The Los Angeles Clipper make the trip to the Windy City to to face the Chicago Bulls at the United Center on Friday night.
Productive Road Trip
Before the Los Angeles Clippers opened their current four game road swing, the team lost five in a row with four of those losses coming at the Clippers’ home floor. Heading to the final game of the road trip on Friday against the Bulls, the Clippers are 2-1 on their trip with a loss to the Dallas Mavericks sandwiched between wins over the San Antonio Spurs and Miami Heat this week.
A win over the Bulls will give Doc Rivers a productive road trip and a much needed boost. The Clippers have fallen to the 8th spot in the West, nine games behind the Conference leaders Golden State Warriors. But with sixth man supreme Lou Williams healthy again, the Clippers hope to finish the season strong.
Los Angeles Clippers vs Chicago Bulls 1/25/19
Moneyline Odds: Clippers -143, Bulls +290
Odds from bet365 as of 1/25/19
Searching For Identity
The Chicago Bulls are a team searching for their identity. The Bulls are 11-37 on the season and a dismal 5-18 at home so far. Chicago has lost 11 out of its last 12 games played and judging by the way they are picking up wins, this team is headed to the draft lottery hoping to add another cornerstone that will bring back their glory days,
Chicago fired head coach Fred Hoiberg earlier this season and their change of style from a defensive minded team to an offense first squad has not worked at all. That said, the Bulls traded for former All-Star Carmelo Anthony earlier this week but sources are saying Melo won’t be playing in Chicago and could be traded before the deadline.
Who Wins?
Los Angeles is 2-6 SU in their last eight games played. The Clippers are 4-2 SU in their last six road games. Chicago is 1-11 SU in their last dozen games played and Chicago is 0-4 SU in their last four home games played. Head to head, the Clippers are 5-0 SU in their last five games against the Bulls and Los Angeles is also 7-1 SU in their last eight meetings in Chicago.
I don’t really know what to make of the Bulls right now. Jim Boylen’s offensive approach hasn’t delivered success at all and the young Bulls look like they are already getting frustrated. The move to trade for Carmelo Anthony was a big question mark and now that rumors are saying Melo wasn’t brought in to be played makes the situation even more perplexing. Zach LaVine continues to have a stellar season and Lauri Markkanen is having an excellent sophomore season as well. But for now, the Bulls’ fans must be content with those little victories as team success may still be a season or so away.
Like the Bulls, the Clippers also have a young core. But theirs have matured fast this season with Tobias Harris leading them. Los Angeles is a playoff team and a dangerous opponent in the postseason because they have hungry players. Sure, they went through that five game funk earlier but it’s winning time now.
I’m picking the Los Angeles Clippers to beat the Chicago Bulls on 1/25/19.
Other Bets To Make
The Clippers are 2-6 ATS in their last 8 games played. Los Angeles is 6-2 ATS in their last eight games on the road. The Bulls are 1-3-1 ATS in their last five games played. Chicago is 1-3 ATS in their last four games played. Head to head, the Clippers are 8-4 ATS in their last dozen games against the Bulls and 6-2 ATS in their last eight games played in Chicago.
Los Angeles Clippers vs Chicago Bulls 1/25/19
Spread Odds: Clippers -4.5 (-110), Bulls +4.5 (-110)
Odds from betonline.ag as of 1/25/19
The Clippers are 17-5 ATS in their last 22 Friday games. Los Angeles is also 9-3-1 ATS in their last 13 road games against teams with a home winning percentage below .400. On the other hand, the Bulls are 1-5-1 ATS in their last seven games against Western Conference teams, 1-5 ATS in their last six home games and 2-6-1 ATS in their last nine games overall. Chicago’s in a bad state right now and it may not be ending soon.
Prediction: Clippers -4.5
The under is 7-1 in the Clippers’ last eight games played. The total has gone under in five out of the last five road games played by Los Angeles. The over is 7-3 in the Bulls’ last 10 games played. Chicago has seen the total go over in three out of their last four home games. Head to head, the total has gone under in seven out of the last eight games between these two teams and the under is also 5-1 in the last six encounters between these teams in Chicago.
Los Angeles Clippers vs Chicago Bulls 1/25/19
Over/Under Odds: Over 220 -110, Under 220 -110
Odds from betonline.ag as of 1/25/19
The total has gone under in the last four meetings between these two teams and the under is 4-0 in their last four encounters in Chicago. The under is 5-1 in the Bulls’ last six games versus teams with winning SU records and the under is also 6-0 in the Clippers’ last six road games. The Los Angeles Clippers have not played well on the road as they have at Staples Center. The Bulls have not played well at all this season. I have to go under.
Prediction: Under 220