NBA Basketball
2013-05-04 - Chicago Bulls at Brooklyn Nets
A Sports Betting Pick by FirstDown
United States: NBA Basketball Play Offs
Saturday 4 May 2013 - Tip Off 8pm
1am (British Time)
Preview
The only First Round series to go to Game 7 takes place on Saturday and all of the attention is on this one as the sole NBA Play Off game to be played. The winner of the contest will get an opportunity to take on the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference Semi Finals, but it is tough to separate the Brooklyn Nets and the Chicago Bulls.
Home court will certainly give Brooklyn the edge, but the Bulls are a battle hardened unit that have already won here in the Play Offs. However, there has to be some mental baggage for Chicago who had the chance to close this series on Thursday night at home and were beaten.
Injuries have affected Chicago all season, the most notable absentee being Derrick Rose who is unlikely to play this season regardless of what happens in Game 7. Now a flu virus has spread in the locker room with the likes of Nate Robinson and Taj Gibson being ill and Luol Deng unlikely to play in this one having had meningitis-like symptoms.
Kirk Hinrich's absence in the last two games has made it tough for Chicago to deal with Deron Williams of the Nets and the latter has found his groove when being matched with the undersized Robinson.
With Williams being able to run the offense, the Nets have got things going from Joe Johnson and Brook Lopez. The one issue is whether they can cope with the game from a mental standpoint having almost blown Game 6 and definitely blowing Game 4, both on the road in Chicago.
On the other hand, Brooklyn have blown out Chicago twice at home in this series and there is a definite feeling that they are the better team. There have been long stretches when the Nets have found scoring far too easy and they have had double digit leads in each of the last four games in this series.
Head to Head
Chicago will finish with the lead in the season series regardless of the result of Game 7, but the most important series win will be one who makes it 4-3 in this First Round.
Brooklyn are 3-2 at home in the five games played here.
Prediction
I think the Bulls are likely getting too many points in this one, especially with the way that Brooklyn have choked in a couple of games in this series.
However, I have more belief in the fact that both offenses have had their success in this one and so backing the over 181.5 points is my pick.
The Pick :
Brooklyn Nets 95-93 Chicago Bulls
BEST BETTING TIP :
I'll back Over 181.5 Points @ 1.95
