Who ya got? To keep this game as close as the other two contests the Bulls have to keep Rondo contained. They need Rose to attack him right from the start and get him in foul trouble early. With Ben perhaps hurt we may see a little more of Kirk, which is fine because he can actually guard him on the defensive end. Salmons also need to step up tonight and be strong guarding Pierce. I have been really disappointed so far in his play in the series. I think the main key to tonight's game is the Bulls big men. Thomas, Noah, and Miller need to come through rebounding the basketball and play strong on the offensive end. Unless all of these things happen, I think the Celtics will take this one by 13.

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Ben Gordon didn't participate in the morning shootaround at the TD BankNorth Garden, and is a gametime decision with the injured left hamstring strain. Even if he plays, I think reality slaps the Bulls back down to Earth and the Celtics take command of this series with a 20 point Game 5 beatdown on the famed parquet floor. I hope I'm wrong, but this is another statement game in my opinion, and we all saw what Paul Pierce and the Champs did to the Bulls in Game 3. No contest.

What is a statement game? If tonight is "another" statement game, which among games 1-4 were statement games. What makes a statement game? What disqualifies one from being so?

Because the Celtics lay the smacketh down in Game 3, and made a big time statement with their blowout win at United Center...I think the Celts make another big statement in Game 5 and blow the Bulls out, just like they did in the regular season.

Should I infer that only if you blow out your opponent it's a statement game?

Bulls by 15! No Gordon to play no defense, No Gordon to dribble of his foot, No BG not to pass to a wide open Noah, no Gordon not to get a rebound, no Gordon so the offense can flow the Rose!!!! Shit what am I thinking Bulls by 20!!!!

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I'm going to bounce from the spot for awhile but I will be back at some point to argue with you about this hoops stuff again. Playoffs have been great this season. See ya up the road.

I'm out.

EMG, that's just SHARK repeating what sportswriters and TV guys say.

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Kid Cairo's Boers & Bernstein YouTube Channel

Kid Cairo: 2013 March Madness Tournament Winner!

"Cowabunga? Cowa fucking piece of dog shit! This game is diarrhea coming out of my dick!"

OKC, that's my own opinion...I don't like the Bulls' chances this eve, even if Ben Gordon tries to play. It's asking a bit much to win Game 5 in a place that hasn't been that kind to the Bulls lately. I call it as I see it...

Damn, SHARK has been real SHARKY lately....I wouldn't take it OKC...

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If Gordon is out, it's going to be a 6 man rotation (Tyrus Thomas, Noah, Miller, Hinrich, Salmons and Rose) playing on short rest, on the road, against a playoff tested team (albeit, one that is not nearly as dangerous with Kevin Garnett).

Even if the Bulls were to get off to a fast start tonight, Del Negro, in my opinion, needs to give these 6 guys a breather meaning you have to see short stints for Gray, and Hunter. Tim Thomas should be in this rotation as well, but how effective he'd be is probably a question, and will the Bulls be able to run if they have to play a bit bigger without Gordon?

With this shorter rotation, they need basically all 6 guys to score in double figures, and at least 2 of them to blow up, putting up 25+.

Celtics will probably have some tired legs as well so I wouldn't be surprised to see some bad defense on both sides.

With the exception of Lindsey Hunter playing all of 15 seconds in Game 4, the Bulls have been playing a 7 man rotation for the last few weeks, even before this first round playoff series vs. the Celtics. What I'll be most interested in tonight are the minutes these guys will log in Game 5, and I'll be interested to see which team is more tired after a double-overtime thriller like Sunday...

Lindsey Hunter?

I think the only way he'll get more than a handful of minutes is if Rondo suddenly goes quiet when he's out there.

Hunter is definitely a smarter defender, how, at his age, I don't really see him having the athleticism to stay with him either.

Barring foul trouble, I would guess that Rose, Salmons and Hinrich all play at least 40 minutes, probably into the low 40's.

Hunter would probably get about 5-10 minutes.

If you see Lindsey and/or Linton Johnson tonight, you know the Bulls are in trouble...

What about Anthony Roberson? The guy was lights out in the game 3 blowout loss in garbage time. He seems like a BG lite version. Why does Lindsey get minutes over him? Id also be willing to bet he can defend better than Hunter or an injured Gordon. He really seems to be in Vinny's doghouse for some reason. It's pretty sad that the Celtics can give Scalabrine meaningful minutes when he is the last guy off their bench, while the Bulls are running a 6-7 man rotation.

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My daughter and I just played the Bulls and Celtics on the Wii and the Bulls won by 6. That should be about right for tonight too!

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"He is a loathsome, offensive brute
--yet I can't look away."

Ben Gordon will be in the starting lineup for the Bulls tonight

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www.mmagroundnpound.com

Yeah, just saw that a bit ago - It's one helluva catch 22, because it would be extremely tough to get to game 6 completely without BG, but you also want to try and keep him as healthy as possible in the event that the Bulls get it done in this series. I just hope that having 2 hobbled guys in this lineup doesn't kill us as far as defense and trying to control the tempo of the game...

Vinny D looks like Napoleon Dynamite an Luke Perry's love child...for real check it out for yourself.

The Celtics have the noisiest, rattly rims. Sounds like 80-year-old rims they salvaged from the old Garden, or something.

KG has to be just beside himself...

Well, so far so good for the Bulls - I'm so pissed I have to work tonight and I probably won't see any of the game, but at least I get to listen on the radio. On the broadcast they're saying Gordon's lookin' pretty strong, so I hope he hangs in there

Noah is playing really well under the boards tonight, especially on the offensive end. However, the bench is who should be praised for this game in the event of a win.

Noah and Hinrich are carrying the load no doubt. Great game so far.

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"He is a loathsome, offensive brute
--yet I can't look away."

Allen fouling out is HUGE

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As long as they don't let Marbury look like his former self.

Indeed. Good no-timeout by Vinny prior to that possession.

Wow. The refs are really swallowing that whistle. Salmons was killed.

Gonna turn into a bloodbath now. Will be interesting to see what the ref's continue to let slide.

WTF is Derrick Rose doing?

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