With Blake Griffin’s locker room altercation and resulting hand injury taking up the headlines, it’s easy to forget that the Clippers are playing very good basketball right now. Since Griffin went out with his initial quad injury, the team is 12-3 SU and 11-4 ATS.
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ODDS ANALYSIS
Conversely to the Clippers recent run of success, the Bulls are reeling right now, dropping seven of their last 10 games SU and covering the spread in just two of those games.
Of course, amongst the losses are some good opponents, including a shellacking at the hands of Golden State, but Los Angeles is a solid team in its own right.
WHEN THE CHICAGO BULLS ARE ON OFFENSE
The Bulls are a very good rebounding team, setting themselves up with a number of opportunities, but a 43.3 percent field goal showing has the team sitting in the middle of the pack in points scored per game.
With rebounds being such a big key, the loss of Joakim Noah has been substantial. Even though he was averaging just 4.3 PPG, since his injury, the Bulls are only 2-4, scoring as few as 77 against Dallas and eclipsing 100 points just twice.
A hamstring injury to Derrick Rose cut back the Bulls’ offensive production against Miami its last time out as Rose scored just four in 13 minutes while nursing a sore hamstring. Before that game, however, Rose had strung together a number of strong games as he and Jimmy Butler, when healthy, form a dominant backcourt tandem.
Rose is averaging 15.3 PPG this season which is third on the team behind Butler’s 22.3 PPG and Pau Gasol’s 16.6.
Rebounding shouldn’t be an issue for Gasol and the Bulls. The Clippers struggle in the rebounding game, instead focusing on shooting accuracy to score. Of course, with the Bulls’ low shooting percentage, keep an eye on their accuracy against a solid defense.
Even with a rebounding edge, if their shooting percentage in this game dips much below their season average, fade the Bulls.
WHEN THE LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS ARE ON OFFENSE
Defensively, the Bulls are holding their opponents to an NBA best 42.5 percent mark from the floor and a 32.7 percent figure from behind the arc. That form of tenacious defense could provide issues for the Clippers, although Los Angeles is scoring 104 PPG and shooting 46 percent from the field.
Since Griffin’s injury, the offense and defense have looked different, but the team’s been able to rack up the SU and ATS wins so something is working. That something is the backcourt.
Between Chris Paul, J.J. Redick and Jamal Crawford, this team is stacked at the guard position. Last time out, both Paul and Redick managed just 23 combined points as the team’s starters, but Crawford helped pick them up recording 21-points off the bench.
Keep close tabs on how well Butler and Rose are able to handle this trio on defense.
Don’t bank on the forwards being able to pick up Paul and company. Paul Pierce is a great veteran presence, but hasn’t been able to carry a team for a couple years.
BETTING TRENDS AND MATCHUPS
Without Blake Griffin in the fold, Paul and company have really stepped up their game. Watching Paul, Redick and Crawford against Butler and Rose will be fun, but perhaps the biggest matchup to watch is that between the teams’ biggest players: centers DeAndre Jordan and Pau Gasol.
Since Griffin’s injury, nearly all of the team’s production on the glass has fallen to Jordan who’s averaging 13.6 RPG and 11.9 PPG.
In his last game, Jordan recorded 19 rebounds in his second straight game, reaching at least 13 in five of his last six games. The Clippers are a below average rebounding team, but watch how many Jordan is able to reel in.
If he’s able to keep the rebounding war close early against Gasol and the Bulls, back Los Angeles to cover. By comparison to Jordan, Gasol’s rebounding totals are paltry at 10.9. Of course, he’s got a lot more help on the matter.
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