The last time Atlanta won a game, the Hawks were parading around the United Center floor following a 113-90 thumping of the Bulls. That was over two weeks ago prior to the All-Star break. The Hawks are 0-3 SU and ATS since.
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SCHEDULING
The Bulls won their third straight game by knocking off the Wizards on Wednesday. The outcome wasn’t surprising considering Washington was playing its fifth game in seven nights, but how Chicago got the win was. With Derrick Rose sitting out with an injury, the Bulls were more shorthanded and played with desperation and a sense of urgency. The Bulls improved to 6-2 without the former MVP, whose absence led to some funky lineup combinations. Chicago began a stretch of three games in four nights with Wednesday’s win, and play five times in eight days. The depleted group could use Rose for the upcoming stretch.
As we enter the dog days of the NBA season, the Hawks no longer resemble a team with legitimate title aspirations. In fact, the team is trending in the opposite direction as losers of three straight since the All-Star break, all at home and 0-3 ATS, and six of their past 10 overall. The season was supposed to develop much differently. While many are asking what’s wrong with the Hawks, the prevailing theory is that they overachieved last season and caught many off guard. That hasn’t happened this year and several players responsible for the success last season have seen their production slip. The Hawks have three full days off before hitting the hardwood against the Bulls and look to end a four-game home skid overall. The Hawks are just 1-6 SU and ATS in their past seven games and have fallen to seventh in the East.
INJURIES
Rose skipped Wednesday’s game with a sore hamstring and said the injury is minor. He made the decision not to play and rested for precautionary reasons. The Bulls remain without Jimmy Butler and Nikola Mirotic, who are not expected back until the middle of March at the earliest.
Hawks reserve center Tiago Splitter opted to have surgery on his hip, a procedure that will keep him out for the remainder of the season.
KEY MATCHUP
You can’t say Pau Gasol isn’t a team player. The Bulls needed him more than ever Wednesday with Rose pulling himself from the lineup, and the big man delivered. Gasol shook off an illness that forced him out of Tuesday’s practice and into the trainer’s room for treatment just before tipoff to narrowly miss a triple-double with 10 points, 15 rebounds and nine assists. He was too ill to address reporters postgame. Gasol has been the one constant for the Bulls all season as they work through injuries and lineup combinations to try and stay competitive and in the playoff picture in the Eastern Conference. Gasol has played in 53 of the team’s 56 games, leads the team with 10.8 rebounds per contest and is second in scoring at 16.9 per outing. At less than 100 percent, Gasol was able to nearly put up a triple-double and should have an advantage against Al Horford, who gives up four inches in height.
ANALYSIS AND ODDS PREDICTION
I guess all the Bulls needed was for their top scorer and versatile swingman to go down with injuries before they started winning. Take the former MVP out of the equation and the W’s continue. It took a few games, but the Bulls are competing at a high level with guys who were riding the pine for much of the NBA season. Rose sits with a tweaked hammy, so Aaron Brooks runs the offense flawlessly. E’Twaun Moore looks like a seasoned veteran and Bobby Portis and Doug McDermott step up with big games. Who needs those high-priced superstars? Fred Hoiberg is a college coach and maybe he just needed to work with guys who are willing to be coached. We can’t say if the current run will last and the Bulls are a much better team with Rose, Butler and Mirotic in the lineup, but for now, they are playing with desperation and they look good.
Chicago 108, Atlanta 101
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