Washington at Chicago
Time: Jan 14 at 8 PM EST
TV: ESPN
Spread: CHI -6
Total: 196
Odds c/o Bovada
The Chicago Bulls have seemingly played down to the level of its competition this season, falling to the fifth team at home this year with a sub-.500 record as the Orlando Magic defeated Chicago 121-114 on Monday night (Jan 12) with Derrick Rose starting at point guard for the Bulls.
Chicago will host a much tougher opponent tonight in a Washington Wizards team that is replete with depth and talent, and a team that eliminated the Bulls last year in the postseason. Latest odds show the Bulls as 6-point favorites in the game with the NBA betting total set at 196.
The Bulls have now lost three of its last four, and center Joakim Noah commented to ESPN, “This is our story, this is the journey. In the season, there’s always going to be ups and downs.” For Chicago, the hope is that those struggles end tonight. In the game against Orlando, the Bulls struggled with sloppy play, hounded by Orlando’s perimeter ball hawks. Despite Rose and Aaron Brooks efforts to slow down the game and take advantage of a poor half court offense by the Magic, the game turned into a basket-trading shootout.
Obviously, if Washington can employ a similar strategy, it will be done. John Wall has the ability to ignite breaks, and the Bulls have had trouble with its transition defense. Moreover, rotations were slow against Orlando, though the Magic did not really punish the Bulls with Channing Frye knocking down just 1 of 7 as the Magic’s best shooter.
Bradley Beal will not struggle in this manner most likely, and he’s knocking down a Ray Allen-esque 47 percent from three-point range on four attempts a game. Paul Pierce is still a deft shooter as well, hitting 39.4 percent from behind the arc. Rasual Butler, like Beal, is stone cold, hitting 48 percent on 3.6 attempts per game. When the Wiz get out in transition, the Bulls can’t fall back into the paint, because Beal and Butler will make them pay.
The best part about having Pierce and his experience is that the Wizards can isolate Pierce if Wall’s matchup isn’t as favorable. A frequent play though has been to run a Wall – Marcin Gortat pick and roll, as Gortat is a strong finisher and has been having a good year. “The Polish Hammer” is considered an outside pick to be an All-Star in the coaches’ selections, with averages of 12.3 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 1.95 steals/blocks, while posting a PER of 17.4
Wall averages a 21.4 PER, the highest of any Wizard. His ball distribution has been vastly improved, and he’s good for 10.2 assets per game this season. Wall wreaks havoc defensively too, averaging over two steals per game and he keeps his own turnovers down, with a 2.70 assist to turnover ratio. The Wizards, as mentioned, have depth. The team employs a rotation that includes six players averaging double figures and another four players who see 12 to 15 minutes a game. Against the Bulls, the Wizards may keep its starters on the court more, though, since this is a statement game of sorts.
Washington is coming off a nationally televised win over the Spurs last night, which saw John Wall go for 25 points and eight assists. The question of course, is whether the Wizards can dig deep enough on the second night of a back-to-back. The Bulls could potentially attack a tired Wizards team on the glass.
Chicago is 3rd in the NBA in rebounds per game (46.0) and Chicago is scoring the ball a lot better with Pau Gasol in the fold and Rose’s play when he does suit up.
Gasol has reverted to the dominance he had in his Memphis Grizzlies and early Lakers days, essentially reviving himself to a 19 point, 11 rebound per game player. He’s now one of the elite power forwards in the NBA again, after seemingly declining due to poor coaching in Los Angeles the last few seasons, most notably the destructive influence of Mike D’Antoni on a center’s game, as Gasol was playing then.
Keeping the Spaniard in the high post to baseline where he is most comfortable has resulted in the revival of Gasol’s game and propelled the Bulls to a 26-13 record even with Rose only having suited up for 28 games thus far.
Jimmy Butler has gone from being a role player to a near-superstar in the course of one off season, and he is going to be paid, be it by Chicago or otherwise this offseason. He’s averaging nearly 40 minutes per game and scoring 21 points, six boards, and 3.4 assists per game. Behind Gasol, Butler has the second-highest PER of any Bull at 22.6. The Bulls have a strong team, but Washington is right there with them. These teams could easily be in the Eastern Conference Finals, with the Cleveland Cavaliers and Toronto Raptors also vying for contention.
Tonight the Bulls should be able to take care of business and get the SU win. As to whether Chicago can cover is a more difficult matter. The Wizards will be tired, but the depth of the bench may end up keeping this game pretty close, even allowing Wall and Pierce to sneak one out of the Bulls fall flat late in the fourth and the Wizards are within striking distance.
