Lawrence Castillo76 said:I honestly don't understand why everyone is leaning toward Chicago today. This game is massive for the Knicks. The Bulls are breathing down their necks, and frankly, there are serious questions about how Rose is feeling—that injury wasn't anything to sneeze at. With Chicago playing at home, I'm fairly certain the Knicks walk away with a win.
a) Boozer is going to eat Carmelo alive on offense. If Chandler is tasked with guarding him, Noah is going to be having a field day on the glass. b) Between the injuries to the Knicks' roster—Amare and Lin are sidelined—Melo is essentially their only offensive engine left, alongside some bench help from J.R. Smith and Novak. Given that the Bulls are built specifically to shut down primary scorers, and they possess arguably the best perimeter defense against corner threes (I'm no expert, but Novak seems like the most logical tactical choice here), the odds shift. c) For the first time in quite a while, the Bulls are finally looking complete. Having Rip and Rose back in the rotation provides a significant momentum boost for Chicago.
Today is all about relaxation. I expect the Knicks and the Bulls to play at a casual pace. Derrick Rose is returning to the rotation, and Carmelo is looking to dominate the paint—either Noah or Boozer will be tasked with guarding him, though I highly doubt Deng will see any action at power forward. My read is that the Bulls and Philly will both secure their wins, while Miami should cover the spread. Regardless, betting takes a backseat to the holiday today. Best of luck to you all :-)
Arthur Hill2 said:Miami could actually run into some serious trouble against the Grizzlies tonight. The spread is sitting at 8.5, which feels like plenty of value to me. Between Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph, they should absolutely dominate the boards. On offense? They’ll be sprinting toward an all-you-can-eat buffet. Plus, you have Tony Allen, who is a defensive powerhouse; he'll likely shadow either Dwyane Wade or LeBron James depending on who's feeling hot. I know Miami plays incredibly well at home, but I honestly think Memphis walks away with a classy victory, maybe by a margin of 3 or 4 points.
Miami might run into some serious trouble against the Grizzlies tonight. I'm looking at an 8.5 spread, which feels like plenty of cushion to me. Between Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph, they should absolutely dominate the boards. On offense, they’ll be sprinting toward the buffet. Tony Allen is an elite defender; he'll likely shadow either Dwyane Wade or LeBron James, depending on who's catching fire. While Miami plays great at home, my gut says Memphis walks away with a respectful win, maybe by a margin of 3 or 4 points.
Yesterday was a lot of noise with very little substance. Only the Chicago Bulls managed to pull off a win, and even then, it was just barely enough points to get by. Paul Pierce put up 12 points in the first, eventually finishing with 22. Honestly, maybe he was being too kind and should have missed a three-pointer or two.
Paul Pierce is firing away like there’s no tomorrow 🙏
Listen closely now. Carmelo Anthony had an incredible start before things completely fell apart, and given how Paul Pierce plays, I am expecting us to hit the over before halftime. 🙂
I truly despise Orlando. I really do. I hate your sweltering heat, I hate your Disneyland, and I absolutely loathe that massive gorilla of yours who wants to hand a pink slip to a porn star coach. And I hate all three of you. Carmelo Anthony, I love you.
K.C. Johnson @KCJHoop Reply Retweet Favorite · Open Derrick Rose news: he’s sitting this one out, but expects to be back on the court this Sunday vs New York Knicks. #Bulls
graniteotter6 said:You aren't going to see any action from Deng if Rose actually starts playing, which is why I decided to pass on him. Honestly, I really hope I'm wrong about this one.
At this point, I couldn't care less if that +3.5 covers or not since it looks totally doable. It’s a shame it didn't stay at 15; this three-point spread at the end has me worried they might get too cocky. I'm not even watching the game closely—well, I mean, I am watching, but I see he's only taken two shots. What on earth is happening out there?! 😲
Chandler is giving him a hard time.
And I think Daniel Robinson5 was referring to the fact that Deng is stuck guarding Paul Pierce.🙂
That three-pointer is going to be huge for the Orlando Magic's confidence.
