Miami Heat at Chicago Bulls
United Center – Chicago, Illinois
Thursday, April 12, 2012, 8:05 pm Eastern, TV: TNT
Opening Line: Chicago -2 1/2
Current Line: Chicago -1 1/2
Opening Total: 186 1/2
Current Total: 187
Opening Money Line: Bulls -135 / Heat +115
Current Money Line: Bulls -125 / Heat +105
Last year’s NBA MVP Derrick Rose has missed 23 games this season including 12 of the last 13 games. Despite this, the Chicago Bulls have the NBA’s best record at 44-14. The Bulls have gone 16-7 in those games because the other Bulls players call themselves the “Bench Mafia” and want to prove that Rose isn’t the whole team. The problem is they take a back seat to Rose when he is in the line-up and almost stand around waiting for Rose to score. Bulls’ Coach Tom Thibodeau is trying to get a balance between how they play when Rose isn’t running the show and still letting the franchise player get his points.
Chicago will get a another chance to work on their chemistry as Rose is expected to return to the line-up from a sprained ankle. Rose missed Tuesday’s 98-86 home win over New York with a sprained ankle. He suffered the injury last Sunday at New York, after missing the previous 11 games with a groin injury. The Bulls lead the Central division by 8 games over Indiana and can clinch the title with a win.
Chicago will host the 40-16 Miami Heat Thursday. They lead the Southeast Division by 7 games over Orlando and Atlanta, but the Heat trail Chicago by 3 games for the top seed in the East. Miami, coached by Eric Spoelstra, have gone 3-3 in April including a pair of embarrassing losses to the hard-charging Celtics. Tuesday night, Miami hosted Boston. The Heat apparently forgot to play defense as Boston shot a blistering 60.9% from the field in a convincing 115-107 win that wasn’t as close as the scored indicated.
Miami and Chicago have split the season series with each team winning a close game on their own home court. The Heat won January 29 97-93 in Miami, and the Bulls won 106-102 March 12 in Chicago. The two teams will play again next week in Miami. They met in the Eastern Conference finals last year, and could do so again, but Boston and Indiana might have something to say about that.
Miami is outscoring opponents 100-94 this season. The Heat are #4 in scoring and #8 in points allowed. The Heat are shooting 47.4% from the field and 36.9% from 3 point range. Miami is second in field goal percentage and is #5 in 3 point percentage. The Heat are #7 in free throw percentage making 77.4% from the line. Miami averages 41.6 rebounds a game with a rebounding margin of +1.4. The Heat averages 20.4 assists, 14.8 turnovers, 9.1 steals, and 5.4 blocks a game. Miami opponents are shooting 43.2% from the field and 37.1% from 3 point range. The Heat are #7 in field goal percentage but are #28 against the 3 point shot. Miami forces 16.9 turnovers a game.
Miami forward LeBron James averages 26.9 points, 7.9 rebounds, 6.4 assists, and 1.9 steals a game. He is third in the NBA in scoring, and leads the Heat in assists, rebounds, and steals. Dwayne Wade averages 22.6 points, 4.9 rebounds, 4.7 assists, 1.7 steals, and 1.3 blocks a game to lead the team. He is probable with an ankle injury. Chris Bosh averages 17.9 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 1.8 assists a game. Point guard Mario Chalmers averages 10 points, 2.8 rebounds, 3.4 assists, and 1.6 steals a game.
Chicago is outscoring opponents 97-89 this season. The Bulls are 2nd in points allowed in the NBA. Chicago is shooting 45.3% from the field and 37.7% from 3 point range. The Bulls are in the top ten in the league in both categories. The Bulls make 72.4% of their free throws. Chicago leads the league in rebounding averaging 46.3 a game with a rebounding margin of +6.4. The Bulls average 22.9 assists, 14 turnovers, 7 steals, and 6 blocks a game. Chicago is 4th in the league in assists. Chicago opponents are shooting 42.7% from the field and 32.9% from 3 point range. The Bulls are in the top 5 in the league in all defensive categories. Chicago forces 13.3 turnovers a game.
Rose averages 23 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 7.8 assists a game. He leads the Bulls in scoring and assists. Forward Luol Deng averages 15.7 points, 6.5 rebounds, 2.9 assists, and 1 steal a game. Forward Carlos Boozer averages 15.2 points, 8.6 rebounds, 1.9 assists, and 1 steal a game. Guard Richard Hamilton averages 11.2 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 3.1 assists. Back-up point guard C.J. Watson averages 10.1 points, 2.1 rebounds, and 3.9 assists a game. He has been starting in place of Rose and will do so again if Rose can’t go because of the ankle. Joakim Noah averages 10 points, 9.7 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 1.4 blocks a game. Noah leads the Bulls in rebounds and blocks. Ronnie Brewer leads the Bulls in steals with 1.1 a game.
Chicago is 33-24-1 ATS and the total is 30-27-1 this season. Miami is 27-29 ATS and the total is 24-30-2 this season. The Bulls are 13-6-2 ATS against Miami in Chicago, and 8 of the last 11 played in Chicago have gone under the total. The Heat are 5-0 ATS in Thursday games, 9-3 after scoring 100 points or more, 5-2 after failing to cover, 14-6 after allowing 100 points or more, 3-7 in road games, including 2-7 against teams with winning home records, 1-4 against teams with winning records, and 1-6 on 1 day rest. The Bulls are 7-2-1 against Eastern Conference teams, 7-1 against Southeast division teams, 10-3-1 in Thursday games, 13-5-1 at home against teams with winning road records, 5-2 on 1 day rest, 1-3-1 against teams with winning records, and overall, and 1-4 after a straight-up win.
Heat coach Spoelstra was livid after his team’s defensive effort Tuesday night against the Celtics. The Heat have gotten a little complacent almost like they are waiting for the playoffs to start. This is a must win game for the Heat though if they want the #1 seed and home court advantage for the playoffs. If they lose Miami will be 4 games behind Chicago with 9 games left for the Heat and just 7 for the Bulls. I look for the heat to have a better effort and pull off the mild upset on the road.
