PREMIUM
Stephen Nover's Friday NBA 25-Dime Blockbuster
(NBA) Cleveland vs. Chicago,
Money Line: -125.00 Chicago (Home)
Result: Win
Money Line: -125.00 Chicago (Home)
Result: Win
The Cavaliers won their must-win home game on Wednesday. But now the scene shifts to Chicago - and things change.
Cleveland jumped out fast on Chicago in Game 2, but were outscored 73-68 during the final three quarters. I highly doubt the Cavaliers are going to get off to a similar fast start on the road.
Kevin Love is out for Cleveland. J.R. Smith returns from suspension. But how effective will the gunner be when he hasn't played in nearly two weeks? He's going to be very rusty. Rookie Cleveland coach David Blatt also now has to figure out what to do with both Smith and Iman Shumpert, who has played well in this series but also is dealing with a groin injury.
I have far more confidence in Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau than I do Blatt, who seems intimidated by James. The Cavaliers didn't seem to have great chemistry in that Game 2 victory. It was all James. Relying on a single superstar isn't always the best playoff formula especially when on the road. James took 29 shots from the floor during Game 2. Kyrie Irving had only nine shots from the field. This isn't the best example of team basketball.
The Bulls had a poor shooting game. Normally reliable Pau Gasol was just 3-for-8 from the field. Derrick Rose and Jimmy Butler were a combined 11-for-34 shooting from the floor. Rose didn't get to the free throw line once during the two games in Cleveland. That's not likely to be the case at United Center, where the Bulls have won nine of the last 10 times.
Cleveland jumped out fast on Chicago in Game 2, but were outscored 73-68 during the final three quarters. I highly doubt the Cavaliers are going to get off to a similar fast start on the road.
Kevin Love is out for Cleveland. J.R. Smith returns from suspension. But how effective will the gunner be when he hasn't played in nearly two weeks? He's going to be very rusty. Rookie Cleveland coach David Blatt also now has to figure out what to do with both Smith and Iman Shumpert, who has played well in this series but also is dealing with a groin injury.
I have far more confidence in Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau than I do Blatt, who seems intimidated by James. The Cavaliers didn't seem to have great chemistry in that Game 2 victory. It was all James. Relying on a single superstar isn't always the best playoff formula especially when on the road. James took 29 shots from the floor during Game 2. Kyrie Irving had only nine shots from the field. This isn't the best example of team basketball.
The Bulls had a poor shooting game. Normally reliable Pau Gasol was just 3-for-8 from the field. Derrick Rose and Jimmy Butler were a combined 11-for-34 shooting from the floor. Rose didn't get to the free throw line once during the two games in Cleveland. That's not likely to be the case at United Center, where the Bulls have won nine of the last 10 times.