Time is running out on the Chicago Bulls. They've only got two weeks left to close two games on the Pistons for that last playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, and they might not have a choice but to beat the Cleveland Cavaliers on Saturday night to keep their hopes realistically alive.
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SCHEDULING
Neither one of these teams is in a particularly tough scheduling spot. The Cavaliers play against the Pacers on Wednesday night before going against Chicago on Saturday. The Bulls take on the Heat on Thursday and are off Friday.
The real key for live bettors though, is the importance of the game. Cleveland has already basically wrapped up the top seed in the East, and it might have that all locked up mathematically come Saturday night. The Bulls obviously will need this one, and the fact that this is their last really big home game of the year should help bolster the crowd as well.
KEY MATCHUP
If the Bulls don't get into the playoffs this year, one will be able to point at injuries for sure. However, we're pointing the finger straight at first-year head coach Fred Hoiberg.
Hoiberg wants to play fast, and that's all fine and dandy, but the fact that he's refused to use two big men on the court at the same time has turned this team into less of a defensive force than it could've been.
The Cavaliers are big, and trying to fit together a lineup with Derrick Rose, Jimmy Butler, Mike Dunleavy, Doug McDermott and Pau Gasol against LeBron James, Tristan Thompson and Kevin Love just isn't going to work, especially if Rose and Butler aren't dominant on the offensive end of the floor.
We'll have to see if Bobby Portis has an increased role in this game. When he's playing the de facto center position along with Gasol as the power forward, it's been a strong lineup for the Bulls, and we think live bettors should highlight moments when those two are on the court together to try to back Chicago.
KEY STATS & TRENDS
For all of the grief we've given the Bulls this year, they've managed to cover all three of their games against Cleveland, and they've even won two of the three SU. It's entirely possible that they catch the Cavs napping in this one and roll out another victory, but we have no doubt which one of these teams is the stronger one in this potential playoff preview.
Cleveland's form right now is very good. The team has won its last four games and covered the closing number in each.
The Bulls are just 23-26 against conference foes this season, but they're 9-6 in division play, tied for the top mark in the Central with Detroit.
James has been doing it all of late, but live bettors should take note of the amount of minutes he's on the court. He was only out there for 28 minutes against the Bucks on Tuesday night, and the fact that no one logged 30 minutes for the game and the entire bench was used might be a sign of throwing in the towel for the rest of the regular season since it's effectively meaningless.
NBA Odds at BookMaker.eu
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Mobile betting lines are updated by the minute so click here to start gambling on thrilling live action at BookMaker Sportsbook! The duel between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Chicago Bulls will take place at the United Center on Saturday, April 9, 2016. This 8:30 p.m. ET kickoff can be seen live on ABC.
