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Game 37 | Cavaliers @ Bulls Jan. 15th, 8:00PM (ET)

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By BRETT HUSTON, STATS Writer
Posted Jan 15 2009 1:40AM
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2008-09 Stats at a Glance
LeBron James has torched the Chicago Bulls in recent years, including a pair of 41-point performances earlier this season.

In their latest meeting, the Cleveland Cavaliers superstar decided to let his teammates do the majority of the work.

James earned his second triple-double of the season in Cleveland's latest win, and on Thursday he'll face the team against which he compiled his first as the visiting Cavaliers look to complete a season sweep of the Bulls.

James chose his No. 23 because of his admiration for Michael Jordan growing up, and when he's faced Chicago, he's often done just what Jordan used to do to Cleveland - score at will.

The NBA's reigning scoring champion had averaged 37.7 points in his last seven games against the Bulls heading into a meeting at Quicken Loans Arena earlier this month. He scored 41 points just four days apart in early November as the league-leading Cavaliers (30-6) beat Chicago twice.

In Cleveland's first game of the new year, though, James didn't need anywhere near the 29 shots he hoisted during a 106-97 win at the United Center on Nov. 8. Instead, he took just eight shots, finishing with 16 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds - his first triple-double of the season - in a 117-92 blowout.

"You have to put so much attention on LeBron," Chicago coach Vinny Del Negro said. "There's probably nothing he hasn't seen. When you double team him, he's such a good passer, he gets everyone else involved."

Four games later, he had another - the 19th of his illustrious career. This time, with starter Ben Wallace out in addition to injured center Zydrunas Ilgauskas, James took a more offensive approach.

He had 30 points - 17 in the third quarter - and added 11 rebounds and 10 assists as the Cavaliers won 102-87 at Memphis on Tuesday.

"I had no idea," James said of his latest triple-double. "The first time I knew was when I got the stat sheet. I'm just out there playing. Two of our guys are out so everyone had to step up, including myself."

Wallace, a former Bull, is questionable for Thursday's game, and Ilgauskas is expected to miss another two weeks with a small fracture in his left ankle.

The Bulls (17-22), however, will need to pay closer attention to Ilgauskas' replacement, Anderson Varejao. The fifth-year big man is averaging 14.2 points since Ilgauskas went down, and had a career-high 26 against Chicago on Jan. 2.

While Cleveland's been dealing with a pair of injuries, the Bulls are getting back to full health. On Monday against Portland, Luol Deng returned after missing eight games and Kirk Hinrich was back after being out for more than two months, but neither made a difference in Chicago's 109-95 loss.

Both made big contributions on Wednesday in Toronto, however. Deng, back in the starting lineup for the first time since Dec. 26, had 16 points and 14 rebounds, while Hinrich had 12 points and six assists in a 102-98 comeback win over the Raptors.

Derrick Rose, though, was the difference. The top overall pick in the 2008 NBA draft had 25 points - 17 in the come-from-behind fourth - and 10 assists, his sixth double-double.

"He was feeling it,'' Deng said about Rose. "Just give him the ball and get out of the way."

Rose will try to bounce back from a poor effort in his last game against Cleveland. He scored a season-low three points in the 25-point loss on Jan. 2.

Bulls leading scorer Ben Gordon is averaging 27.3 points on 54.9 percent shooting in the three losses to the Cavaliers.


Copyright 2008 by STATS LLC and Associated Press. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS LLC and Associated Press is strictly prohibited
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NBA.com preview of the game
 
Are we gonna be using the flashcat thing during this game to talk or what?
 
Everyone needs to stop sleeping on Ben Gordon.


I have a feeling he will be going for 30 tonight.
 
It seems like Mo is playing like Kamerion Wimbley-ish


Like invisible.


I hardly notice he's out there sometimes...
 
LeBrao Ming said:
does anyone know if charles is back on tnt... they are so funny together
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Nope he won't be back for a couple of weeks and no definite date is set, my role model has fallen on hard times. :(

And I still don't like Larry Hughes...
 
outacontrol said:
It seems like Mo is playing like Kamerion Wimbley-ish


Like invisible.


I hardly notice he's out there sometimes...
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Dude has 10 straight games with double digit points. I'm pretty sure he's out there helping.
 
r10lbjphan3 said:
kinda bummed to see mo's assists drop below four.....
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It's hard to get assists when the offense has completely gone back to everyone go stand in a corner and watch LBJ dominate.

It has been working, but I am just sayin.
 
Gimme Some Mo said:
It's hard to get assists when the offense has completely gone back to everyone go stand in a corner and watch LBJ dominate.

It has been working, but I am just sayin.
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What?

Last game versus the Grizzlies, West had 19, Mo had 16 and Gibson had 11.
 
Going to be tough with Hinrich and Deng back, and in their building. Our front court needs to pound the glass, and Mo/Boobs/Delonte need to keep Rose in check.
 
lebron has been kind of dominating the ball lately.
 
Should be a good game but then our defense will be too much for them in the 4th.
 
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