The reeling Chicago Bulls look to get back on track when they host the Milwaukee Bucks in a potential playoff preview on Friday night. Here’s a complete preview, including betting odds and free NBA picks.
Milwaukee Bucks vs. Chicago Bulls
Friday, March 04, 2022 – 07:30 PM EST at United Center
The Bucks opened at -3 at BetOnline (visit our BetOnline Review) and FiveThirtyEight have them at -2.5, giving them a 59 percent chance to win. For support, we turn to USA Today's Jeff Sagarin's projections; he has the Bucks at -0.47 using his Rating numbers and at +0.80 using his eigenvector analysis. BetOnline set the total at 239.5 in their NBA odds board. Sagarin projects these two teams to combine for 228.05 points. Should we hammer the 239.5-point total? Something doesn't add up!
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Defense... Defense...
The Bucks (38-25 SU, 27-36 ATS) had failed to cover the spread in six of their last seven games and they're coming off a hard-fought 120-119 home win against the Heat as 4.5-point favorites
Giannis Antetokounmpo led the way against Miami with 28 points, 17 rebounds and five assists, Khris Middleton had 26 points and went 4-for-8 from beyond the arc and Jrue Holiday added 25 points, 11 assists
The Bulls (39-24 SU, 36-26-1 ATS) have lost three straight games SU and ATS and they're really missing Lonzo Ball (plus-1.5 Defensive Box Plus/Minus) and Alex Caruso (plus-2.8 Defensive Box Plus/Minus), particularly on defense. Offensively, this team can keep up with anyone but Ball and Caruso are playmakers at both ends of the court and they add another dimension.
Acquiring Tristan Thompson at the trade deadline was a smart move but they can't expect him to solve all their defensive issues. The Hawks put up 130 points against the Bulls on Thursday, playing with more urgency late, led by Trae Young's 39 points. Now they have to deal with Giannis and a more talented team, while playing in the second game of a back-to-back after a visit to Atlanta. On paper, this won't end well and I can't trust this Chicago defense.
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Key Matchup
Jrue Holiday vs. Ayo Dosunmu and Coby White
The Bulls have to make Giannis fight for his points, he will always find a way to produce but they have to make him earn everything he gets and force Middleton and Holiday to beat them. Middleton will likely take advantage of the extra attention that Giannis draws and be an excellent second option on offense, just like he was in Milwaukee's championship run last year. Jrue Holiday is an extraordinary defender and the Bulls need Ayo Dosunmu and Coby White to contribute on offense and try to slow down Holiday on defense or this game can get ugly.
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Prediction
"We can't really dwell on this win," Jrue Holiday said after beating the Heat on Wednesday. "We accept it and we love it, but these games are not stopping." The Bucks are the reigning NBA champions for a reason, they know what's at stake late in the season and they won't be complacent on Friday. The Bulls struggle early in games and I just can't trust in their defense right now. I like Milwaukee to take control of this game once
NBA Pick: Bucks 1st quarter -1.5 (-110) at 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.
