Bet This NBA Parlay at (+257) on Thursday (Archive)
Top Sportsbooks have released their odds for today’s NBA action. One game, in particular, interests me as worth investing in: Chicago vs. New Orleans. For reasons that I will explain, you should play both spread and total for this game. Feel free to parlay both bets at one of BMR’s top-rated sportsbooks in order to maximize your profit.
Chicago Bulls vs. New Orleans Pelicans
Thursday, March 24, 2022 – 8:00 PM EDT at Smoothie King Center
Easier Test
Don't give into recency bias and fade Chicago in every sense based on its most recent performance which was a blowout loss against defending champion Milwaukee in which both the Bull offense and the Bull defense suffered.
The Bulls may not have been ready for Milwaukee's mix of Giannis and three-point shooting as the Bucks scored as many points as they did largely because they amassed 12 made threes. In New Orleans, the Bulls on defense face an easier test as the Pelicans rank 20th in offensive rating whereas the Bucks rank fourth in the category.
Not Threatening
It is, of course, not simply the fact that the Pels rank so far behind Milwaukee in offensive rating that makes them an easier test for Chicago's defense. What made Milwaukee so difficult to guard for Chicago was the strong variety of ways in which it could reliably score points.
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New Orleans, however, is not as inclined to shoot the three ball as the Bucks. Moreover, the Pelicans rank 27th in three-point percentage whereas the Bucks rank fourth in the category. Offensively, New Orleans simply lacks the personnel with which to pose a threat from deep.
The Pels don't have a lot of high-volume shooters or higher-volume shooters who are healthy. Second-leading scorer Brandon Ingram is out of commission with a hamstring injury. Their top shooter, the only one who can be said to pose a threat from deep, is CJ McCollum.
McCollum, though, typifies inconsistency. He is due for a poor shooting effort tonight simply because he shot well in his last game. This is how his pattern goes.
Transition Defense
Without the three-point weaponry or driving ability that Milwaukee possesses, the Pelican offense is perforce tremendously reliant on its transition attack. Transition scoring is normally important to a Pelican offense that attempts baskets in transition with the seventh-highest frequency.
Chicago, however, is strong against such teams. Tellingly, it just beat the Raptors by 14, holding them to under 100 points. This victory, which it earned right before facing Milwaukee, is telling because the Raptors are, like New Orleans, heavily reliant on scoring in transition.
The Bull defense matches up well with the Pelican offense because it excels at limiting transition opportunities. Overall, the Bulls allow the fifth-fewest points in transition. Therefore, they are well-prepared to lock down the Pelican offense.
Guard Play
While Chicago is thrilled to have Alex Caruso back and healthy, he is known primarily for his contagious energy and leadership on the defensive end. Offensively, the Bulls are limited by a unique set of injuries.
Point guard and team assist leader Lonzo Ball is out of commission. Leading scorer DeMar DeRozan is listed as 'questionable' with a thigh injury. Zach LaVine is listed as 'probable' with a knee injury. So, this team's top two scorers and its top point guard are all banged up.
Guard depth was already a stated issue for the Bulls ahead of the trade deadline. This issue is resurfacing and it helps explain Chicago's current tendency to lose and lose big.
Trend
New Orleans, as a side, is a must-play tonight because the Bulls are on an eight-game ATS losing streak on the road. Location thus goes a crucial distance to explaining why you should invest in the Pelicans tonight. For the above reasons, parlay New Orleans with the "under" for your Best Bets. Be sure to use our trusty parlay calculator for your parlay betting needs.
Scoring Prediction: Pelicans 105 - Bulls 95
Parlay Pick
- Pelicans +1 (-115)
- Under 227.5 (-110)
NBA Best Bet: Two-Legged Parlay (+257) with BetOnline (visit our BetOnline Review)
*The line and/or odds on picks in this article might have moved since the content was commissioned. For updated line movements, visit BMR’s free betting odds product.