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Bulls to host Cavs in NBA?s toughest division
It must be discouraging for the Chicago Bulls to look at the NBA standings and see themselves in last place in the Central Division.
After all, their record isn?t all that bad. As of Tuesday, they were 12-11 straight up (11-12 against the spread).
If the Bulls were in the Atlantic, they?d be in first place. In the Southeast they?d be in second, only a couple of games behind division leader Miami. In fact, if the season were to end today, all five teams from the Central, including Chicago, would qualify for the playoffs.
That?s how much power is concentrated in the No Balance Association?s Eastern Conference.
Wallowing with the Bulls near the bottom of the Central are the Cleveland Cavaliers, who were an impressive 13-9 SU (12-10 ATS) as of Tuesday. The two teams meet Thursday in Chicago in the first game of TNT?s weekly doubleheader (8 p.m. ET). Both teams enter the game 0-2 SU versus division opponents.
The Cavs are coming off what was arguably their highlight win of the year last Saturday night against the visiting Heat. LeBron James led the way netting 41 points, including 11 straight in the fourth period, as the Cavs beat the Heat 115-107 as 1.5-point favorites. James also chalked up 10 assists.
It was the first time Miami?s legendary head coach Pat Riley faced the young phenom, who was born two years after Riley won his first NBA championship while coaching the Los Angeles Lakers.
?A guy like that gets it going, what are you going to do?? Riley told reporters after the game. ?I?ve seen too many players like him. At times, you?re helpless.?
The Heat had won four straight heading into the game against Cleveland, although it was their fourth road game in five nights. Playing in his fifth game since returning from an ankle injury, Shaquille O?Neal was held to a season-low 10 points in the game. Cavaliers? 7-foot-3 center Zydrunas Ilgauskas took much of the credit for shutting down Shaq.
However Ilgauskas, who leads team in blocks (1.7 pg), suffered a mild concussion when he was elbowed in the head by Dwayne Wade while scrambling for a loose ball. He was questionable for Tuesday?s game against Utah.
Starting power forward Drew Gooden also took one for the team when he sprained his ankle after coming down on O?Neal?s foot. He may also be questionable come Thursday.
The Bulls, meanwhile, have been hot and cold this month. Prior to Tuesday, they had alternated between a win and a loss for eight straight games dating back to Dec 5. The most recent example of the team?s up-and-down behavior took place last week when they were gored 110-82 by the Pistons in Detroit, only to return home and smoke the Boston Celtics 118-86.
Unlike the Cavs, who rely heavily on their superstar to put up points, the Bulls spread the ball around - a total of six players are averaging more than 10 ppg. As of Tuesday, second year swingman Luol Deng was leading the Bulls? charge averaging 14.5 ppg, with sixth man Ben Gordon right behind him at 14 ppg. Deng reportedly suffered a bruised knee against the Celtics and was questionable for Tuesday night?s home game against Charlotte.
Although solidly in the middle of the pack on both points scored (96 ppg, 15th overall) and points allowed (97 ppg, 13th overall), Chicago was 14-9 on the OVER/UNDER as of Tuesday.
The Cavs are scoring about 102 ppg (third overall) and are allowing more than 98 ppg (10th overall). As of Tuesday, they were 12-10 on the OVER/UNDER.
Dallas at Sacramento
In the second game of TNT?s Thursday night double bill, the surging Dallas Mavericks will visit the slumping Sacramento Kings.
As of Tuesday, the Mavs were 18-6 SU (11-13 ATS) and trailed the defending NBA Champion San Antonio Spurs by one game in the Southwest. Overall, they have the third-best record in the NBA.
Heading into Tuesday?s game against the Lakers, the Mavs had won three straight and were 8-2 in their last 10. Like the Bulls, the Mavs have a balanced scoring attack with six players averaging more than double-digits per game. Dirk Nowitzki leads the way with 26.1 ppg, sixth overall in the league.
The Kings, meanwhile, are 10-15 SU (12-13 ATS) and are dead last in the Pacific. They?ve lost three straight and are 3-7 SU in their last 10.
Granted, the Kings can score and are logging 99 ppg, which matches the Mavericks (eighth overall). However, they?re giving up 99.2 ppg (sixth-most overall).
Collectively, both teams were 28-20-1 on the OVER/UNDER prior to Tuesday.
