NBA Picks 3/20 – Chicago Bulls @ Philadelphia 76ers
by Thomas Quaynor – NBA analyst for Wannamakeabet.com
The Chicago Bulls (33-37) go on the road to face the surging Philadelphia 76ers (48-22), Philadelphia is an 8-point favorite and the total is 225. Tonight, is the third of four meetings between these teams, they split the first two, with both teams winning on the road, Philadelphia won 114-109 at Chicago on October 29th, and Chicago took the rematch 126-112 in Philadelphia on January 6th. Chicago’s win on January 6th snapped a 12-game losing streak against Philadelphia.
Philadelphia enters this game as the NBA’s hottest team with 8 straight wins and are currently second in the Eastern Conference. Chicago sits in 10th place in the East and will most likely need to win the play-in round to qualify for the playoffs. These teams will play each other again two days from now on Wednesday in Chicago.
THE SKINNY ON BOTH TEAM
After finishing a surprising 46-36 last season, expectations were high for the Chicago Bulls coming into the year, but a season-long (career-threatening?) injury to point guard Lonzo Ball and inconsistency finds them below .500 and fighting just to qualify for the play-in round. Lonzo Ball will miss this entire season and has not played since January 2022 after suffering a knee injury, he has since had three surgeries on his knee and is now expected to miss most, if not all, of the 2023-2024 season too. Lonzo is still in his mid 20’s but how effective can he be if he does return in 2024 after missing essentially two full seasons?
On the court, the Bulls have been playing better of late, winning four of five games, including a 21-point win (117-96) at Western Conference leader Denver on March 8th. The signing of veteran point guard and Chicago native Patrick Beverley on February 21st has provided a bit of a spark for the Bulls as they’ve gone 7-4 with him.
Beverley scored a season-high 17 points in the Bulls 113-99 win at home against Miami on Saturday night. Despite the disappointing record, the Bulls have gotten tremendous seasons from their “Big 3”, All-Star DeMar DeRozan is averaging 25.4 points, 5.1 assists, 4.7 rebounds and 1.1 steals per game, Zach LaVine averages 25 ppg, 4.7 rebs, and 4.1 asts and Nikola Vucevic puts up 17.7 pts and 11.3 rebs.
Joel Embiid (33.5 points, 10.2 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.7 blocks, 1.1 steals per game) is now establishing himself as the frontrunner for NBA MVP award as he’s led the 76ers to 8 straight wins and the second best record in the NBA. If Embiid wins the MVP award, he’ll be the first 76er to win it since Allen Iverson in 2001.
THE PICK
I’m riding with the hot team, Lay the 8 and take the 76ers!!
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