Mark's Free Pick NBA Basketball Chicago Bulls-Los Angeles Clippers: 2/2/10

Written by Mark | 02 February 2010

NBA Basketball 2/2/10
Los Angeles Clippers (20-27)-Chicago Bulls (23-22)

By Mark-Tuesday, Febuary 2nd 2010 8 PM EST
Line-Chicago-7.5

Chicago comes home after a long seven game road swing that was a success by all accounts as they finished 5-2 on the trip winning their last five. The Bulls caught a big break against New Orleans with a late turnover leading to a lay up that tied the score with under a second to play to send the game to over time. A knee injury to Chris Paul undoubtably benefitted the Bulls as he was rendered ineffective in OT and Chicago took advantage in a 108-106 nail bitter. Chicago has managed to keep their head above water as the All Star break approaches despite the departure of leading scorer Ben Gordon over the summer. Derrick Rose has stepped in nicely to shoulder the scoring load and currently tops the team with nearly 20 points and six assists. Chicago is a team that wins when Rose is at the top of his game and doesn't fare well when he sttruggles. In the win over NO, Rose tossed in 18 but Chicago was buoyed by 26 from Luol Deng and a 13 point, 18 board performance from Joakim Noah.

The Clippers are in the process of finishing up a eight game road trip but the road hasn't been as kind to them as they are just 1-5 coming in. They had the misfortune of running into a red hot Cleveland team that took advantage of the weary Clippers, 114-89 as the Cavaliers put on a long range shooting display by connecting on 16-27 from down town. The Clippers were torched for 46 first quarter points to fall behind by 23 and that's certainly not the way to win games on the road especially against a formidable Cleveland squad. The perfomance of LA against the Cavs was dismal but it's been a trying season battling the injury bug with leading scorer Chris Kaman watching from the side lines with his 20 points and a sprained ankle that is probably going to keep him out another week. That leaves Eric Gordon (17 ppg) and Baron Davis (16 ppg) to carry the scoring load. Davis held up his end of the bargain with 30 against Cleveland as I see the Clippers scrambling for points.

The Clippers are 2-5 ATS in the last 7 as a road underdog, 2-6 against the number in the past 8 road contests but 9-2 against the spread in the last 11 versus the Eastern Conference. The Bulls are 3-1-1 ATS in the last 5 as a home favorite of 5-10.5 points and 8-3 against the number in the past 11 home games. Chicago has also won three of the last four against the LAC with the lone loss coming two weeks ago on the road.

Chicago has had three days to recuperate while the Clippers seem to be constantly traveling. Injuries have depleted the Los Angeles line up but I don't expect the Bulls to feel sorry for them and in fact I look for Chicago to try and jump on them early with their fresh legs. All things being equal, the spread is a little higher than I'd like as the Clips won't lose every game but I have to ride the hotter, healthy Bulls here.