Sixers Bulls Preview

Tonight at 8, the Sixers will play the Eastern conference leading Chicago Bulls. The game will be played in Chicago and should prove to be a good test for the Sixers who are coming off a tough overtime loss on Sunday to the Sacramento Kings.

In order to win tonight, the Sixers need to have a short memory, put Sunday's loss out of their heads and come out focused and ready to play. For the Sixers to have any chance tonight, the bench needs to play a lot better. In Sunday's overtime loss to the Kings, Thad Young, Evan Turner and Lou Williams combined for just 14 points and were a pitiful 4-25 from the field. The bench needs to contribute more and help out the starters. Also, Jrue Holiday and Jodie Meeks need to get more touches and extended minutes. They are both playing extremely well right now and coach Doug Collins needs to find different ways to get the ball into their hands. In tonight's game, look for Andre Iguodala to play a more limited role. Iguodala continues to nurse a sore leg and Collins doesn't want him to play back to back games. Last weekend Collins sat Iguodala when they had back to back games.

Playing against the best team in the conference is not all that intimidating of a task for this team. Although the Sixers are coming off a loss to a lousy team, they have shown in the past they have what it takes to hang with the big boys. Back in February, the Sixers beat the Spurs and earlier this month they edged out a victory over the Celtics.

I think that tonight's game could possibly come down to the final 2 minutes. If it does come down to the wire, I hope that Collins puts the ball into the hands of either Meeks or Holiday and not Andre Iguodala. As we head into the final games of the regular season, it would be great for the Sixers to pick up a road win against a very good team. A win tonight could be a real confidence booster for a young team heading into the playoffs.