Posted on
1/8/2008 1:32:36 PM
NBA Betting - New York Knicks vs. Chicago Bulls
By Mike Rose
This will be the fourth and final meeting these teams will have against each other this season unless either team puts forth miraculous efforts the rest of the way and meet up in the post-season. That being said, the Bulls own a 2-1 series advantage and will look to win the season series for the third season in a row. The Knicks have been the laughing stock of the NBA betting all season long, and it’s been really hard to fathom how this team has been kept together through this point of the season. As for the Bulls, they’ve played much better ball under interim Head coach Jim Boylan. They’re 4-3 SU, but that mark includes a pair of OT home losses to the Orlando Magic and Portland Trailblazers.
Chicago opened up as 7-point home favorites with the ‘Total’ set at 190. To date, the Bulls own a 7-9 SU mark at home. That record includes the 94-93 victory they earned their last time out against Sacramento when Ben Wallace made a free throw to put them up one and had a crucial block in the closing seconds to preserve the win. New York has managed one win in 14 tries on the road this season, and that win came all the way back on December 5th when they went into New Jersey and beat the Nets by a 100-93 final count.
The Knicks are a combined 10-15 ATS (40%) on the road vs. sub .500 non-divisional Eastern Conference opponents this season. Certainly a team spread bettors should look to avoid, but the Bulls come in an even worse 11-20 ATS combined at home vs. sub .500 non-divisional Eastern Conference opponents. The Knicks have covered two of their three contests this season winning 85-78 as 3-point home pups back in late November and losing 101-96 as 10-point road dogs in mid December. Even though NY is 3-8 ATS their L/11 on the road, they’re a moneymaking 5-2 ATS (71%) on the road vs. teams with a losing home record. They have a punchers chance here tonight with one of Chicago’s better players, Luol Deng, out with Achilles tendinitis.
Total players take note: The Under is 5-1 ATS the L/6 overall meetings, and 5-2 ATS their L/7 meetings in the Windy City. However, the Knicks have played to the Over in 4 of their L/5, and its cashed in seven straight road games. As for the Bulls, the Over is 4-3 ATS since HC Boylan replaced Scott Skiles and their averaging 100 PPG during that stretch (6 more than season average of 94).
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