The Golden State Warriors have been absolutely dominant on their home floor this season. The Dubs haven’t lost at home in well over two months, and have been blowing their opponents out of the water thanks to Klay Thompson and company shooting the lights out.
But the Chicago Bulls have been strong on the road and will have an in-form Derrick Rose to lead them in search of another road win at The Oracle. Read on below for our preview of this star-studded NBA showdown.
Speaking of stars, LeBron James and his Cleveland Cavaliers are on the rise. Click here as we preview their search for a seventh-straight win against the Detroit Pistons.
[sc:NBAArticles ]Chicago Bulls vs. Golden State Warriors Betting Preview
Where: The Oracle Arena, Oakland
When: Tuesday, January 27, 10:30 PM ET
Line: Chicago Bulls vs. Golden State Warriors – view all NBA lines
Betting on the Chicago Bulls
The Chicago Bulls’ inexplicable home struggles continued on Sunday as they lost to the Miami Heat, 96-84. It was their fourth loss in their last five games at the United Center. The loss also snapped the Bulls’ two-game winning streak and dropped them to just 4-7 in their last 11.
[sc:NBA240banner ]Despite shooting a poor 35.6 percent against Miami, offense hasn’t been that big of a problem for the Bulls lately. They’re averaging 99.6 points per game over their last 10 games, but when adjusted for pace, they’re actually the seventh most efficient offense during that stretch.
Derrick Rose has played well, scoring at least 18 points in the last nine games he’s played. And despite a drop in scoring from Jimmy Butler, who’s averaging four points per game less in January, they’ve still been able to get steady production off the bench from Taj Gibson and Aaron Brooks.
It’s on defense where the Bulls remain to have problems. They are tied for the fourth-worst defensive rating in the league over the last 10 games, giving up 107.3 points per 100 possessions. Defensive anchor Joakim Noah has played the past two games after missing the previous four with an ankle injury, but he is still not moving well enough to play like his Defensive Player of the Year-caliber self.
But the Bulls remain very good at defending the three-point line. They’re giving up the least number of threes attempted per game this season, and are second in least made threes allowed. Another stellar defensive effort from beyond the arc should limit the damage of the Splash Brothers and help the Bulls keep within striking distance in Golden State.
Moreover, the Bulls actually have the fifth-best defensive rating on the road this season (100.6 points per 100 possessions), which has helped them to a 16-6 record away from the United Center.
Create a betting account now and get good value on one of the NBA’s better road warriors.
Betting on the Golden State Warriors
The Golden State Warriors have made a glittering start to 2015. The Dubs are 10-1 (9-1-1 against the spread) to start the New Year, and have won five in a row. Four of those five wins have come at home as the Warriors have padded onto their league-best 20-1 home record and current 19-game home winning streak.
They had gone 8-0-1 against the spread in their last nine home games prior to Sunday’s close 114-111 win over the Celtics, in which they failed to cover.
Klay Thompson followed up his career-high 52 point effort against the Sacramento Kings on Friday with 31 more against the Celtics. Thompson is averaging close to 27 points per game in January, and shooting just as well from the three point line (54.1 percent) as he is overall (54.3 percent).
Thompson has led a Warriors offense that has been close to unstoppable since the turn of the calendar. They are averaging an absurd 118 points per game in their last 11 games, a full six points more than the second-place Clippers over that stretch. They also own a plus-16.5 point differential.
The Dubs have been even more untouchable at home, where they rank No. 1 and No. 2 in offensive and defensive efficiency, respectively, on the season. Prior to their close win over Boston, their previous four home wins had been by an average margin of 24 points.
The Warriors’ ultra-efficient offense should benefit from a hobbled Joakim Noah protecting the paint for the Bulls. Golden State is averaging 46 points in the paint per game this season, third in the NBA.
And even with Thompson grabbing the headlines recently, the Warriors have a host of weapons capable of stepping up. Draymond Green exploded for 31 points and seven threes in their 112-102 win against the Bulls in Chicago in December.
Writer’s Prediction
The Warriors extend their winning streak to 20 games as they win and cover against Chicago.
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