Chicago Bulls at Cleveland Cavaliers

Chicago Bulls at Cleveland Cavaliers

Thursday, November 5th – 8:00 PM ET

Basketball Betting Spread: Cavaliers -10

The Week That Was: Bulls

Chicago Bulls is only 2-2, but after squeaking past Milwaukee on Tuesday, 83-81, the Bulls should consider themselves fortunate that they’re not 1-3. Coach Vinny Del Negro’s roster has shot poorly from long distance after using the three-point shot to great effect in last spring’s classic first-round NBA Playoff series against the Boston Celtics.

Chicago is shooting just 22 percent from three-point range, a big reason why the Bulls haven’t scored more than 92 points in each of their first four games. There’s no more fundamental element of basketball than knocking down open looks, and that’s what Chicago will have to accomplish against Cleveland.

The Week That Was: Cavaliers

The Cleveland Cavaliers have rebounded to a certain extent after an 0-2 start, but there are considerable concerns already surrounding the team that endured a disappointing end to its previous season. Cleveland brought in Shaquille O’Neal to provide a wide, space-eating presence in the middle of the paint, but in the first week of the new NBA season, Shaq has proven to be slow, rusty, and generally ineffective.

In an opening night loss to Eastern Conference rival Boston, the Cavs’ late-game offense featured LeBron James doing his old and not very successful 1-on-5 routine. The Cavs did display a more team-oriented style in recent wins over Minnesota, Charlotte and Washington, but it’s clear that until Cleveland posts a win over an elite team, the skeptics will be out in full force, questioning if the Cavs can compete with the best in the East.

Outlook & Pick

Cleveland is struggling on offense, and has a slow center (Shaq) who isn’t providing great help on rotations and interior defense. Fortunately for coach Mike Brown, the Cavs shouldn’t be particularly threatened by Chicago, a team whose primary interior players, Joakim Noah and Brad Miller, are not dynamic low-post scorers who like to play with their backs to the basket.

Moreover, Chicago’s poor shooting form makes the Bulls a target against the Cavs, who rotate very well at most spots on the floor, and will be all too happy to take away dribble penetration of Chicago point guard Derrick Rose. Unless the Bulls do knock down some open threes, they’ll get smothered by the Cavs’ defense.

Cleveland should win comfortably. Chicago is not ready to produce at the offensive end of the floor.

Pick: Cavaliers -10