By Zac Jackson
FOX Sports Ohio
January 1, 2011
Previewing tonight's Cavaliers-Bulls game...
THE DETAILS: Cavaliers (8-24) at Bulls (21-10), United Center, 7 p.m. ET. Fred McLeod and Austin Carr have the call on Fox Sports Ohio.
THE STARTERS: The Cavaliers won't be at full strength as Anderson Varejao is out with a broken cheekbone suffered Wednesday night in Charlotte. Mo Williams (hip) and Daniel Gibson (thigh) are questionable. Rookie Manny Harris started in place of Williams Wednesday, but Byron Scott isn't likely to name a lineup until gametime. Both Williams and Gibson made the trip but their status isn't yet known.
The Bulls will likely go with Derrick Rose and Keith Bogans at guard, Luol Deng and Carlos Boozer at forward and Kurt Thomas at center. Joakim Noah is out with a hand injury and the Bulls clearly miss him at both ends of the floor, but Boozer is back and has been productive after missing the first month of the season.
THE SCOOP: A new calendar year means a new start for the Cavs, who have lost 15 of 16 and won just once in December. The Bulls aren't the same team without Noah but they've won three straight this week after falling flat late in a Christmas Day loss to the Knicks. Rose is having an MVP type season; any chance the Cavs might have to pull the upset starts with containing him. Obviously having Williams and Gibson healthy and available would help that cause. Williams has posted six straight double-doubles when he's played; Gibson has scored in double figures in 11 of the last 12.
All five Cavs starters were in double figures in the first meeting with the Bulls in early December as the Cavaliers played one of their best games of the season but were beaten by late heroics from Rose. The Bulls are comfortably in first place in the very weak Central Division and are hoping their time without Noah will allow second-year man Taj Gibson to get valuable minutes and experience.
The Cavaliers continue to look for positives. They're committing the fewest turnovers per game in the league and Scott likes the energy his young players have shown in trying to capitalize on the opportunities they've been given. The Cavs just haven't found the right mix and haven't been consistent enough, especially away from home. Winning without Varejao seems close to impossible.
Joey Graham is also out for the Cavaliers, who recalled rookie Samardo Samuels from Erie of the D-League. J.J. Hickson could see his first extended time of the season at center.
THE SERIES: The 88-83 Bulls win on Dec.8 made it three straight regular-season wins for Chicago. The teams play again in three weeks in Chicago then close the season series April 8 in Cleveland.
WHAT'S AHEAD: The Cavaliers have a quick turnaround with Dallas visiting Sunday night. They then host Toronto Wednesday before embarking on a five-game Western road trip.
