Nets vs Bulls NBA Handicapping
If the Nets made any mistake in the leadup to their Eastern Conference quarterfinal playoff series against the Bulls, it may have been in assuming that things were going to pretty much play out the way the regular season did.
Eastern Conference
Brooklyn Nets (1-2) at Chicago Bulls (2-1)
Saturday, April 27
United Center, Chicago
10:30 p.m. EST
Spread – Bulls -3 at TopBet
O/U – 177.5
ATS Matchup Stats | Gambling Insight!
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And who could blame them, especially after Brooklyn’s 106-89 Game 1 victory in which the Nets pretty much got off whatever kind of shot they wanted for three periods before turning things over to the final for the final 8 minutes?
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But that was then and this is now, and as the teams ready for tonight’s ever-important Game 4 in Chicago, the Bulls have taken control of this series by forcing the Nets into a taffy pull – with defense dominating and open looks rarer than Kardashian sightings at public libraries.
“If we’re struggling offensively, then we need to address that,” said Nets interim head coach P.J. Carlesimo, who might be coaching for his job over the next several days. “If [that means] changing the lineup, or changing who we put on the floor, helps us to score points, then we’re going to have to do that.”
That said, Carlesimo says that he will stick with offensively challenged big Reggie Evans, who has scored a total of 9 points in 79 minutes in a performance that would make even Dennis Rodman blush. But Evans is paid to rebound, not necessarily score. Brooklyn needs more from the rest of the lineup, including Gerald Wallace, who has made only three field goals in 17 tries in the last two games.
While Carlesimo will stick with the players that got the team this far, the coach did hint that he might adjust minutes for rotation players and go to his bench earlier if the Bulls get off to a quick start for the third straight time. Carlesimo’s nightmare scenario is trying to come from behind in Chicago against a Bulls defense that ranked No. 3 in the league this season in defensive field goal percentage. [ad-6571516]
The Bulls, meanwhile, are expected to make only minor changes to the game plan. After wresting home-court edge in the series in Game 2, they know they are just 48 minutes of decent basketball away from grabbing control of this series, and 48 bad minutes away from heading back to New York 2-2.
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The O/U numbers in this series has plummeted after back-to-back unders in Game 2 and 3, falling to 177.5 from 182 (Game 3). The Bulls would love another low-scoring game.
“We did what we had to do to win the game,” said Bulls forward Carlos Boozer after Game 3, pretty much telling everyone that they will be content to walk the ball up the court and milk clock again in Game 4. Since the Nets will do everything they can to avoid just that, figure on more minutes for the likes of offensive guard MarShon Brooks.
Deron Williams (6 for his last 23 from the field) can’t be this bad, can he? Play is on the OVER.
