NBA Basketball
2013-04-22 - Chicago Bulls at Brooklyn Nets
A Sports Betting Pick by FirstDown
United States: NBA Basketball Play Offs
Monday 22 April 2013 - Tip Off 8pm
1am (British Time)
Preview
The Play Offs had some interesting games to open the series over the weekend as all of the home teams won Game 1 in each series. That means the Brooklyn Nets have a 1-0 lead over the Chicago Bulls after blowing them out on Saturday behind a very impressive first half performance.
Brooklyn have been playing well down the stretch and they continued that into the Play Offs by hitting Chicago hard very early into Game 1. A second quarter where they went 16/20 from the field gave the Nets a comfortable 25 point lead at half time and it never looked like a lead they would relinquish.
However, the Nets have their heads screwed on straight enough to believe that Chicago will be much better prepared for this Game 2. The Bulls spent all of Sunday watching film of Game 1 and they still have enough experience in the rotation to know what they need to do.
Derrick Rose's continuing absence is taking a lot of the attention from the fans, but Chicago have made it clear that they are not going to risk him until the All-Star tells them he feels comfortable to go. Tom Thibodeau made it clear that he has no issue with Rose, while he also admitted that he is going to expect more from Joakim Noah who returned to the rotation on Saturday.
The Nets will be hoping the crowd can get behind the team in the same manner they did on Saturday when there was an organised 'blackout'. It was clear the crowd provided extra motivation to the players in the first Play Off game in Brooklyn since the 1956 World Series.
Head to Head
The win for Brooklyn means they have cut the season series to 2-3.
Brooklyn won Game 1 by 17 points even though the first four games in the regular season had been decided by a combined 18 points.
Prediction
Yes, the Chicago Bulls were blown out in Game 1 of the series, but I think they will make more of a fight in Game 2.
I am going to look for them to get back to the defensive shape that has defined the Bulls in recent seasons and I am going to take the points in this case.
The Pick :
Brooklyn Nets 88-94 Chicago Bulls
BEST BETTING TIP :
I'll back the Chicago Bulls - 5 Points @ 1.95
