The Bulls and Cavaliers can swap stories of their 30-point losses to Golden State when the two meet Saturday in primetime. Both teams were handed hefty defeats by the defending champs earlier in the week and the Cavs will try to even the season series after dropping a 97-95 decision in the season opener.
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SCHEDULING
After getting pummeled at home 125-94 by Golden State on Wednesday, the Bulls face Central Division rival Cleveland in the second of a back-to-back set. Chicago had a stop in Boston on Friday and wipes two road games off its schedule in two days. At the halfway point of the season, Chicago is on pace for 48 wins. That’s a respectable but disappointing number. And after Wednesday’s beatdown, they clearly have more issues to work out. The second half of the season begins with a flurry of road games. Starting with this back-to-back, the Bulls play nine of their next 10 away from home.
The Bulls have struggled in the second game of their back-to-backs this season, losing their last four both SU and ATS with three of those losses coming on the road. Chicago is not in an enviable position, either, facing a Cavs squad that hasn’t played since capsizing the Clippers, 115-102, on Wednesday night. Cleveland got over its 34-point loss to the Warriors by winning at Brooklyn and over LA. Can the Bulls find a way to right the ship after their 31-point loss to Golden State?
INJURIES
Chicago’s depth is now an issue following the loss of Joakim Noah to season-ending shoulder surgery and the prolonged absence of guard Kirk Hinrich to a quadriceps injury. Hinrich hasn’t played since sustaining the injury on Jan. 15 and isn’t expected back in the lineup until after the weekend.
So much for that hand injury Kevin Love sustained. The Cavs forward hurt his hand in Monday’s loss to Golden State, but the injury was never believed to be serious. We can forget all about it now. In two games since, Love has 35 points and 34 rebounds while playing just over 30 minutes in each outing.
KEY MATCHUP
LeBron James put it best after the Cavs were throttled by Golden State on Monday, reminding his teammates and the fans in Cleveland that it was just one game. The Cavs caught a break in the schedule with the Nets following the Warriors. Cleveland took advantage by knocking off Brooklyn and dispatched one of the Western Conference’s other top teams in the Clippers. Forward Kevin Love played with a chip on his shoulder. He turned in subpar efforts during recent losses to San Antonio and Golden State, shooting a combined 5 of 15 from the field. He could barely stay on the court against the Warriors as he struggled to matchup with any of their interchangeable parts. Those outings were forgotten. Love drained three of his six three-point attempts to go with 18 points, 16 rebounds, two assists and a steal against LA. That came after a 17-point, 18-rebound outing against the Nets.
ODDS AND PREDICTION
The Cavaliers responded to the Golden State loss the way good teams do – they won. And they won the next one after that, because they’re a good team. Are they capable of beating the Warriors and the Spurs? Well, they haven’t done it yet this season, but if the Cavs do match up against one of those clubs in the spring, who knows what can happen in a seven-game series. But we’re getting ahead of ourselves. Now it’s the Bulls turn to respond after taking their lumps from the Warriors. Can they prove to be a good NBA team with victories following their blowout loss to the Dubs? Chicago has shown signs of being more than a good team, just not enough. And the roster doesn’t appear to be made for what coach Fred Hoiberg is trying to do. The Bulls will also be playing the second of a back-to-back and that’s something the veteran group has had trouble with recently, going 0-4 both SU and ATS in the last four such situations.
Cleveland 108, Chicago 101
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