Atlanta Hawks vs Chicago Bulls | Predictions, Preview , Odds & Free Pick | Sportsbookbuzz.com

NBA Free Pick – Friday March 11, 2011

vs.

Atlanta Hawks at Chicago Bulls
Pointspread: Bulls -5
Over/Under: 177 ½

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The Atlanta Hawks will look to snap a three-game slide this Friday night when they pay a visit to the United Center to tangle with the Chicago Bulls in this Eastern Conference matchup. Tip-off is set for 8 p.m. (ET) and the game will be broadcast nationally on NBA TV.

Atlanta is currently in fifth-place in the East and in solid shape for the postseason, but there has to be some level of concern after winning just three of its previous 10 games. The Hawks were hammered by New York 92-79 last Sunday as a 3 ½-point home favorite and followed that effort up with a 101-87 loss to the LA Lakers as a 4 ½-point home underdog this past Tuesday. The recent downturn leaves Atlanta at 37-27 straight-up on the year and 28-36 against the spread.

The Hawks do an excellent job spreading the ball around with seven players scoring in double-figures led by Joe Johnson’s 19 points a game. Johnson also leads the team in assists with 5.1 a game and Al Horford is averaging 16.1 points a game and a team-high 9.9 rebounds a game. As a team, they are averaging 95 points a game which is ranked 25th in the NBA.

Atlanta is shooting 45.9 percent from the field and 35.8 percent from three-point range. The Hawks are one of the best foul shooting teams in the league; converting on 78.6 percent of their attempts, but have struggled under the boards with just 40.2 rebounds a game, which is ranked 23rd overall.

Chicago has been on a roll as of late with eight victories in its last 10 games including its last four in a row. Wednesday night’s 101-84 romp over Charlotte as an eight-point road favorite came at a price with injuries to both Luol Deng and Carlos Boozer. Deng should be ready to go for this one, but Boozer remains doubtful.

The Bulls’ winning streak has cut Boston’s lead in the East to just a 1 ½ games. They are 45-18 SU while they Celtics have a game in hand at 46-16. More importantly, they have created a 2 ½ game spread between themselves and Miami for second place in the East. Chicago has also been a solid play ATS with a record of 38-23-2.

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With Deng nicked-up and Boozer out, it will be up to Joakim Noah to come up big under the boards in their absence. He leads the team with 11.7 rebounds a game but also missed 30+ games this season with a thumb injury. Regardless of who plays as long as Derrick Rose in the lineup the Bulls have a good chance to win this game. He leads the team with 24.5 points and 8.1 assists a game and is drawing some serious consideration as this year’s league MVP.

Atlanta is 2-4 ATS in its last six road games and is 1-4 ATS in its last five games overall. The total has stayed ‘under’ in five of its last seven games.

Chicago is 6-1 ATS in its last seven games at home and 6-2 ATS in its last eight games overall. The total has stayed ‘under’ in seven of its last eight games.

Head-to-head, the Hawks have won seven of the last eight games SU including an 83-80 victory as a 4 ½-point home underdog on March 2. The total stayed ‘under’ the 182 ½ point line in that game.

Atlanta has owned this series as of late, but the Bulls have been next to impossible to beat at home recently both SU and ATS. The loss of Boozer will keep this game closer than normal, but stick with Chicago to win and cover the five-point spread.

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