Posted on
4/14/2008 4:05:20 PM
NBA Basketball Betting - Chicago at Milwaukee
By Charles Jay
WHO: Chicago Bulls (31-49 SU, 34-46 ATS) at Milwaukee Bucks (26-54 SU, 34-45-1 ATS)
WHERE: Bradley Center in Milwaukee
WHEN: Monday, April 14 at 8 PM ET
It's a BetUS NBA betting matchup involving non-contenders, as the Chicago Bulls make the short 90-mile sojourn north to face the Milwaukee Bucks.
In the HEAD-to-HEAD sportsbook NBA betting trends:
* MIL has covered four of the last six meetings
* CHI has won six of the last seven meetings SU
* Five of the last seven meetings have gone OVER the total
* The road team has covered five of the last six meetings
* CHI has had the shooting edge in four of the last five meetings
Chicago has pulled down 43.1 rebounds a game, as well as 7.7 steals. The Bulls have lost 28 of their last 40 road games. Also:
* CHI has lost 13 of its last 19 games SU
* CHI has covered two of its last eight games
* CHI has played its last five games UNDER the total
* CHI has lost eight of its last nine road games SU
* CHI has covered three of its last nine road games
Milwaukee has surrendered 103.3 points a game, which is only 23rd best in the league. Part of that is because the Bucks have yielded 47.8% shooting, which is 29th in the NBA. Also:
* MIL has lost its last six games SU
* MIL has covered four of its last 12 games
* MIL has played four of its last six games UNDER the total
* MIL has lost nine of its last 11 home games SU
* MIL has covered three of its last 11 home games
Charlie Villanueva has sat out the last couple of games, which is a concern for the Bucks since he has scored 38 and 22 points in last two full games. Milwaukee has been inconsistent on offense lately, averaging just 92 points in the last three, thought they shot 54% from the floor (60% from the arc) against the Nets. It's been a tough stretch of games for Michael Redd, who made just three field goals against New Jersey. Mo Williams has sat out five straight contests. Yi Jianlian, Charlie Bell and Michael Ruffin missed the last game as well.
Chicago, though, is playing out the string, and got a very indifferent effort out of Ben Gordon against Orlando on Sunday, as he made just one shot from the field. Joakim Noah is progressing, but the Bulls still don't have a lot of power on the inside, and that's tough for a team that ranks last in field goal percentage. Andres Nocioni played well last night, but he is being used with too little consistency by coach Jim Boylan. Are we seeing the last of Gordon and Luol Deng in a Chicago uniform?
On the technical side, the Bulls have not been very proficient at playing the back end of back-to-backs as a road team, covering in just four of 12 outings. And Milwaukee has given up 100 points or moe in 12 straight games. It's easier to pick a loser than a winner.
But we trust Chicago less, because of the erratic nature of the decision-making and the instability of the personnel and coaching situation. At least the Bucks have a newly-named general manager (John Hammond) they have to impress.
In the BetUS NBA betting odds, we'll grab the Bucks at home in this game, and like them a little better of they can get Villanueva into the lineup. .
JAY'S PREDICTION: MILWAUKEE BY 7
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(Charles Jay of http://www.eBookies.com is a freelance writer and handicapper who not only can make his shots from the top of the key, but also contributes with gusto to the BetUS Locker Room)