| |
|
Bulls vs. Mavs -- Must-see TV
By Fakhouri Amjid PhilBoxing.com Sun, 22 Apr 2012

CHICAGO -- Every Bulls home game is an event in this city of broad shoulders, a must-see for loyal fans who regularly fill the United Center to capacity
But Saturday night's tip-off isn't just another home game in late April. This one carries serious playoffs consequences for both protagonists and the action will be broadcast by TV giant ESPN.
It's the Chicago Bulls versus the defending NBA champion Dallas Mavericks at the Bulls arena also known as The House Michael Jordan Built.
At stake for the 47-16 Bulls is their standing as the No.1 playoffs seed in the Eastern Conference, a hold that is now being seriously threatened by the surging Miami Heat, who beat the Bulls on Thursday and narrowed the two rivals' gap at 1.5 games.
The Mavericks have already clinched a playoffs berth in the hotly-contested Western Conference, but with a 35-28 won-lost record the world champs are a mere No.6 seed. With a win, however, they kick the doors wide open for the possibility of moving up to a No.5 seed.
Although they lost a chunk of their championship roster to free agency --- Tyson Chandler went to the New York Knicks, JJ Barea is now with the Minnesota Timberwolves and Caron Butler migrated to the Los Angeles Clippers --- the Mavs are still a force to reckon with, a deadly quintet that averages 96.1 points per game this season.
And, yes, Dallas still has one of the deadliest weapons in the NBA --- sweet-shooting Dirk Nowitzki. The 7-foot- German, who was last June's NBA Finals MVP, is norming 21.7 points per game this season.
The Bulls, on the other hand, have Derrick Rose at the helm. Unfortunately, the reigning league MVP has missed 26 games due to a plague of injuries. The 6-foot-3 sparkplug will likely sit out in this clash of NBA titans, no thanks to an ailing right foot.
CJ Watson is expected to start in Rose's stead. And without their superstar, the Bulls will look for offensive firepower from versatile Luol Deng, bruiser Carlos Boozer, 3-point specialist Kyle Korver and the streaky John Lucas III.
The Bulls' highly-regarded Bench Mob and their team's tenacious defense are also vital keys that will help hold off the Mavericks. (Fakhouri Amjid)
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Fakhouri Amjid.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
Hamzah Sheeraz Demolishes Edgar Berlanga in Stunner, Becomes Mandatory Challenger to Canelo Alvarez By Dong Secuya, , Sun, 13 Jul 2025Shakur Stevenson Masterfully Tames William Zepeda to Retain WBC Lightweight Crown By Dong Secuya, , Sun, 13 Jul 2025JV Tuazon, Ador Torres, Lemuel De Barbo, Jomar Fajardo Score KO Wins in Brico Santig's Highland Show in Thailand By Carlos Costa, , Sun, 13 Jul 2025Yanon is PBF flyweight champ By Lito delos Reyes, , Sun, 13 Jul 2025Taylor vs. Serrano Trilogy: Can Amanda Get The Nod? By Chris Carlson, , Sat, 12 Jul 2025BERLANGA-SHEERAZ, STEVENSON-CEPEDA, MORELL-KHATAEV MAKE WEIGHT IN NEW YORK By Dong Secuya, , Sat, 12 Jul 2025Johnny Spell Takes on Chancellor Batttenberg on Saturday, July 19th at the Hollywood Casino at the Meadows in Washington, PA , Sat, 12 Jul 2025JV Tuazon, Ador Torres, Lemuel De Barbo, Jomar Fajardo Make Weight for Brico Santig's Highland Show in Thailand By Carlos Costa, , Fri, 11 Jul 2025Philippine Under-12 Girls Team Shines Bright, Clinches Multiple Medals at 23rd ASEAN+ Age Group Chess Championships in Penang By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 11 Jul 2025Kenneth “Llover Boy” Takes on “El Nica” Concepcion Aug 17 on Gerry Peñalosa’s Show @ the Winford Resort and Casino Manila (Analysis) By Carlos Costa, , Fri, 11 Jul 2025Undefeated junior middleweight prospect Anthony Velazquez won’t be Boxing’s best kept secret in 2026 , Fri, 11 Jul 2025Undefeated Gabriela Tellez Returns July 18 at “Night of Champions” Live on DAZN , Fri, 11 Jul 2025Dushanbe hosts stacked fight card with Bakhodur Usmonov and Christopher Mouafo headlining IBA.Pro 8 , Fri, 11 Jul 2025Shakur vs Zepeda & Morrell vs Khataev Fight Analysis By Ralph Rimpell, , Thu, 10 Jul 2025Peñalosa To Test "Lover Boy" Llover Versus Accomplished Panamanian Veteran Concepcion By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Thu, 10 Jul 2025USA Boxing Youth High Performance Team Begins Brandenburg Cup Prep Camp , Thu, 10 Jul 2025Dream Fight: “Bam” Rodriguez vs “Puma” Martinez on the Horizon By Carlos Costa, , Thu, 10 Jul 2025Perez vs Vivas Headlines All Star Boxing's Prueba de Fuego Card on July 25 , Thu, 10 Jul 2025Christy Martin Promotions & Ringside Ticket Inc. Present ‘Lopez Vs. Vargas’ Welterweight Battle , Thu, 10 Jul 2025Vegas Fight Experience Where Authentic Sparring Meets Cinematic Vegas Energy , Thu, 10 Jul 20254 Division World Champion & Hall of Famer Erik Morales Confirmed for Eighth Annual Box Fan Expo, During Mexican Independence Day Weekend, Saturday September 13, in Las Vegas , Thu, 10 Jul 2025SALITA PROMOTIONS SIGNS FORMER WORLD CHAMPION TONY HARRISON , Thu, 10 Jul 2025FIGHT EMPIRE! TUAZON, ADOR, DE BARBO, JOMAR, AND MORE ARE READY FOR ACTION IN BRICO SANTIG'S EXCITING SHOW JULY 12 IN THAILAND By Carlos Costa, , Wed, 09 Jul 2025Shakur Stevenson and David Morrell Face "Crossroad Fights" This Saturday in Queens By Ralph Rimpell, , Wed, 09 Jul 2025Christy Martin’s “Mayhem in Music City 2” to Feature Undefeated Vic Hernandez Facing Jayvon Garnett for NABA & Jr. NABF Featherweight Championships , Wed, 09 Jul 2025 |

|
|
|
|
|