Place: The United Center in Chicago, IL.
Time: 8:30 p.m. EST
TV/Radio: WUAB Ch. 43/WTAM 1100

Projected Cavaliers Starting Lineup:

PG: LeBron James
SG: Kedrick Brown
SF: Ira Newble
PF: Carlos Boozer
C:  Zydrunas Ilgauskas

Cavaliers Injury Report: SG DaJuan Wagner (knee surgery) and C DeSagana Diop (knee surgery) are on the injured list. 

Projected Bulls Starting Lineup:

PG: Kirk Hinrich
SG: Jamal Crawford
SF: Kendall Gill
PF: Jerome Williams
C:  Antonio Davis

Bulls Injury Report: PF Tyson Chandler (back pain), SF Scottie Pippen (knee surgery) and PG Jason Williams (fractured pelvis and dislocated knee) are on the injured list.  C Eddy Curry (bone bruise) is out.  PF Corie Blount (knee sprain), SF Eddie Robinson (ankle sprain) and SG Jamal Crawford (ankle sprain) are questionable.

Key Matchups:

Carlos Boozer vs. Jerome Williams - Jerome Williams has given the Cavaliers fits no matter where he has played with his athleticism, activity and aggression.  He seemingly never stops moving, diving and attacking.  He goes after every rebound and loose ball and is a defensive hound.  A hustle and energy player.  Williams isn't very skilled offensively but he can put up a double-double off of running floor and getting offensive putbacks. Defensively, he can pressure the ball in trap defenses, take charges as well as be a good help defender.  His style of play can energize a team and crowd and help change the momentum of a game.  He is a perfect guy to come off the bench but is being forced to start due to the injuries to C Eddy Curry and PF Tyson Chandler.  Carlos Boozer has had trouble quicker more active PFs as well as the long athletic types.  He is prone to get beaten down the floor for lay-ups.  The Bulls aren't likely to run any plays for Williams but Boozer must know where he is and keep a body on him when a shot goes up.  Williams is decent ballhandler and out on the floor Boozer cannot open up like a swinging gate as he did against Kenny Thomas and Derrick Coleman in Philadelphia.  Williams will put it on the floor and drive on occasion.  Offensively, Boozer must be ready to knock down shots if Williams is the help man.  Boozer must do more of either using the shot fake and going hard to basket or take that one or two dribble and go to the basket when overplayed making the high post pass as he did successfully last year resulting in some highlight dunks.  With a depleted Bulls front-line Boozer winning the hustle play battle is a major factor for the Cavaliers.

Kedrick Brown vs. Jamal Crawford - After years of injuries, fighting with coaches and management Crawford has finally found his role with the Bulls as a big combo guard.  He has flourished since the trade of Jalen Rose and Donyell Marshall and has to take on even more of a scoring load after the injuries to Curry and Chandler.  Crawford is about 6'5-6'6 athletic, quick and possesses long arms.  A creative scorer, he has three point range, can score off the dribble or penetrate.  Formerly, a full time PG Crawford is a good passer that can find the open man and lead the break.  Brown, if he starts. must focus his attention on Crawford first and his offense second.  The Bulls are lacking weapons and taking out the biggest one they have left could be a determining factor of the game.  Brown has the athleticism to matchup with Crawford and really must be wary of his ability to shoot off the dribble.  Crawford will go behind screens and launch or just dribbling the ball up the floor or after going one on one.  James will almost assuredly see some time against Crawford who may not play with a sprained ankle. Offensively, Brown was nonexistent against Philadelphia partly due to him not being factored in the offense and not getting the opportunities off other players as he did against Houston.  When the opportunities are there he must be aggressive and take advantage of them.  Like Philadelphia, Chicago isn't likely to pay him a lot of attention.

When Cleveland has the ball: The Cavaliers have to find a way to get more production out of there lineup which is admittedly in flux.  Whether it be Kedrick Brown, Ira Newble, J.R. Bremer or Darius Miles someone must be able to score and make some shots.  Cleveland cannot rely on 30 plus and multiple three pointers every night from LeBron James.  They may be catching a break against a Chicago team that doesn't have the defensive mindset of the 76ers.  Because of the offensive struggles Kevin Ollie played a lot more PG with James sliding over to SG.  Rookie Jason Kapono continues to come in and hit shots within his limited floor time and must continue to do so.  The Cavaliers are a much better team when they go through the different options of their offense.  They get into trouble and rack up turnovers by being predictable or trying to force the ball to one guy.  James scored 36 points not on isolations but within the flow off the offense; pick and rolls, penetration and dish, kick outs, down screens, etc.  Chicago defense is now anchored by their frontcourt.  Antonio Davis, Jerome Williams and Kendall Gill are all veterans with good defensive reputations, but they are all undersized for their positions.  Gill is 6'5, Williams is 6'7-6'8 and Davis is 6'9 and none are shotblockers.  It is an area where the Cavaliers can at least assert themselves on the offensive boards.  Their guards are young players and can be attacked especially by James.  Coach Silas has gotten mileage out of posting up SF Eric Williams and he has a size advantage over Gill.  Getting Williams off against Gill could force Chicago to use Jerome Williams on him opening up post up opportunities for Carlos Boozer.  With the Cavaliers own lack of firepower taking care of the ball is an even bigger factor for them.

When Chicago has the ball: The Triangle Offense Era is officially over (if it wasn't before) in Chicago with new coach Scott Skiles.  The Bulls will be hard pressed for offensive if leading scorer Jamal Crawford is unable to play.  The starting frontcourt doesn't have a good offensive player or post scorer among them.  Antonio Davis is under 40% for the season, Gill has always had a suspect shot and Williams is a garbage man.  It is important for the Cavaliers not to let any of those guys get off and have a big offensive game by letting them get easy baskets.  They won't beat you unless you let them.  The Bulls injuries has given PF Marcus Fizer more of an opportunity to play.  Fizer is a bullish undersized PF in the Corliss Williamson mode.  He has the ability to score especially around the basket and draw fouls.  However, he is prone to shooting too much at times and taking bad shots.  Rookie PG Kirk Hinrich after battling an illness and the usual adjustments to the NBA has started to come on as a player.  His play at PG has allowed the Bulls to move Crawford to SG.  Hinrich is smart and surprisingly quick and probably has the best outside shot on the Bulls.  He has been running the team nicely and taking care of the ball.  His shooting has been up and down so contesting his early shots and not letting him get good three point looks could help take him offensively out of the game.

Game outlook: The Bulls are banged up like Philadelphia and are not the same team with Jalen Rose that has beaten the Cavaliers three straight times.  Without Curry and Chandler they are missing athleticism and scoring but they do have experience and toughness on the front-line.  After getting over the road hump last night the Cavaliers have another very winnable game.  Silas, supposedly now, has the veterans and tough minded players that would have made this less of a trap game than it already is.  Cleveland's M.O. the past few years is to not handle success well.  If the Cavaliers take care of the ball, execute at all and continue to grind things out defensively they could have a previously unthinkable two game road winning streak.