StatFox.com - Sports Handicapping Community

The Leader In Sports Handicapping

Bucks host Bulls in Game 3 Thursday
By: Zach Cohen - StatFox
Published: 4/23/2015  at  12:00:00 PM
  Print This Article    

CHICAGO BULLS (52-32)

at MILWAUKEE BUCKS (41-43)

NBA Playoffs
Eastern Conference - First Round
Tip-off: Thursday, 8:05 p.m. ET
Line: Chicago -3.0, Total: 187.0

The Bucks look to stay in this series with a win at home over the Bulls in Game 3 Thursday.

The Bucks were unable to earn a victory in Chicago and now face a 2-0 series deficit heading into Game 3. Chicago won Game 2 91-82 as an 8-point favorite and is now 10-4 SU and 9-5 ATS versus Milwaukee over the past three seasons. The Bulls held the Bucks to under 40% shooting from the field for a second straight game and Milwaukee must find a way to generate some offense on its home floor Thursday. The Bucks have not had success against the Bulls at BMO Harris Bradley Center over the years, going 1-5 SU and 2-4 ATS when hosting Chicago over the past three seasons. The Bulls are also 26-16 ATS after playing a home game this season and face a Milwaukee team that is 13-22 ATS in the second half of the season this season. The Bucks are, however, 20-9 ATS after playing two consecutive games as an underdog this season. PG Kirk Hinrich (Knee) is probable for the Bulls in this game, but PF Nikola Mirotic (Quad) is expected to miss this game. SG Jared Dudley (Foot) is probable for the Bucks, who are without SF Jabari Parker (Knee) and PF Damien Inglis (Foot) for the rest of the season.

The Bulls played with great energy in Games 1 and 2 and a lot of that has to do with the return of PG Derrick Rose (17.7 PPG, 4.9 APG, 3.2 RPG). Rose is the leader of this Bulls team and everybody has the feeling that they can win when he is on the floor. The guard has looked excellent in this series so far, averaging 19.0 PPG, 8.0 APG, 3.5 RPG and 1.5 SPG in 32.5 MPG. He’ll need to keep using his quickness to blow by the slower Michael Carter-Williams. SG Jimmy Butler (20.0 PPG, 5.8 RPG, 3.3 APG, 1.8 SPG) exploded in Game 2, pouring in 31 points in 46 minutes of action. Butler was 10-for-19 from the field and the Bucks had no answer for him. He’s now averaging 28.0 PPG in this series and will need to continue to be aggressive as a scorer. C Joakim Noah (7.2 PPG, 9.6 RPG, 4.7 APG, 1.1 BPG) was a monster in Game 2, finishing the game with six points, five assists and a tremendous 19 rebounds. Noah will need to continue to fight on the glass moving forward. PF Pau Gasol (18.5 PPG, 11.8 RPG, 1.9 BPG) needs to find his stroke in this series with Mirotic likely to miss a few more games. Gasol is just 9-for-29 in the first two games, but he is averaging 14.5 RPG and 3.5 BPG in the series. If he can add some consistent offensive production to what he is doing defensively then the Bulls will end hits series fast.

The Bucks are going to need to shoot the ball better starting on Thursday or they will likely end this postseason without a single victory. SG Khris Middleton (13.4 PPG, 4.4 RPG, 1.5 SPG) is the only player showing up for the Bucks offensively and he had 22 points and six rebounds in Game 2. He’s going to need to get it going in Game 3 as well, as he is clearly the only player who can consistently create for himself on this team. PG Michael Carter-Williams (14.6 PPG, 6.7 APG, 5.3 RPG, 1.7 SPG) had 12 points in Game 2, but he also had just two assists in the game. He needs to do a better job of setting up his teammates because he will not help this team much as a scorer. PF Ersan Ilyasova (11.5 PPG, 4.8 RPG) is a guy that can help this team offensively, but he must hit some shots early in order to build his confidence. He was 3-for-10 from the field and 0-for-3 from the outside in Game 2 and is not a help to this team if he is not hitting jumpers. One player who is giving this team some productive minutes in the series is C John Henson (7.0 PPG, 4.7 RPG, 2.0 BPG). Henson had eight points, six boards and two blocks in 25 minutes of action on Monday. He has the length to disrupt what is a very talented Bulls frontcourt and will need to be on his game Thursday.


FoxSheets.com
The FoxSheets - the most advanced sports handicapping information available on the internet.
Sign up for professional sports betting information including fantastic trends, and Free FoxSheets.
E-mail: