Written by Dave Pustilnik | 22 January 2010

Tonight the Bulls face the Phoenix Suns.  When I look at the Bulls seven game road trip, the only other winnable game that sticks out to me is this one.  In fact, this is a game where the Bulls match up MUUUCH better than they do against the Clippers.  There was an article published on espn.com earlier today written by ESPN's stat-geek John Hollinger, where he describes the Bulls and Suns essentially as polar opposites heading in different directions.  The Suns started the season hot and have since cooled, and the Bulls started the season as a disaster and have since come on much stronger.  He also adds that the Suns are ranked 1st in offensive efficiency while the Bulls are ranked 27th.  Yikes.  On the other hand, the Suns are ranked 27th in defensive efficiency and the Bulls are ranked 8th.  Yikes again.  It appears that these teams really are polar opposites.  It's basically a terrific offensive team that plays no defense against an atrocious offensive team that plays pretty good defense. You would think that if the Bulls were going to win a game, it would be against a horrible defensive team that allows their horrible offense to get some freebies.  So why do I still think that the Bulls are going to lose this game?  Well, the Golden State Warriors are ranked 29th in defensive efficiency.  That's second to last.  And they had three D-leaguers and two rookies in what was essentially a 6 man rotation.  How the Bulls lost that game by 17 I really cannot tell you.  That's how bad this team is offensively. Based on the above, it appears that the Bulls cannot win tonight.  I mean they lost to a far worse offensive team and the second to worst, if not the worst, defensive team in the league.  How are they going to beat the most efficient offense in the league?  Well Golden State won because of one reason.  Andris Biedrins.  He is a gifted rebounder and a tremendous shot-blocker.  He clogged up the lane in a way that Derrick Rose will probably remember for a long long time.  The Suns absolutely do not have a player who comes close to what Biedrins is capable of defensively and on the glass.  The only reason Golden State is ranked behind Phoenix in defensive efficiency is because Biedrins has only played in 14 games this season due to injury.  He really does impact the game that much. The Suns, on the other hand, are another story.  Amar'e Stoudemire is the team's leading rebounder at 8.7 boards a game and Robin Lopez is the team's leading shot-blocker with 1 block per game.   As a result, the Bulls should absolutely dominate the defensive battle tonight.  Joakim Noah should have a much easier time tonight than he's had in a long time.  Matching up against the Robin "I'm no Brook" Lopez, I expect Joakim to have an absolutely epic day on the glass.  I also expect a lot of cutting to the basket leading to numerous dunks and layups since Amar'e Stoudemire and Lopez really do not know how to play defense.  Andris Biedrins they are not. Derrick Rose should not be impeded by anyone this game.  Steve Nash can in no way whatsoever keep up with Derrick AT ALL.  Leandro Barbosa MAAAAYBE can keep up, but not for very long.  Grant Hill, the Suns so-called defensive specialist, is running on E.  There is no monster clogging up the lane.  There is no Marcus Camby, aka one of the greatest shot-blockers of the modern era, waiting for you at the rim.  There is no Andris Biedrins standing there with drool running down his chin.  The lane should be wide open, and the big-men should be able to roam free hopefully waiting and ready to be on the receiving end of several Derrick Rose and Kirk Hinrich feeds underneath.  In no way am I saying that the Bulls should have lost to Golden State, but I am saying that the reason they lost to Golden State is simply not present in this game.  Thus, one should logically deduce that the Bulls should win this game. However, often times the Bulls defy logic.  Often times, Tyrus Thomas shoots jumpshots and runs fast breaks.  Often times, Derrick Rose decides he's not going to attack and doesn't touch the ball for minutes at a time.  Often times, Vinny runs inbounds plays for Luol Deng to shoot a last-minute unnecessary three with the game on the line.  If only it were as simple as logic.  The good news is that the Bulls are fully healthy tonight.  Salmons is back from his illness, Kirk's stamina should be back up after his own illness, and everyone should be good to go.  Kirk is really going to have to buckle down tonight to help Derrick stop Steve Nash.  Guarding Leandro Barbosa is no picnic either.  Nash and Amar'e will get there's...there is no question.  But Tyrus and Taj should each out-rebound Amar'e tonight...he's just not that good on the glass.  And like I said, the key is for the Bulls big men to cut to the basket so that the guards can find them underneath...because Stoudemire and Lopez are not exactly defensive geniuses. As long as the Bulls come out and rebound like they're supposed to as well as attack the basket, they should win this game.  As Stacey King says, "KYP Baby"...know your personnel.  Points in the paint will be there for the taking, but only if you attack.  Defensively...the Bulls should dominate as well...the key is to do what you're supposed to do on the offensive end against a very weak defensive team with no stoppers. Prediction:  Bulls lose 111-107.  The key for the Bulls to win is for them to attack, but we all know the Bulls.  I expect a combined million jumpshots from Deng, Rose, Taj, and unfortunately Tyrus when they should be driving to the hoop every time.  And I don't really expect Vinny to be able to stop them.  Maybe they'll drain them tonight, but that's the only way they'll win this game, since they're just not disciplined or smart enough to know that they have to attack the rim on nearly every possession.  The 0-7 road trip continues.