The Clippers have played just eight road games this season, the fewest of any Western Conference team, but will make that up over the next few weeks. Los Angeles is in the middle of a five-game road trip and a stretch where it plays 12 of 14 away from Staples Center. That might not be a bad thing for a group that set a franchise record for road wins last season.
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SCHEDULING
The first 21 games of the season have been anything but pretty for the Clippers. At least now they are starting to grind out some ugly wins. The Clips got some good news at the start of their current five-game road trip when Chris Paul and J.J. Redick both returned to the lineup after missing games due to injury. Paul’s return was unexpected as he was questionable to play when the club opened the trip with a win in Minnesota on Monday. Los Angeles will play the first three of the trip in a span of four days with the game against the Bulls coming a day after the Clips play in Milwaukee. The Clippers have lost the back end of a back-to-back both times on the road and are 2-3 SU and ATS in such games.
The Bulls will have to overcome their Monday melt down in a hurry as they also will be playing the second game of a back-to-back set. At least Chicago’s contest in Boston on Wednesday can take the sting away from blowing an 18-point fourth quarter lead and losing by a pair to the Suns, who were playing their fifth game in seven nights. The scary part about the loss, other than completely imploding in the fourth quarter, was that the Bulls didn’t seem to have an answer as to why they are struggling. It was also the first time the Bulls lost consecutive games this season as the Fred Hoiberg hit its low point to date.
INJURIES
Paul made a surprise return to the lineup Monday after missing the previous two games with a rib injury. He experienced no problems after the game, but his shooting may have been affected. Paul was just 5 of 14 from the field in the win over Minnesota.
After experiencing a setback in his recovery from offseason back surgery, Bulls guard Mike Dunleavy isn’t expected to resume on-court work for another four to six weeks. Dunleavy has yet to play in a game this season. Also, guard Aaron Brooks is dealing with a hamstring injury and is questionable to play this week.
KEY MATCHUP
Clippers forward Blake Griffin is already a star in the NBA, but he doesn’t want to be a one trick pony on the court, so he works on everything. Griffin’s game has been evolving over the years and he’s putting up mind-boggling numbers this season. He’s averaging a career-high 24.4 points as well as 8.6 rebounds and 4.8 assists. As noteworthy as anything, he’s shooting a career-best from 16 feet and beyond out to the three-point line, in a season when he’s taking nearly 43 percent of his shots from that distance. He’s shooting better than 52 percent from the floor overall. Griffin is the owner of a sweet mid-range jumper. Players who are 6-foot-10 and 250 pounds aren’t supposed to shoot as gracefully as Griffin. They’re not supposed to be able to facilitate the way he does either. His vision and passing skills are superb. And opposing teams can’t defend him. The Bulls have no one in the same league as Griffin and with Paul nursing sore ribs, expect him to get his chances at some monstrous numbers.
ODDS AND PREDICTION
The Bulls are still trying to figure out how to work in Hoiberg’s offense, one that was supposed to bring fun and excitement back to the United Center on a nightly basis. There are still times when the team looks unsure of what they’re supposed to be doing. Many players are still holding out hope that this group is struggling because it hasn’t found its groove, that they are going through the adjustment of learning what a new coach expects each night. The broader issue is that there are times when the Bulls just don’t play as hard as they need to. And against a talented Clippers team, that won’t get it done. Chicago will be in position to claim a top seed come playoff time, but they are still searching. In the meantime, the Clippers take advantage.
Los Angeles 106, Chicago 99
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Don’t miss out on getting paid because you couldn’t bet, click here and deposit at BookMaker now! The contest between the Los Angeles Clippers and Chicago Bulls will take place Thursday, December 10, 2015, at 8 p.m. ET at the United Center. The contest will be broadcast nationally on TNT.
