NBA Betting – Chicago Bulls @ Miami Heat Odds, Free Picks and Predictions – NBA Picks and Odds 1/29/12: The top two teams in the Eastern Conference will square off Sunday on ABC when the Chicago Bulls (17-4) meet the Miami Heat (14-5) in South Beach Sunday. The game is a rematch of last year’s conference finals, which the Heat won in five games. One season later, the two franchises still appear to be the class of the East, and a budding rivalry could be developing. It is all but certain that Miami and Chicago are going to make the postseason, and Sunday’s game is a chance for both sides to make a statement about which team is the best in the conference. It could also have long-term ramifications on the top seed come playoff time. Playing at home, Miami is a 4 ½-point favorite.
Sunday’s matchup is a classic battle of offense versus defense. Miami is the second-best scoring team in the NBA, averaging nearly 105 points per game. Meanwhile, Chicago has the best scoring defense in the league, allowing just 87.0 points per game. Needless to say, the Heat wants a fast-paced game and plenty of transition opportunities, while the Bulls want to slow the tempo and play the game in the half court. Whichever side dictates the pace is probably going to come away victorious.
After watching Miami’s victory over the New York Knicks Friday night, Chicago probably wishes Sunday’s game would have come a few days earlier. Miami shooting guard Dwyane Wade made his first start since going down with an ankle injury two weeks ago, and he looked spectacular. Wade finished with 28 points on 11 for 19 shooting and added five steals and two blocks. At full strength, the Heat is going to remind the Bulls every bit of the team that dispatched them from the playoffs one year ago.
While Wade is back in the lineup for Miami, Chicago could be without its second-best scoring option in forward Luol Deng. His wrist injury isn’t as serious as once thought, but if he does play, Deng will be dealing with some pain. Either way, extra pressure is likely to fall on the shoulders of defending MVP Derrick Rose. The point guard is having another strong season, averaging 21.9 points and 7.9 assists. However, he was stifled in the playoffs last season by Heat forward LeBron James. The size and speed combination of James has prevented Rose from penetrating the lane and from getting a clean release on his perimeter shots. Chicago is extremely dependent on Rose on the offensive end, and if James shuts him down once again, Sunday’s game is likely to be a repeat of last year’s conference finals.
James is likely to cause plenty of problems for the Bulls on the defensive end as well. His commitment to playing more in the post this year has taken his game to a new level. James is second in the NBA in scoring at more than 29 points per game. More importantly, he is shooting almost 55 percent from the field. Playing on the block has also allowed James to help out on the boards and open things up for Miami’s perimeter shooters. James is averaging more than eight rebounds and more than seven assists, and the Heat ranks fourth in the NBA in 3-point shooting percentage. Thanks to James’ expanded game, the Heat has been able to score consistently and efficiently in the half court, which was the team’s biggest weakness last season.
The X-factor in the game could be Chicago forward Carlos Boozer. With Deng hurting, he needs to step up become a reliable scoring option. He is averaging 15.2 points per game, but he hasn’t been the consistent post option the Bulls hoped he would be since joining the team. Boozer has to be aggressive and look for his shot early and often Sunday to take the pressure off Rose. If he has one of his all-too-frequent lackluster efforts, Chicago’s chances off keeping up on the offensive end are slim.t
At the end of the day, not a lot has changed with these teams since their playoff meeting last season. Chicago added shooting guard Richard Hamilton, and the Heat bolstered its bench, but the core of each team remains the same. With that in mind, James’ ability to hold Rose in gives the Heat an advantage that isn’t going away. Miami has more firepower on offense, and even against a stout Chicago defense, the Heat can still create mismatches. Meanwhile, the Bulls will likely live and die with Rose, and against James and company, that strategy has been ineffective.
Prediction: Miami Heat (-4 ½) Covers the Spread
Current Odds: Favorite – Miami -4.5 Total – OVER/UNDER 189.5
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