The Indiana Pacers are quickly trying to establish that they are the best team in the NBA, and at 9-0 they are. It seems everyone on that team has stepped up their game. Paul George is easily an early candidate for MVP and Roy Hibbert is making an early case for Defensive Player of the Year. The Chicago Bulls got their point guard Derrick Rose back, but have not enjoyed the same level of success as the Pacers. Rose sat out yesterday’s game after suffering a hamstring injury in a game against the Cavaliers. He is not expected to miss significant time, but it was the last thing the Bulls would have wanted to happen. It is unsure if Rose will play tonight.
It will be a battle of the bigs tonight. No big man has been as dominant as Roy Hibbert who leads the NBA with 4.8 blocks per game. Carlos Boozer and Joakim Noah will have to be as physical as they can and really fight for position in this game. Last time these two teams played each other, Boozer was held to just six points. He is averaging close to twenty points a game against everyone else. The Bulls, however, have had a lot of success against Indiana winning 12 of their last 16 meetings.
It is tough to go against the Pacers right now and I do think they improve to 10-0. Everyone on that team from Paul George to Roy Hibbert to Lance Stephenson has stepped up their game from last season. The Bulls will get better as the season progresses, but right now they are not playing anywhere close to the level of Indiana. With or without Rose, the Pacers should win this one easily. It is hard to argue against this team not being better than the defending champions, Miami Heat, right now. Pacers vs. Bulls- who you takin?
