2013 Free NBA Picks: Game 7 Chicago Bulls @ Brooklyn Nets Odds and Predictions

2013 Free NBA Picks: Game 7 Chicago Bulls @ Brooklyn Nets Odds and Predictions : For the first and probably not the last time in the 2013 NBA playoffs, there will be a Game 7. Saturday night, the Chicago Bulls will go on the road to face the Brooklyn Nets with a spot in the Eastern Conference semifinals on the line. He fact that the series has reached this point is a bit of a shock, considering Chicago owned a 3-1 lead at one points after a furious comeback that resulted in a triple-overtime win. However, a rash of injuries and an outbreak of the flu has since decimated the Bulls’ roster and allowed the Nets to claw their way back into things. Now, Brooklyn has the deciding game on its home court and is a 6 ½-point favorite heading into its third straight elimination game.

Unfortunately for the Bulls, they aren’t going to be any healthier in Game 7 than they were in Game 6. Forget the fact that Derrick Rose has been out all year. Joakim Noah is basically playing on one leg, Kirk Hinrich is likely out with a calf injury, and Luol Deng may not even be medically cleared pending the results of a spinal tap. Granted, players like Nate Robinson and Jimmy Butler have stepped in the absence of the normal starters, and double-double machine Carlos Boozer is still pounding away for one of the NBA’s best defenses. Still, there is no doubt that the Chicago is far from 100 percent heading into the most important game of its season to date.

Of course, Brooklyn hasn’t exactly been great at closing things out throughout this series. In addition to an epic collapse in Game 4, the Nets have had to hold on down the stretch in tight win against the injury-riddled Bulls in Game 6 just to even the series. On the plus side, center Brook Lopez is enjoying a breakout series on the offensive end, and the Nets also have the best player on the court for either side in point guard Deron Williams. Not to mention the fact that aside from a hobbled Joe Johnson, the Nets are essentially healthy for Saturday’s showdown.

The Bulls Win If:

Injuries and illnesses have taken a huge toll on the Bulls, and at less than full strength, they aren’t going to be able to keep up in a high-scoring game. However, Chicago can win a defensive-minded, low-scoring battle by controlling the game with tough, physical play. Disrupting and flustering Williams will go a long way to slowing down Brooklyn’s offensive attack, and if the Bulls can force the Nets’ role players to try to create their own offense, the scoring shouldn’t get out of control. A big offensive game from Robinson would certainly help Chicago’s cause, but if the Bulls can win the hustle categories like second-chance points and points off turnovers, they can still scrape together enough points to support a stout defensive effort. At the end of the day, the Bulls need to make the style of play as ugly as possible because grinding out games is what this team does. If the game comes down to which team will do the dirty work, the Bulls should advance.

The Nets Win If:

The mindset of the Nets is going to go a long way to deciding whether or not they win Game 7 Saturday night. After all, they know they have taken back the momentum in the series and have home-court advantage as well as an edge in terms of firepower against an injury-riddle Chicago team. However, Brooklyn is asking for trouble if it doesn’t take the Bulls very seriously. Williams and company need to be in attack mode early, and while the Nets don’t have to dominate the hustle categories, they do need to at least break even. The Bulls are going to have a tough time keeping up with Brooklyn if they Nets are getting quality looks and making Chicago earn its points.

Bottom Line:

While the Nets have everything working in their favor and have no excuse not to win this game comfortably, I don’t see that happening. For one, closing out a series is tough, especially for a group of players that have never really done it together. Already in this year’s playoffs, New York and Golden State both nearly blew huge fourth-quarter leads before ultimately closing out their series. More importantly, the Bulls play with a never-say-die attitude that is backed up by an attention to defense that ranks among the best in the league. After all, we are talking about a team that earned the No. 5 seed in the Eastern Conference despite missing its star player all has been playing with its star defender at less than 100 percent for nearly half the year. Chicago doesn’t care if it looks ugly on offense and has to get a little dirty on defense as long as the end result is a win. I wouldn’t be shocked if the Bulls’ M.A.S.H. unit walked into Brooklyn and left with the win, but at the very least, I expect this game to come down to the wire.

Prediction: Chicago Bulls (+6 ½) Cover the Spread

8:05 pm (TNT) NBA Playoff – Best of Seven (Chicago/Brooklyn 3 – 3)
Chicago Bulls
Brooklyn Nets Favorite: -6½ Total: 182

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