NBA Playoffs Betting – Friday Picks – Chicago Bulls vs Atlanta Hawks
Before nba betting fans turn their attention to more basketball betting events this week, we have some more good NBA Playoff gambling matchups to pick on tap, and our man Lawrence weighs in with his picks for game 1 of the Celtics vs. Heat . It’s time for our weekly Playoff hoops picks for NBA gambling action.
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BULLS vs. HAWKS
Time: Friday 7 p.m. EST
Venue: Philips Arena, Atlanta
Spread: Bulls -2.5
Over/Under: 178
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Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau has a tough decision to make regarding power forward Carlos Boozer, who by all accounts is dealing with a painful toe injury that is limiting his mobility and preventing him from getting any lift. That’s a huge problem because Boozer was absolutely taken to the cleaners by Atlanta’s Josh Smith in Game 2, even though Chicago found a way to win and even the series.
Boozer, who was signed as a free agent almost as a consolation prize when Chicago didn’t seem all that interested in LeBron James, was the proverbial horse at the 4 spot for the Bulls during the regular season was the perfect counterpoint to MVP Derrick Rose. Without Boozer’s inside presence Chicago drops to the 3 or 4 seed in the East, perhaps lower than that.
After a more-than-solid regular season (17.5 ppg on 51.8 percent shooting), Boozer’s scoring has taken a dramatic downturn in the playoffs. Indiana held him to four points in Game 3 and just two in Game 5, and he hasn’t been much better against the Hawks – in Game 2 vs. Atlanta Boozer scored just 8 on 4-of-12 shooting, and had three shots blocked by Smith. Boozer did manage to get 11 rebounds in that game, though.
Recovery time for a turf toe injury can be in the 4- to 6-week range, but the Bulls – who have squandered home-court advantage and badly need at least a split of the next two games (in Atlanta) – have showed no indication that Boozer will be getting any extended time on the bench. For his part, Boozer says that he’s willing to give it a go in Game 3 tonight. Beyond that, who knows?
NBA Trends:
CHI are 10-4 ATS in their last 14 road games.
Under is 9-4 in CHI last 13 overall.
Under is 21-10 in CHI last 31 vs. NBA Southeast.
Under is 8-0 in ATL last 8 home games.
ATL are 6-2 ATS in their last 8 home games.
ATL are 6-2 ATS in their last 8 games overall.
Over is 7-2 in the last 9 meetings in Atlanta.
Over is 9-4 in the last 13 meetings.
BEST BET: The Hawks were a reliable under play during the regular season, going over the number just 34 of 82 games. But somehow, some way they have morphed into a different team in the playoffs after losing their final 6 heading into the post-season.
Figure on lots of energy in their first home game of the series, with a play on the over.
Lawrence Paul is a regular contributor to the Cappers Picks Blog, and is a free-lance gambling expert from Massachusetts.
