NBA Handicapping Predictions – Heat vs Bulls
These are the top two teams in the Eastern Conference. There is a good likelihood that they’ll meet up in the playoffs with a lot at stake. Derrick Rose re-injured his ankle Sunday and missed the Bulls last game.
NBA Basketball Matchup: Miami Heat vs. Chicago Bulls
8:00 PM EST on TNT
NBA Gambling Odds from Bookmaker
NBA Betting Favorite: Off
Over/Under: Off
He is listed as questionable for this game.
The Heat were blasted at home by the Celtics on Tuesday night, so they’ll be looking for a bounce back performance here.
Miami has lost two of its last three games, and both of those losses came at home. The Heat were playing great basketball a couple months ago, but they have been inconsistent of late. LeBron James is having a spectacular season for the Heat. James is shooting 53.3% from the floor, and he is averaging 26.9 points per game.
Dwyane Wade has been hampered by an ankle injury throughout the year. He is expected to play in this one, and the team hopes he will be 100 percent for the playoffs. Miami is an elite team when they play great defense.
Boston shot 61% from the floor against the Heat on Tuesday night, so they must turn up the defense in this game. [soliloquy id=”82219″]
Chicago has been without Derrick Rose quite a bit this year, but the Bulls have held their own very nicely. The depth of this team has really helped them become the top seed in the Eastern Conference.
No other team can match the Bulls depth in the frontcourt. Carlos Boozer, Joakim Noah, Taj Gibson, and Omer Asik are all very talented big men. This is the best rebounding team in the NBA. Including Rose, the Bulls have six guys who average double figures in scoring. Richard Hamilton is getting healthy, and if they can get some solid contributions from him down the stretch that could propel this team into the postseason with momentum.
Chicago ranks second in the NBA in points allowed. Opponents average just 88.9 points per game.
The Bulls already beat the Heat once without Rose.
It’s unclear whether he’ll suit up in this one or not, but I think the Bulls have a solid shot at winning with their terrific defense.
Prediction: Chicago 94 Miami 91
