Nets vs. Bulls NBA Odds, Preview and Prediction (Archive)
The Chicago Bulls look to continue their hot start to the season against an Eastern Conference powerhouse, the Brooklyn Nets. The Brooklyn Nets are favored by NBA odds, but are they the right team to wager on to make a winning NBA pick?
Brooklyn Nets vs. Chicago Bulls
Monday, November 08, 2021 – 08:00 PM EST at United Center
Chicago Bulls
The Chicago Bulls have followed their splashy offseason with a 6-3 start. Concerns about fit and the defense have been alleviated with the Bulls looking to be every bit the high-powered scoring machine that their fans imagined after a prolific offseason. After a 6-1 start, Chicago has recently struggled against another Eastern Conference contender. They dropped their most recent two games to the Philadelphia 76ers.
The Bulls have had a couple of heroic comebacks when they jumped out to their 6-1 start. Against the 76ers, these efforts to make a charging comeback fell short. This highlighted that against the best teams in the NBA, the Bulls cannot afford to come out flat and try to turn on the afterburners in the second half.
The Bulls need to work on showing the same intensity for the full 48 minutes, not just when they are down. They cannot wait to be “locked-in” until they are down by double digits. Bulls Head Coach Billy Donovan and veteran leader DeMar DeRozan must instill in this team the importance of competing strongly from the start. If the Bulls are going to have a chance against the top team like the Nets, they must come out focused and intense from the opening tip.
Brooklyn Nets
The Brooklyn Nets (6-3) are in the midst of a four-game winning streak. The Nets are getting it done in the win column while waiting for James Harden to get into shape. Harden still seems a little bit sluggish after spending the offseason resting and recuperating from numerous injuries that plagued him to end last season. While Harden is playing himself into shape, his co-star Kevin Durant is already in top form.
Durant is averaging 28 points and 9 rebounds per game and has started the season in MVP form. Durant masks a myriad of weaknesses on this team with his shot-making, versatile defense, and all-around play. Durant is the constant on the Nets. The win streak has been highlighted by the improved level of play of his supporting cast.
LaMarcus Aldridge, who had to retire in-season last year due to health reasons, has returned. He is averaging an efficient 13 points per game in just 20 minutes. Joe Harris got off to a slow start but is trying to regain the shooting form he had last season, where he finished at 41% from behind the three-point arc. Patty Mills and Paul Millsap are providing veteran leadership and smart play off the bench.
Nets Head Coach Steve Nash is still navigating a veteran big man rotation and trying to make it fight. The Nets youngest front-court player, Nico Claxton, was recently sent to the G League. This shows the Nets commitment to the experienced frontcourt. The Bulls will look to exploit the Nets lack of athleticism in their aging big men.
Key Matchup
Kevin Durant usually highlights this section of my articles when writing about the Nets. Today we must move towards the backcourt of the Bulls. Zach LaVine and Lonzo Ball are proving to be an excellent backcourt. Their strengths and weaknesses complement each other so well.
The Bulls have found the combination of LaVine’s incredible playmaking off the dribble with Lonzo’s high basketball IQ. Lonzo is always making the right pass to get LaVine or his teammates in the proper situation. This has proven to be a deadly combination for the Bulls opponents.
The Nets can be attacked at the guard position. James Harden isn’t always the best defender. It will be up to Harden, Harris, and Mills to provide a sturdy defense at the point of attack, or Chicago will score with ease.
If Mills, Harris, and Harden can slow down the Bulls backcourt, Kevin Durant and the rest of the offense will be too much for them. If LaVine and Lonzo prove to be too much for the Nets backcourt, we could have a high-scoring battle where anything could happen.
Best Bet
The Brooklyn Nets are starting to come together as a basketball team. James Harden’s burst off the dribble is starting to return as he gets in better shape. And Kevin Durant is always the best player on the floor. Even in a tough situation off of back-to-back, I like the Nets to get it done here.
NBA Pick: Brooklyn Nets +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.