Posted on
3/6/2008 3:05:35 PM
NBA Betting Free Picks - Cleveland Cavaliers at Chicago Bulls
By Eric Williams
The Chicago Bulls, (24-36 SU, 26-34 ATS, 30-28-2 O/U), Face a tall task in stopping MVP candidate LeBron James tonight, as James come into this affair off one of his best games ever as a professional.
James was downright breathtaking in scoring 50, pulling down 10 rebounds and dishing out eight assists in the Cleveland Cavaliers’, (34-26 SU, 28-32 ATS, 29-29-2 O/U), 119-105 win over the New York Knicks in Madison Square Garden.
"I've dreamed about playing well in this building and it's overtaken of how I could ever dream about," James said, about the Knicks’ home court. "To get a standing ovation in the greatest basketball arena in the world, it was a dream come true for me. It's one of the best things that's ever happened to me."
James, who leads the NBA in scoring, averaging a whopping 30.6 points per game, has led the Cavaliers to three consecutive wins and six in the Cavs’ last ten games. Wednesday night’s performance helped James become the first player with at least 50 points, 10 assists and eight rebounds in a game since Kareem Abdul-Jabbar accomplished the feat on Jan. 19, 1975.
James also led the Cavaliers to a 95-86 win at home against the Bulls last Sunday, in the teams’ first meeting since pulling off a trade that altered both franchises’ rosters significantly.
Chicago has won just four of its last ten games, but picked up a convincing 112-97 victory over the lowly Memphis Grizzlies on Tuesday as former Cavalier Drew Gooden and Luol Deng each scored 21 points.
The Cavaliers have covered the spread in two consecutive games and three of four while Chicago covered as 11.-5-point favorites against the Grizzlies but failed to cover the spread in their two previous contests.
Chicago second-year forward Tyrus Thomas will begin serving a two-game suspension tonight for missing practice on Wednesday.
Here is a look at tonight’s key trends, followed by my analysis and NBA Gambling Free Picks:
The Cavaliers are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games vs. a team with a losing S.U. record.
The Cavaliers are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games playing on 0 days rest.
The Bulls are 7-1 ATS in their last 8 when their opponent allows 100 points or more in their previous game.
The Bulls are 6-2 ATS in their last 8 when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game
The Over is 6-0-1 in Cavaliers last 7 road games vs. a team with a losing home record.
The Over is 4-0 in Bulls last 4 when their opponent allows 100 points or more in their previous game.
The Over is 5-1 in the last 6 meetings in Chicago.
The Cavaliers are 7-2 ATS in the last 9 meetings.
Analysis: This pick is a near “lock” as the Cavaliers should be able to handle Chicago, even at home, with a red-hot LeBron James burning up the nets. Take the Cavaliers, who are surprisingly, an underdog in this matchup, to cover the spread and likely win outright.
NBA Free Picks: Cleveland +3½ Points/Under 193½ Total Points
07:05 PM EST Basketball Point Spreads
Cleveland Cavaliers +3½ -110
Chicago Bulls -3½ -110
Over 193½ -110
Under 193½ -110
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