-14s
Phoenix at Detroit, 7:30 p.m. - G9-22
Seattle at New Jersey, 7:30 p.m. - W1-18s
Philadelphia at Miami, 7:30 p.m. - F1-24s
LA Lakers at Denver, 8 p.m. - F1-18s, G5-6s (TBS)
Indiana at Minnesota, 8 p.m. - No scheduled television
Toronto at Utah, 9 p.m. - Land lines
Orlando at Vancouver, 10 p.m. - T5-24
Cleveland at Golden State, 10:30 p.m. - W1-4s
Chicago Bulls (9-7) at Boston Celtics (7-9), 7 p.m.
Chicago and Boston meet in a rematch of the season-opener
that saw the Celtics upend the two-time defending champions,
92-85 at the Fleet Center. The Bulls had won 11 straight in
the series.
The Bulls do not appear to be the same team they've been
in the recent past. Scottie Pippen claims he's played his
last game for Chicago, angering both head coach Phil Jackson
and superstar Michael Jordan. The Bulls ended a two-game
slide with an 88-83 win over Washington on Saturday in the
last ever game played at USAir Arena. Chicago is just 3-6
on the road. The Bulls are 6-5 versus Eastern Conference
opponents and are 4-2 against the Atlantic Division.
The Celtics have dropped three straight games, including a
103-97 loss at Cleveland on Saturday. Boston is 5-5 on
its home floor this season and is 6-7 in games against other
Eastern Conference squads. The Celts are 4-3 in meetings
with Central Division opponents.
NBA Preview (Chicago-Boston)
The Chicago Bulls try to avenge a season-opening loss against
the Celtics when they travel to Boston to wrap up a seven-game
road trip.
The Celtics snapped an 11-game losing streak against Chicago
when they came back from a 20-point deficit to pull off a shocking
92-85 victory. It was Boston's first home win over the Bulls since
December 2nd, 1992, snapping an eight-game home losing streak
in the series. The Bulls improved to 3-3 on the road trip when
they helped close US Airways Arena with an 88-83 victory over
the Washington Wizards on Saturday. The win snapped a two-game
skid, but their road record is still a mediocre 3-6.
Miichael Jordan scored 29 points and Dennis Rodman grabbed
17 rebounds against the Wizards. But distributing the ball has
been a consistent problem this season with the absence of Scottie
Pippen. Five different players have led the team in assists in a game
this season, with no Bull handing out more than eight in one contest.
Jordan and Toni Kukoc lead the team with just 3.8 assists per
game, one season after Pippen averaged 5.7 assists.
After winning six of seven, the Celtics have dropped three straight
games, including the last two by a combined 10 points. Their
opponents are averaging 111 points over the last three games.
Despite the team's recent struggles, Antoine Walker, who scored
31 points in the opener, has continued to dominate. He had 24
points and seven rebounds in Saturday's 103-97 loss at Cleveland.
Walker has been the team's top scorer and rebounder in each of
the last five games, averaging 26.4 points and 9.8 boards per game.
Boston's Probable Starters
- -----------------------------------------------------
F Antoine Walker
Celtics leader in scoring with 22.2 ppg. (4th in
NBA) and rebounding with 10.1 rpg. averages.
Celtics leader in scoring with 22.2 ppg. (4th in
NBA) and rebounding with 10.1 rpg. averages.
F Walter McCarty
Averaging 10.8 ppg. and 30 minutes per game.
C Pervis Ellison
Has started at center the last 2 games.
G Ron Mercer
Team's 2nd leading scorer with 14 ppg average.
G Tyus Edney
Has started at point-guard the last 2 games.
Chicago's Probable Starter
- -----------------------------------:
F Dennis Rodman
averaging 4.5 ppg, 12.8 rpg and 32.0 mpg
F Ron Harper
averaging 7.6 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 3.3 apg, 1.38 spg
and 30.4 mpg
C Luc Longley
averaging 11.8 ppg, 6.6 rpg and 30.5 mpg
G Toni Kukoc
averaging 12.9 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 3.8 apg and 29.9mpg
G Michael Jordan
averaging 27.6 ppg, 6.7 rpg, 3.8 apg, 2.06 spg
and 39.4 mpg
INJURY REPORT: Scottie Pippen (left foot surgery- is expected
out until January), Keith Booth (recurrence of lower back strain)
and Steve Kerr (bone bruise left knee) will not play in tonight's game.
CELTICS REPORT
F Antoine Walker has led the team in scoring in
all but two games this season. He scored 24
points in Saturday's 103-97 loss to the
Cleveland Cavaliers. On the downside of
Saturday's performance was that he hit only
9-of-29 shots from the field. ... Boston has lost
three straight after winning six of its last seven
games. ... The Celtics are averaging 96.7 points
a game but are giving up 100 to their foes.
BULLS REPORT
The Bulls avoided losing three straight games
for the first time this season as they won the last
game at the US Airways Arena with an 88-83
victory over the Washington Wizards on
Saturday. ... G Michael Jordan scored 29
points, making 10-of-21 shots from the field
and 8-of-12 attempts from the free-throw line.
"Right now we're vulnerable," said Jordan after
Chicago improved to 3-3 on its seven-fgame
road trip. "We're finding ways to survive and
the guys know we're not going to be around."
The Bulls are just 3-6 away from home on the
season.
*** NBA Matchup - Chicago at Boston ***
Chicago Bulls (9-7) at Boston Celtics (7-9), 7 p.m.
---------------------------------------------------
1997-98 Head-to-head record - Boston 1-0
1996-97 Head-to-head record - Chicago 4-0
1995-96 Head-to-head record - Chicago 3-0
1994-95 Head-to-head record - Chicago 4-0
Overall Head-to-head record - Boston 88-61
Home Record: Chicago 6-1; Boston 5-5
Away Record: Chicago 3-6; Boston 2-4
Record vs. Atlantic Division: Chicago 4-2
Record vs. Central Division: Boston 4-3
Record vs. Eastern Conference: Chicago 6-5; Boston 6-7
1997-98 Meetings
- ---------------
10/31 - Boston, 92-85 (at Bos)
Note - Boston snapped an 11-game series losing streak on 10/31/97.
Chicago last five games
- ------------------
11/21 - W at LA Clippers, 111-102 2ot
11/23 - W at Sacramento, 103-88
11/25 - L at Seattle, 90-91
11/28 - L at Indiana, 83-94
11/29 - W at Washington, 88-83
Boston last five games
- -----------------------
11/21 - W vs. New Jersey, 101-93
11/23 - W vs. Detroit, 90-86
11/26 - L vs. LA Lakers, 103-118
11/28 - L vs. Phoenix, 108-112 ot
11/29 - L at Cleveland, 97-103
AHEAD FOR THE CELTICS
- ----------------------------------------
Friday, December. 5, at Miami, 7:30 P.M., WSBK TV