Philadelphia 76ers at Chicago Bulls
December 21st, 2010 at 8:00 PM EST
Opening Line: Chicago -6
Current Line: Chicago -5.5
Opening Total: 190.5
Current Total: 191.5
Opening Moneyline: Chicago -275 / Philadelphia +235
Current Moneyline: Chicago -290 / Philadelphia +235
Philadelphia comes in hot, having won 8 of their last 11 games, and they won the last one over Orlando by 8. Elton Brand had a big game, with 20 points and 13 boards.
Chicago just snapped a 7 game win streak in a 1 point loss to the lowly Clippers.
“Teams are going to try to go big against us, especially when we have our three (Luol Deng) at four,” Rose told the Bulls’ official website. “We’ve got to know that as a team and all five rebound or give help when they go in the post and go for the rebound.”
Philadelphia, despite their 11-16 record, has a positive point differential of +0.8; the score 97.0 a game and give up 96.2 per game. Chicago (16-9) has a +3.7 differential, scoring 100.1 per game and giving up 96.1 per game.
Some betting trends: The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Philadelphia’s last 5 games and it has gone UNDER in all 5 of their last 5 road games. They have lost 8 of their last 10 on the road and 4 of their last 5 in Chicago. They are 2-4 ATS in their last 6 against the Bulls and the total has gone OVER in 9 of their last 11 games in Chicago.
The total has gone UNDER in 15 of Chicago’s last 20 games. They have won 7 of their last 7 and 5 of their last 6 at home. The total has gone UNDER in 4 of their last 5 home games.
The key matchup for tonight’s game: Jrue Holiday vs. Derrick Rose
More than anything, these are the two key players of both teams, as it is the point guard that makes the team go, so to speak. Rose is having an all star caliber year, averaging 24.3 points per game and 8.4 assists per game, in 38 minutes of action per night. Last game against LAC, he ahd 34 points and 8 assists, but missed the game winning free throws down the stretch. Before the game to Toronto on the 15th, he had scored in double figures in every game this season. In his career against the Clippers he is avearaging 20.3 points per game and 6.1 assists per game, but promises to have a bigger night tonight, as he is having a career year. Holiday is also having a great year, averaging 13.3 points per game and 6.6 assists per game. He has struggled his last two games, however, recording only 11 points and 11 assists total for the two. Prior to that game he had scored in double figures in 6 consecutive games. He’ll have trouble shaking the slump against Derrick Rose, but it’s a necessity if Philly is to have any chance at all of winning tonight’s game.
Philadelphia has been notoriously poor on the road, and despite their good play recently will have their work cut out for them against the Bulls, who have also been hot and will come out focused after their loss to the Clippers. Tonight’s game should be close, but NBA oddsmakers have set the line in Chicago’s favor, which seems reasonable given their 10-3 record at home.
