Clippers vs Bulls
Clippers vs Bulls
Are streaks relevant in the NBA? The Clippers should win around 60 games this season. The chances of them going on a 7 game winning streak are pretty good. The Clippers are hot going into Chicago, having won their last 6 and covering the spread in the last 3. In the last 19 situations, teams in their first game on the road that won at home in their previous game and are on a 3 or more ATS streak are 16-3 (+8.8 ppg). The Clippers have the #1 efficiency differential in the league for their last five games (+20.7). Teams as away favorites that won their previous matchup against the same team by more than 20 points are 14-1 (+10.2 ppg) SU in the last 15.
Being a dog at home never says much about your team, and being a dog twice in a row at home is especially bad. Home dogs, after winning at home in their last game as a dog, are 7-23 SU (-6.5 ppg) in this calendar year. The Bulls have an especially bad record in this situation, but because there are few recent occurrences, it may not be significant. The Bulls have not been good at covering in their own building this season, going 2-9 ATS. The Bulls team total is set at 91.5. When they score less than 95 at home this season they are 4-5 SU (-0.2 ppg) and 1-8 ATS (average line -3.9). This season when the Bulls allow more than 90 points, they are 3-6 SU (-3.3 ppg). The Clippers averaged 110.4 ppg in their last 5 games, and their team total is set around 95.
The Clippers are headed out on a four game eastern conference road trip. This year, in their first game away from home they have fared well:
Beat Lakers by 10
Beat Portland by 13
Beat Spurs by 5
Beat Utah by 1
Noah has not played well against the Clippers, and the Bulls have no answer for Griffin. He has averaged 30.3 ppg and 12 rebounds against them. In their last meeting this season, the Clipper?s bench outscored the Bull?s bench by 28 points. The Bulls are now missing Hamilton, who contributed 18% of the Bulls points in the last meeting, and Hinrich is playing through injury. The Clippers also scored 26 fast break points, and they are the best team in the league at forcing turnovers, averaging 17.9 per game. Chicago has had problems taking care of the ball this season, certainly a reflection on them missing Rose.
Tom Thibodeau is doing a great job with the Bulls, especially considering his star has been out all season. But the Clippers have great floor leadership in the form of Chris Paul. Since they acquired him, the Clippers are 8-1 SU (+7.1 ppg) as an away favorite in their first game on the road. The importance of getting off to a good start on a road trip is reflective of good leadership. Chris Paul has the ability to be great, while remaining humble, the sign of a great leader:
?Nah, we've won a few games, but we're not on a roll,? Paul said. ?Right now, our season has consisted of streaks, a couple of good ones and a couple of bad ones. We've ... still got a lot of work to do. The big key to all of our games for the rest of the season is to make sure we get off to a good start and bring the right kind of energy.?
I?m sure Vinny would love to go into Chicago and get a resounding win.
Clippers 96-83
