The Indiana Pacers host the Chicago Bulls, Thursday April 21st, as the series shifts to Conseco Fieldhouse for Game 3 of the Eastern Conference quarter-finals. The Bulls lead the best-of-seven series 2-0 and have won four of their last five meetings. NBA oddsmakers have the Bulls as -4 point road favourites over the Pacers with the over/under set at 189 points. Be sure to check the Bulls vs Pacers NBA Point Spreads and get your predictions in early.
Chicago (2-0) was pushed to the limit by the Pacers through their first two games, but still pulled off a win. The Bulls won Game 1, at home, 104-99 and Game 2, 96-90. Both games were supposed to be easy for the Bulls as they were predicted as double-digit favourites. WRONG! If it wasn’t for the MVP like play from Derrick Rose, they would’ve lost. The MVP candidate averaged 37.5 points, seven rebounds and six assists in the first two games. They are also pulling down more rebounds than the Pacers. Chicago had a 49-34 advantage on the boards in Game 1 and a 57-33 edge in Game 2. They have a 100 points-per-game average as signs the offensive formula is fine, even if 41.2 percent shooting and an average of 18.5 turnovers are troubling signs. "Derrick's playing at a very high level," coach Tom Thibodeau said. "But when you look at who's scoring, Carlos (Boozer) is scoring. Luol is scoring. We're scoring fine. Our defense has to get better." Rose committed six second-half turnovers in Game 2 and expects to see more aggressive trapping early in Game 3.
Indiana (0-2) has to stop Derrick Rose or book their tee times now. The Pacers have primarily used Paul George to defend Rose, looking to bother him with the rookie's length and athletic ability while using other players to help. Though Rose has put up big numbers, Vogel said the 6-foot-8 George has done a good job of making the 6-foot-3 Rose work. "I don't really look at it as, I'm going to come out here and stop Derrick Rose," George said. "It's really, I'm coming out here to contain him. That's really the best you can do. If he goes for 30 shooting 25 shots, I would say I win." Pacers center Jeff Foster said the effort is there, but the execution has to improve. "We've just got to do a better job of putting bodies on guys and coming up with the ball," he said. "Their penetration puts us in difficult positions, but we have to overcome that and have a total team effort on the glass." A big question for Indiana is whether point guard Darren Collison will be available after spraining his left ankle in Game 2. "Hoping for the best, but we're listing him as doubtful," Vogel said. "He's very sore still. He's going to try to give it a go. I'm preparing to not have him." If Collison can't go, A.J. Price would start and T.J. Ford would back him up. Price had 13 points in 24 minutes in Game 2. Ford has played sparingly this season, but he scored five points, including a 3-pointer from beyond halfcourt, in Game 2.
Recent Trends to Consider:
Pacers are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games following a S.U. loss.
Pacers are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
Bulls are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games overall.
Bulls are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 vs. Eastern Conference.
Bulls are 1-6 ATS in their last 7 games vs. a team with a losing S.U. record.
Bulls are 0-6-1 ATS in their last 7 playoff games as a favorite.
Bulls are 0-4-1 ATS in their last 5 playoff games as a favorite of 0.5-4.5.
Over is 6-0 in Pacers last 6 games as a home underdog.
Over is 5-1 in Pacers last 6 games playing on 2 days rest.
Over is 4-1 in Pacers last 5 games as an underdog of 0.5-4.5.
Bulls vs Pacers
When: Thursday, April 21, 7:00 PM ET
Pick: Bulls -4
Point-Spreads.com recommends you check out NBA Point Spreads before Bulls vs Pacers game.
The Bottom Line: I think the Pacers can cover, maybe even win. Be sure to check Bulls vs Pacers Basketball Point Spreads and get your predictions in early.
