What They're Saying: Magic vs. Bulls 10/19

-With a week left in the preseason, Brian Schmitz of The Orlando Sentinel writes it is time for Stan Van Gundy to pick his starting lineup.

-Jameer Nelson injured his shoulder on a random play last year. Don't expect him to be protecting that shoulder or change his style of play because of it.

-The Bulls are 5-1 in the preseason, but don't let that fool you. As K.C. Johnson of The Chicago Tribune writes, the Bulls preseason has been a disjointed mess as players have to sit out time in practcie and games because of injury.

-The Bulls held an open practice yesterday at the United Center -- Stan and Otis, if I would have known this I would have scouted a little for you -- and Derrick Rose and John Salmons sat out once again. Not sure if either will play tonight.

-Derrick Rose, out since October 2 with an injured right ankle, sat out practice Sunday is very unlikely to play tonight, according to John Jackson of the Chicago Sun-Times. Also, Florida alumnus Joakim Noah was quite the rebel as a rookie.

-OrlandoMagic.com has video interviews with Vince Carter, Rashard Lewis and Stan Van Gundy for your viewing pleasure before tonight's game. Van Gundy says Lewis will "not play a whole lot"

-Sam Smith of Bulls.com thinks Chicago did a very good job drafting James Johnson and Taj Gibson in June's draft. He has both in his top 10 rookies. Smith also believes the Magic improved by becoming a more well-rounded team.

-Ben Q Rock of Third Quarter Collapse analyzes the Magic's rotation and lineups so far this season. The only conlcusion? It's still the preseason.

-Zach McCann of Orlando Magic Daily profiles the funky story of Ryan Anderson. Anderson of course is a nondescript late first-round draft pick of the New Jersey Nets who turned into an Internet sensation, then a "throw-in" in the Vince Carter trade and now a player fighting for playing time on a championship-caliber basketball team.

-Tania Ganguli of The Orlando Sentinel is in Chicago and reports that Matt Barnes and Ryan Anderson will get the start tonight at the United Center. Also, she found the Billy Goat Tavern. Not the one at Navy Pier, I hope.

-Speaking of Bulls rookies James Johnson and Taj Gibson, former (still?) project Tyrus Thomas has taken them under his wing and is showing the young players the ropes, writes John Jackson of the Chicago Sun-Times.

-Likewise, the rookies are pushing a players like Luol Deng and Tyrus Thomas, who missed two weeks at the beginning of training camp with an injury, writes Mike McGraw of the Daily Herald.