BetWWTS.com
Bulls to host Cavs in NBA?s toughest division
It must be discouraging for the Chicago Bulls to look at the NBA standings and see themselves in last place in the Central Division.
After all, their record isn?t all that bad. As of Tuesday, they were 12-11 straight up (11-12 against the spread).
If the Bulls were in the Atlantic, they?d be in first place. In the Southeast they?d be in second, only a couple of games behind division leader Miami. In fact, if the season were to end today, all five teams from the Central, including Chicago, would qualify for the playoffs.
That?s how much power is concentrated in the No Balance Association?s Eastern Conference.
Wallowing with the Bulls near the bottom of the Central are the Cleveland Cavaliers, who were an impressive 13-9 SU (12-10 ATS) as of Tuesday. The two teams meet Thursday in Chicago in the first game of TNT?s weekly doubleheader (8 p.m. ET). Both teams enter the game 0-2 SU versus division opponents.
The Cavs are coming off what was arguably their highlight win of the year last Saturday night against the visiting Heat. LeBron James led the way netting 41 points, including 11 straight in the fourth period, as the Cavs beat the Heat 115-107 as 1.5-point favorites. James also chalked up 10 assists.
It was the first time Miami?s legendary head coach Pat Riley faced the young phenom, who was born two years after Riley won his first NBA championship while coaching the Los Angeles Lakers.
?A guy like that gets it going, what are you going to do?? Riley told reporters after the game. ?I?ve seen too many players like him. At times, you?re helpless.?
The Heat had won four straight heading into the game against Cleveland, although it was their fourth road game in five nights. Playing in his fifth game since returning from an ankle injury, Shaquille O?Neal was held to a season-low 10 points in the game. Cavaliers? 7-foot-3 center Zydrunas Ilgauskas took much of the credit for shutting down Shaq.
However Ilgauskas, who leads team in blocks (1.7 pg), suffered a mild concussion when he was elbowed in the head by Dwayne Wade while scrambling for a loose ball. He was questionable for Tuesday?s game against Utah.
Starting power forward Drew Gooden also took one for the team when he sprained his ankle after coming down on O?Neal?s foot. He may also be questionable come Thursday.
The Bulls, meanwhile, have been hot and cold this month. Prior to Tuesday, they had alternated between a win and a loss for eight straight games dating back to Dec 5. The most recent example of the team?s up-and-down behavior took place last week when they were gored 110-82 by the Pistons in Detroit, only to return home and smoke the Boston Celtics 118-86.
Unlike the Cavs, who rely heavily on their superstar to put up points, the Bulls spread the ball around - a total of six players are averaging more than 10 ppg. As of Tuesday, second year swingman Luol Deng was leading the Bulls? charge averaging 14.5 ppg, with sixth man Ben Gordon right behind him at 14 ppg. Deng reportedly suffered a bruised knee against the Celtics and was questionable for Tuesday night?s home game against Charlotte.
Although solidly in the middle of the pack on both points scored (96 ppg, 15th overall) and points allowed (97 ppg, 13th overall), Chicago was 14-9 on the OVER/UNDER as of Tuesday.
The Cavs are scoring about 102 ppg (third overall) and are allowing more than 98 ppg (10th overall). As of Tuesday, they were 12-10 on the OVER/UNDER.
Dallas at Sacramento
In the second game of TNT?s Thursday night double bill, the surging Dallas Mavericks will visit the slumping Sacramento Kings.
As of Tuesday, the Mavs were 18-6 SU (11-13 ATS) and trailed the defending NBA Champion San Antonio Spurs by one game in the Southwest. Overall, they have the third-best record in the NBA.
Heading into Tuesday?s game against the Lakers, the Mavs had won three straight and were 8-2 in their last 10. Like the Bulls, the Mavs have a balanced scoring attack with six players averaging more than double-digits per game. Dirk Nowitzki leads the way with 26.1 ppg, sixth overall in the league.
The Kings, meanwhile, are 10-15 SU (12-13 ATS) and are dead last in the Pacific. They?ve lost three straight and are 3-7 SU in their last 10.
Granted, the Kings can score and are logging 99 ppg, which matches the Mavericks (eighth overall). However, they?re giving up 99.2 ppg (sixth-most overall).
Collectively, both teams were 28-20-1 on the OVER/UNDER prior to Tuesday.