The New York Knicks managed to pull ahead by 15 points in their last matchup, and I am sincerely hoping they can replicate that kind of momentum this time around. 😬
I won't lie to you, I feel an immediate sense of relief once I have my own unit set up. 😍
But man, the Orlando Magic... why on earth do I keep feeling compelled to play them?
It happens to me all too often. I walk into the sportsbook with a flawless strategy, and I walk out with a ticket where half the legs make absolutely no sense to me. It’s strange.
Derrick Rose news 35 minutes ago He's warming up with the squad tonight. If things feel right once he hits the floor, he's absolutely playing. If the body isn't cooperating, we're going to make the smart call.
Bradley Kern6 said:Is there any word on whether Derrick Rose is actually suiting up?
According to the latest reports:
K.C. Johnson @KCJHoop Reply Retweet Favorite · Open Derrick Rose mentioned that he's definitely set to play this Sunday against the New York Knicks, provided he doesn't run into any setbacks. This assumes he stays sidelined for tonight's matchup against the Boston Celtics. #Bulls K.C. Johnson @KCJHoop Reply Retweet Favorite · Open Derrick Rose mentioned he’ll be warming up tonight, and if everything feels right, he intends to suit up. He did admit, however, that he's still dealing with some discomfort. #ChicagoBulls
Look, even if everything looks absolutely fantastic during warmups, I’m still going to be skeptical. The groin is a tricky area, and the fact that there isn't even minimal tightness right now is actually what concerns me most. They don't have another game until Sunday, and honestly, having that extra window would be nothing short of ideal for getting some real recovery in.
graniteotter6 said:The Carlos Boozer vs KG matchup has been a fascinating one to track. This season, the edge has consistently gone to Carlos Boozer. In all three instances where the Chicago Bulls vs Boston Celtics showdown occurred, Boozer came out on top. In two of those matchups, he put up massive numbers, clearing the 20-point mark. The third meeting was a bit tighter, ending with him at 12 points. My gut tells me KG takes this matchup 12-8 today. I’m looking to double down at +2.
The Orlando Magic vs. New York Knicks game is going over. I don't have any specific reason for this call. Honestly, it feels like no matter what I bet on, it ends up going against me. 🤷 It’s always the same story when it comes to the Orlando Magic. It isn't just my personal take, either.
I'm just sitting here waiting for someone to hit me up with a last-minute tip like they did last night. I ended up putting everything on the Phoenix Suns at 2:59 AM—went all in.
Carlos Boozer isn't going to play. You really let me down on this one.😢
Bradley Kern6 said:I don't get it. Some kind of blowout between Howard and the coach—so is Howard actually going to play or what?
Howard essentially demanded that management fire the coach. Management took that feedback directly to him. Let's just say the vibe in the locker room isn't exactly great right now🙂.
The spread for Chicago shifted from 5 to 7. I’m assuming it’s confirmed that Rose is playing alongside that big guy. If he manages to save some energy for the Knicks, I actually believe we can pull it off.
Anyway, since I already put my money on Orlando (yeah, I'm an idiot):
Howard Beck Absolutely surreal: Dwight comes out and denies reports that he wants Stan Van Gundy fired, though Van Gundy himself just said it on record moments earlier
Albert Breer What's wrong with Dwight Howard? He shoots down a chance to be traded, agrees to stay for just 1 more year, and now is asking for firings?
Ali Iannazzone Stan Van Gundy may not be coaching tonight's game after all this. Howard had no idea what Van Gundy said. It was wild.
15m Ali Iannazzone Dwight keeps asking who the source is...ah, Stan Van Gundy. That's a pretty good source.
16m Ali Iannazzone Dwight: why would I want Stan fired with 12 games to go?' Bizarre scene here
19m Ali Iannazzone Dwight shows up and puts his arm around Stan. Now Howard is trying to deny it, after Stan walked away.
22m Ali Iannazzone Stan said he has been told by people in mgmt that Dwight wants him fired.
23m Ali Iannazzone Stan Van Gundy said he knows Dwight Howard asked Orlando management that he be fired.
Interesting. The Knicks could really exploit this situation.