NBA Picks Washington vs Chicago
Despite fears of the worst when Derrick Rose was hurt and Luol Deng was trade the Bulls made the playoffs and are officially the team that nobody want to play in the East. Good luck Washington.[ad-4468020]
Odds to win NBA Championship:
Chicago: +4000
Washington: +15000
Odds to win Eastern Conference
Chicago: +1300
Washington: +5000
Chicago Series Price: -190
Washington Series Price: +170
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Before the season started all the talk was about how with Derrick Rose back the Bulls were part of the East elite with Miami and Indiana. However, he wasn’t playing well and then was lost for the season, again, so the talk shifted to the draft lottery but on the way they figured it out.
They were always a strong defensive team but after trading Luol Deng instead of fading they got better. Joakim Noah turned himself into an MVP candidate and they started to win. Now as cliche as it is sounds they are the team everyone wants to avoid.
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Not only can they beat you but they wear you down win or lose.
I really like the way this Washington team is constructed and think they probably should have played better during the regular season.They have a solid backcourt with John Wall and Bradley Beal and a physical front line with Nene and Marcin Gortat. The one thing they are missing that most successful playoff teams have is that one great outside shooter.
Beal and Trevor Ariza have solid percentages but they are not assassins yet.
This is going to be a tough draw for the relatively inexperienced Wizards.
Season Series: Washington 2, Chicago 1
I was surprised that Washington won this series. They took two games against Chicago in the same week in January but then couldn’t get the sweep when they met in April.
They might have been catching Chicago at just the right time as the Bulls were struggling but improved as much as any team (maybe except San Antonio) after the All-Star break.
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Key Player for Chicago
PG D.J. Augustin – Cut earlier in the season he has found a home in Chicago and become their most reliable scorer.
The Bulls really struggle for points and they need to be able to rely on him to shoot the ball well. When you look at his figures he is benefiting as much from opportunity as anything else. He is also going to have to play strong defense on John Wall who is bigger and more athletic.
If he can neutralize or match Wall than the rest of the team will have a chance.
Key Player for Washington
C Marcin Gortat – Some praise Joakim Noah for his defense but I think the Bulls need him more on offense where his ability to see the floor makes their limited offense go. That is why I think Gortat is so important. The Wizards need to go at Noah on offense to try and get him in foul trouble or at the very least make him work.
Not a lot of team have capable offensive posts but Gortat can score and use his big body to lean on Noah. Wow I never thought I would say that game planning for Noah would be so critical.
Betting Prediction:
I know lots of people like the Bulls as a sleeper in these playoffs but even though I know that playoff basketball is low scoring I just don’t think they have enough on offense. This series will have a couple of blowouts but mostly close games that will see the emergence of young Wizards like Wall and Beal as stars.
Everybody is watching and it is time for their closeup.
Wizards in 7 games.
Since I see Washington as the winners I see some value in the series price. However, it is probably the sharper play to back the Wizards ATS throughout the series. Especially in the first couple of games on the road. They were one of the best road spread teams in the league this season with a 26-15 record.
They had a winning straight up record too at 22-19. A few wins ATS are likely to pay off more than the series. Add a couple of SU underdog wins and you will really be happy.
