FREE Pick for Friday February 5th 2010

Posted by Samurai

Game : Chicago Bulls at Atlanta Hawks (NBA) 08:05pm EST

Prediction : Atlanta Hawks -8

Analysis : The Bulls opened a seven-game road trip back on January 18 and promptly lost the first two games. However, they then finished by winning the final five games of the trip with each win coming against a team with a winning record. No big deal you say? Well that’s the first time in NBA a history a team had won five consecutive road games over opponents with winning records. Before getting too excited about the Bulls, let’s note they returned home from that trip and lost 90-82 to the hapless Clippers on Tuesday. They then had their road streak snapped Wednesday in Philadelphia against a team which entered that contest with a 7-16 home record. Same old Bulls. Rose (19.9-3.7-5.9) is a terrific PG and small forward Deng (17.7-7.4) has bounced back nicely from an “off year” but still, it’s hard to count on the Bulls. Noah’s (11.2-12.0) had a “breakout season” but he’s being shut down through All-Star break. He will miss at least four games due to plantar fasciitis. “It’s frustrating,” Noah said. “I can’t move the way I want to.” The Bulls are just 9-16 overall on the road this year (12-13 ATS) and will face one of the league’s best home teams in the Hawks. Atlanta is 20-5 SU (17-8 ATS) in Phillips Arena and in Chicago’s last visit (Dec 9), routed the Bulls 118-83. Jamal Crawford (17.6) has been a HUGE addition, joining Johnson (22.0-4.7-4.7) and veteran PG Bibby (8.9-4.2 APG) on the perimeter. Smith (15.0-8.4) and Williams (10.2-5.1) join center Horford (13.4-9.5) up front, giving the Hawks an outstanding six-man rotation. Atlanta’s depth isn’t half-bad either. The Bulls average just 95.4 PPG (27th) and will have trouble keeping up with the Hawks here, as Atlanta has averaged 106.5 PPG at its home floor.