Tip off: 9:05 PM EST
Spread: SAS -1.5
Total: 193.5
M/L: SAS -125, CHI +105
Betting Odds from Bookmaker
Chicago
It might seem odd to see the Spurs favored here, but one must remember that the Spurs are still an elite team, and the Bulls played last night in New Orleans, winning by 4. Expect the Bulls to be a little tired, but the 24-10 Spurs are not going to give them much room to breathe, as Kawhi Leonard and Tiago Splitter are both sure to see extended time and both are pesky defenders.
The Bulls are 28-8 and atop the Central Division, but are still going to have a lot of trouble getting by Miami come playoff time. Sometimes, last year, it seemed as though the Bulls were playing one on three (Derrick Rose vs. Lebron/Wade/Bosh). I know that’s an oversimplification, but it was my reasoning for picking the Heat to take the Bulls in six games, and my reasoning this year would be the exact same. For all Luol Deng and Carlos Boozer are, they are not Wade & Bosh, and if you really want to compare alpha dogs, it’s dubious that Derrick Rose compares to LeBron James, as well.
Still, the Bulls must find a way to secure the #1 seed so they have coveted home court advantage when they do face the Heat.
Bulls betting trends:
Chicago is 2-4-1 ATS in their last 7 games and they are 5-1 SU in their last 6 games. The total has gone OVER In 5 of their last 7 games on the road and the Bulls are 5-1 SU in their last 6 on the road. The total has gone UNDER in 7 of the Bulls’ last 8 games against the San Antonio Spurs and the Bulls are 6-19 SU in their last 25 against San Antonio. The Bulls are 2-10 SU in their last 12 games on the road against The Spurs and the Bulls are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 on the road against San Antonio. The total has gone UNDER in all 5 of the Bulls’ last 5 games on the road in San Antonio.
San Antonio
It still seems strange that more people aren’t taking the 24-10 Spurs seriously. The fact that they have done this mostly without Manu Ginobili isn’t reason to count them out, but reason to count them in. When Ginobili returns, the Spurs are going to be even deeper and more dangerous, and though Tim Duncan is now up there in years, he is still an effective defender and indispensable leader on the Spurs squad.
The Spurs really do it without anyone scoring a ton of points. Throw out Tony Parker’s 19.4 per game, and no one averages more than 14 a game. DeJuan Blair, Richard Jefferson, Tiago Splitter, and Gary Neal all contribute 9 points per game to round out a balanced Spurs attack that features a 10 to 11 man rotation on some nights.
It’s hard to say a team like the Spurs can’t contend when they have so many weapons and so many proven players with experience. They were upset by the #8 seed last year, but every season there is a new reason for hope, and the Spurs reasons are based on their past success, which makes them a much more founded and palpable reality for players who are ready to seize the opportunity to do what they have already done before — namely, win a championship.
Spurs Betting Trends:
San Antonio is 11-2-1 ATS in their last 14 games and the total has gone OVER in all 5 of the Spurs last 5 games. They are 12-1 SU in their last 13 games and 15-1 SU in their last 16 at home. The total has gone UNDER In 7 of the Spurs’ last 8 games at home and it has gone UNDER In 7 of the Spurs’ last 8 games against the Bulls. The Spurs are 19-6 SU in their last 25 games against the Bulls and 10-2 SU In their last 12 games at home against Chicago. The total has gone UNDER In all 5 of the Spurs’ last 5 home games against Chicago.
