The Bulls are currently dead even with the Boston Celtics
for first place in the East. They can momentarily hold the top spot with a win
Tuesday against Atlanta and I fully expect them to be sitting at the top
tonight.
Chicago had won eight straight before a 108-115 overtime
loss to the Indiana Pacers.
However Derrick Rose and company got back on track in style
with a 132-92 thumping at home over the Sacramento Kings this past Monday.
The Bulls were favored by 15.5 points heading into the game
but ended up covering with ease as eight different players scored in double
figures.
Rose had 18 points and eight assists while Joakim Noah came
through with 14 points and nine rebounds. In his first game back from injury,
Carlos Boozer put up 16 points (6-of-10 FG), five boards and four assists.
We'll see if they'll perform at a high level again in
Tuesday's trip to Atlanta.
The Atlanta Hawks are in the midst of a rough stretch, having lost
six of their last nine ahead of this forthcoming game.
They did however overcome Detroit over the weekend in a
104-96 victory. It was a balanced effort for Atlanta, who got 10 or more points
out of six players.
Al Horford really stood out though, chalking up 18 points,
10 rebounds and six assists in over 42 minutes of play.
Keep backing a red-hot Chicago squad
The Chicago Bulls are a solid 20-7 ATS in their last 27 matchups
overall and have covered in four of their last five road games.
However they've struggled at the betting window against
Atlanta recently, going just 2-7 ATS in the last nine meetings between the two
squads. Chicago has also failed to cover in its previous four visits to
Atlanta.
It hasn't been a great few weeks for the Hawks, who are a
mediocre 4-6 ATS over their last 10 games. They'll try to secure a win as
4-point underdogs in Tuesday's encounter.
The last time these two Eastern Conference foes squared off,
the Bulls won easily, 94-76 as 7.5-point favorites in the NBA odds.
That said, I'm predicting another victory for a Chicago team
that should be even harder to beat now that Carlos Boozer has returned to the
fold.
This great run for the Bulls has pushed them all the way to
the top of the standings and they'll be itching to stay there.
Over their last five, they've averaged 108.0 points while
allowing just 91.8. They've also hauled down an average of 45.0 rebounds in
that span, almost 10 more than the Hawks who have pulled down 36.4.
That dominance on the boards should hand Chicago a lot of
second looks at the basket and in the end I feel Derrick Rose will again fuel
his team to the win on Tuesday. Kirk Hinrich is in for a long night against the
former Memphis star.
NBA Free Pick: Continue to ride the Bulls train for
as long as possible