Somewhere out there, Steve Kerr is heaving a huge sigh of relief. While his Golden State Warriors are piling up wins left and right, the team he spurned – the New York Knicks are toiling at the bottom of the team standings with an abysmal 5-22 slate. It won’t get any easier for the Knickerbockers this coming Thursday as they lock horns with Central Division leaders Chicago Bulls.
Read on below for a preview of this Eastern Conference showdown and while you’re at it, you can check out our preview of the game between Golden State and Oklahoma City here.
[sc:NBAArticles ]New York Knicks vs. Chicago Bulls Betting Preview
Where: United Center, Chicago
When: Thursday, December 18, 2014, 8:00 PM ET
Line: New York Knicks at Chicago Bulls – view all NBA lines
Betting on the New York Knicks
If someone said before the tournament started that the New York Knicks and the Philadelphia 76ers will have the same number of losses at this stage of the season, that person surely would have been put into ridicule.
[sc:NBA240banner ]Unfortunately for New York fans, that’s the sad reality that they face today as the Knicks stumbled to their 22nd defeat of the season with an embarrassing 107-87 loss to the Dallas Mavericks Tuesday night. It was another atrocious performance from Derek Fisher’s men who have now lost 12 of their last 13 games.
The Knicks were behind the eight-ball right from the get-go as they failed to keep up with the Mavericks’ hot start, falling behind 25-11 quickly. What made this start an even bitter pill to swallow for Knicks fans was that Tyson Chandler was the catalyst of this early Dallas explosion.
The former Knicks star got the party started with a thunderous, one-handed slam – the first of four dunks he had in the game. He finished the game with eight points and 14 rebounds in just 25 minutes of action.
Chandler’s performance further puts into question Phil Jackson’s decision to trade him to the Dallas Mavericks this past summer. The Knicks are clearly missing his presence inside the shaded lane as they are just 29th in the league in the rebounding department, grabbing an average of 39.0 boards per game this season.
Apart from their rebounding woes, a much deeper problem lies with their anemic offense. The Knicks are averaging just 93.6 points per game this season, third-worst in the NBA. Part of the problem lies with their paltry fast break game. They are second-worst in the NBA in fast break scoring, averaging 8.4 points per game.
Of course, it’s difficult to run without the basketball in your hands. That’s why it’s a must that they put up a fight in the rebounding battle when they face the Chicago Bulls this coming Thursday. It won’t be that easy, though, as the Bulls are seventh in the league in rebounding this season, averaging 45.3 boards per game.
The Knicks are 1-4 in their last five away games.
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Betting on the Chicago Bulls
Derrick Rose is still healthy.
Let that thought sink in for just a few seconds. After battling various injuries at the start of the season, the 2011 MVP has finally regained full fitness (fingers crossed) and is back to tormenting opposing defenses once again.
Prior to their defeat last Monday against the Hawks, Rose had averaged 22.7 points per game in their three previous victories. Even though Rose shot just 6-of-21 from the field, there are still plenty of positives for head coach Tom Thibodeau to take heading into their clash with the Knicks this coming Thursday.
First off, Rose has now played in 11 consecutive games. Some might react violently at that statement but remember this is the injury-plagued Derrick Rose we’re talking about. Second, that game against Atlanta was only the second time this season that he has started and finished back-to-back games.
Rose is playing without abandoning his aggressiveness in attacking the basket, making Thibodeau particularly happy. In his first seven games, Rose was averaging just 4.6 shots inside the paint. But ever since the Bulls pulled him from a November 25 defeat to the Denver Nuggets, Rose has increased his production inside the shaded area, attempting an average of 7.4 shots inside the paint.
Rose, who is averaging 16.8 points per game this season, will look to continue his attacking ways this coming Thursday when they host the struggling New York Knicks. It won’t be that easy, though, as the Knicks are second in the league in points allowed inside the paint, conceding 37.4 points per game.
The Bulls will still fancy their chances of piling more misery on the Knicks especially with the way they bludgeoned the Knicks in their season-opening encounter. The Bulls ran away 104-80 winners, thanks to a balanced scoring attack. A total of six Chicago players scored in double-figures, led by Taj Gibson who dropped in 22 in that game.
The Bulls are 2-3 in their last five home games.
Writer’s Prediction
The Bulls thrash the Knicks, 107-85.
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