Pre-Season Game 2: Mavs vs. Bulls

The starters don't even play half the game and the end up killing in the preseason opener. The starters are going to get more and more playing time as the preseason wears on. That really goes without saying.

This game is the first preseason game for the Bulls.

Bulls to Watch:

• Ben Gordon: 18.6 points
• Luol Deng: 17 points, 6.3 rebounds
• Drew Gooden: 14 points, 9.3 rebounds
• Kirk Hinrich: 11.5 points, 6 assists

I'm not pretty sure how this will all pan out, since these numbers were from last season and this is their first preseason game, so the Mavs have a slight upperhand will already having played one game.

Mavs to Watch:

• Josh Howard: 19.9 points, 7 rebounds
• Jason Kidd: 9.9 points, 6.5 rebounds, 9.5 assists
• Dirk Nowitzki: 23.6 points, 8.6 rebounds

Beating the Washington Wizards really isn't too much to brag about. But I liked how the team worked together. The question this season that everyone is asking here in Dallas is this: can a team whose been ousted in the first round for two consecutive seasons go to the finals on the back of Dirk, Josh, and Kidd? Well, it is preseason, so it is always possible when you look at a team in the preseason... for the most part.

What will it take? A strong supporting cast (Mavericks do have a good bench). It will also take MVP caliber years from Josh and Dirk and a typically awesome season from Jason Kidd.

Will it happen? I think the Mavericks have a strong shot at it. I do believe they will survive the first round of playoffs.

Deeper? Well, I can't say right now.

Forecast: I kind of get nastalgic when it comes to the Bulls. The first NBA game that I ever watched was with Michael Jordan facing Magic Johnson in the NBA Finals. It was on TV, by the way. I wasn't actually there. And then the first NBA game for me to watch in the stands was the Bulls going up against the Mavericks. Jordan was there, too. And the Mavs were very much in "suck-land", but they pushed the Bulls into overtime before being bested by the Bulls. And that is a game I just will not forget... for three reasons. 1) It was my first NBA game to go to, and 2) I went with my Dad, and 3) I got to see Michael Jordan play.

This game, well, doesn't have Jordan, I won't be visiting Chicago to see, and neither will my Dad. And I really think, even in preseason, that the Mavs will get the best of Chicago. Score: 98-91, Mavericks.

Home Plate