These two teams last faced off in the Windy City on Jan. 21, and the tough defense of the Bulls won out over the Lakers' run-and-gun game. However, things have changed since then.
At long last, the Lakers have fully bought into head coach Mike D'Antoni's fast-paced offense and are looking like the championship-caliber team fans thought they were getting this past offseason. Since Feb. 1, Los Angeles is 12-5 and in full communication on the court.
Entering this game, the Lakers are just a half-game behind the Utah Jazz for the final playoff spot and could very well be tied for it by tipoff. Chicago, on the other hand, is starting to feel the effects of not having had star point guard Derrick Rose all season. Its offense ranks second to last in the league, and its tough defense will only be able to do so much against a hungry LA squad.
Fans should thus prepare themselves for an epic showdown between two solid NBA teams from two great NBA cities. This is a game that could be close from start to finish, and the fact that both teams have tons to play for makes it all the more important to not miss.
Time: Sunday, March 10, 3:30 p.m. ET
TV: ABC
Records: Chicago Bulls (35-27) vs. Los Angeles Lakers (32-31)
Injuries: Taj Gibson (knee, out), Derrick Rose (knee, day-to-day), Rip Hamilton (back, day-to-day), Kirk Hinrich (foot, day-to-day), Jordan Hill (hip, out), Pau Gasol (foot, out)
Key Storyline: Can New-Attitude Lakers Charge Harder Than Bulls?
When these two teams last faced off on Jan. 21, the Lakers were an absolute mess. They had no identity and relied way too heavily on Kobe Bryant to carry them on offense. In terms of the playoffs, ...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Los Angeles Lakers
