Bulls vs Wizards NBA Picks
The Bulls were in desperation mode heading into G3 and they came away with a close victory on the road. [ad-4468020]
Chicago Bulls (1-2) vs. Washington Wizards (2-1)
Sunday April 27
Verizon Center – Washington, DC
1:00PM
Moneyline: Washington -140, Chicago +120
Spread: Washington -2.5
Total: 182
Chicago
They are still in that same mode as far as I am concerned heading into G4 as they have already proven that they cannot defend their home court.
Look for this one to be another intense battle against two teams that seem more equally matched than originally anticipated. All the games have been pretty close and this one should be too.
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The biggest difference in G3 for the Bulls was the shooting of Mike Dunleavy. We all know he is capable of hitting from beyond the arc but in this series he had been pretty quiet before exploding for 35 points while making 8 of 10 from deep.
The Bulls generally struggle to score so this gave them a big lift. I am not sure they can count on it again in G4 but it took some pressure off of D.J. Augustin. Who is still not shooting well in this series.
All season long I have been down on the Bulls because of their lack of scoring. Their spirit in the last game was admirable but I wonder if they can sustain it another game. Watch this one closely.
If the number gets beyond a possession than I like the value a lot more on Chicago.
Till then I am not sure.
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Washington
I know I have been high on the Wizards but I did not really think they were going to sweep the Bulls right out of the playoffs.
I thought they might drop game four after pushing the series to 3-0 but now that they have got their one loss out of the way I think they can recover and play well to get the victory on Sunday.
They did not play badly in G3, they just let a hot shooter do way too much damage.
Nene did not foul out of G3 but it was his lack of production that might have been the difference.
In the first two games he was an efficient inside scorer and rebounder, teaming with Marcin Gortat to dominate inside but last time out he made just ⅓ of his shots while collecting just 4 rebounds, negating the 48 points put up by the backcourt duo of John Wall and Bradley Beal.
The Wizards bench also gave them next to nothing in G3.
Washington is the favourite again in G4 but time and again it is a role they are proving they are not comfortable with.
The have dramatic splits between being the favourite (18-21-1 ATS) and the underdog (26-17-1). However, when a spread is this slim it makes it harder to really rely on those kinds of numbers.
I think they were due to come down from their road win high and will be better on Sunday.
Spread prediction: Washington -2.5
Total prediction: Over
Score prediction: Washington 101 – Chicago 95
