Saturday's Top Action
April 17, 2015
MILWAUKEE BUCKS (41-41) at CHICAGO BULLS (50-32)
Eastern Conference - First Round
Tip-off: Saturday, 7:05 p.m. ET
Sportsbook.ag Line: Chicago -7.5, Total: 186
The Bucks head to Chicago for Game 1 of this opening round series on Saturday.
The Bucks played the Celtics in Milwaukee in their last regular season game and the team lost 105-100 as a 5.5-point home favorite. The Bucks had, however, won three straight games heading into that one and hope to recapture that magic against Chicago in Game 1.
The Bulls ended the regular season with a 91-85 victory as 5-point home favorites against the Hawks on Tuesday.
Chicago has won four straight games SU and three of those four games ATS. In four meetings between these two teams during the regular season, the Bulls won-and-covered in three games. Over the past three seasons, Chicago is also 8-4 SU and 7-5 ATS versus Milwaukee.
The Bucks are 13-4 ATS in road games after having won two of their past three games this season. They are also 29-19 ATS when playing as an underdog this season. The Bulls, meanwhile, are 46-30 ATS when revenging a loss versus an opponent over the past two seasons. They also get to face a Bucks team that is 20-35 ATS on Saturday games over the past three seasons.
Both teams enter this game with relatively healthy lineups, but PG Derrick Rose (knee) has been experiencing some soreness.
The Bucks have been a surprise team this season and they’ll now look to prove that they belong in their first round matchup with the Chicago Bulls.
If Milwaukee is going to compete in this series then PG Michael Carter-Williams (14.6 PPG, 6.7 APG, 5.3 RPG, 1.7 SPG) is going to need to play at a high level. In his only meeting with the Bulls this season, the guard had 21 points, 10 rebounds, two assists and a steal in 33 minutes of action. He must play solid defense on Derrick Rose and also find his teammates for some good looks at the basket.
SG Khris Middleton (13.4 PPG, 4.4 RPG, 2.3 APG, 1.5 SPG) is going to need to hit his shots in this series. Middleton has been a marksman from the outside this season (41% 3PT) and is shooting 47% from behind the arc over his past five games. He can really change a game with his ability to score and he also plays very disrupting defense.
SF Giannis Antetokounmpo (12.7 PPG, 6.7 RPG, 2.6 APG, 1.0 BPG, 1.0 SPG) is going to need to play well in this series or the Bucks really have no chance. He is the team’s most talented player, but has been in Jason Kidd’s doghouse recently. He must be efficient in this series and play hard on both ends of the floor.
PF Ersan Ilyasova (11.5 PPG, 4.8 RPG) has scored 21 points in two of the past three games. Ilyasova can get hot in a hurry and is a very good shooter (39% 3PT), especially for a guy his size. He’s going to need to have some big games in this series.
The Bulls have an NBA title on their minds, but the health of PG Derrick Rose (17.7 PPG, 4.9 APG, 3.2 RPG) is a major question mark. He left the regular season finale against the Atlanta Hawks after just 10 minutes of playing time. If he is not at 100% then the Bulls will have plenty of trouble winning this series.
SG Jimmy Butler (20.0 PPG, 5.8 RPG, 3.3 APG, 1.8 SPG) is averaging just 14.8 PPG against the Bucks this season, but he did average 7.5 RPG, 6.0 APG and 2.3 SPG in those contests. He is one of the best two-way players in basketball and must put his stamp on this series.
PF Pau Gasol (18.5 PPG, 11.8 RPG, 2.7 APG, 1.9 BPG) has had a career resurgence in Chicago this season and enters the playoffs after putting up double-doubles in the last four regular season games. He dominated the Bucks this season, averaging 24.3 PPG and 13.3 RPG in four meetings with the team. He has too much size and strength for Ilyasova to deal with inside, but he must also stop the Bucks’ forward on the defensive end.
C Joakim Noah (7.2 PPG, 9.6 RPG, 4.7 APG, 1.1 BPG) hurt his hamstring and missed the last two games of the regular season. He will play in this one though and will need to protect the rim and also be very effective on the glass. PF Nikola Mirotic (10.2 PPG, 4.9 RPG) has the ability to change this series off the bench. He is a very good scorer and can put points on the board in bunches if he sees the minutes.
DALLAS MAVERICKS (50-32) at HOUSTON ROCKETS (56-36)
Western Conference - First Round
Tip-off: Saturday, 9:35 p.m. ET
Sportsbook.ag Line: Houston -5.5, Total: 210
The Mavericks and Rockets meet in Houston for Game 1 of their first round matchup.
The Mavericks won four of their last five regular season games SU, defeating the Blazers 114-98 as 6-point home favorites in their final game. Dallas has covered in three of its past four games and has shot 45% or better from the field in four of its past five contests.
The Rockets, meanwhile, won 117-91 as 11.5-point home favorites against Utah in their season finale. Houston enters the playoffs after winning three straight games SU and 10 of its past 13 as well. The Rockets also held their opponents to just 90.5 PPG in their last two regular season games.
The Rockets and Mavs met four times this season and Houston won-and-covered in three of those games. Over the past three seasons, the two teams have split wins both SU and ATS but the Rockets are 4-2 both SU and ATS when hosting the Mavericks. Dallas is 14-3 ATS in road games in April over the past three seasons but does face a Houston team that is 12-3 ATS in home games when playing with two days of rest over the past two seasons.
PG Devin Harris (Toe) is probable for this game and SF Chandler Parsons (Knee) is questionable for the Mavericks. PF Donatas Motiejunas (Back) is out for the season for the Rockets and PG Patrick Beverley (Wrist) is not likely to return this series.
The Mavericks acquired PG Rajon Rondo (8.9 PPG, 7.9 APG, 5.5 RPG, 1.3 SPG) partly because of his ability to perform at a high level in the playoffs and now is when he must get himself going. Rondo struggled with the Mavericks during the regular season but he can erase that with some solid play in the postseason. The Rockets are weak at the point guard position with Patrick Beverley out and Rondo must take advantage of that.
PF Dirk Nowitzki (17.3 PPG, 5.9 RPG) averaged 14.5 PPG and 6.3 RPG on 39.6% shooting from the field in four meetings with the Rockets this season. Nowitzki must shoot the ball well in this series if the Mavericks are going to upset Houston.
C Tyson Chandler (10.3 PPG, 11.5 RPG, 1.2 BPG) is going to need to hold his own against Dwight Howard in this series. Chandler is a monster on the glass and can really protect the rim, but stopping Howard will not be easy.
Another guy who must hold his own in his one-on-one matchup is SG Monta Ellis (18.9 PPG, 4.1 APG, 1.9 SPG). Ellis averaged 20.3 PPG in four games against James Harden and the Rockets this season and he must play like that in this series.
SF Chandler Parsons (15.7 PPG, 4.9 RPG, 1.0 SPG) would be a big loss if he does not play on Saturday. He is an excellent two-way player and the Mavericks need his athleticism on the floor.
The Rockets finished the season off strong and will now look to carry over their success into the playoffs.
SG James Harden (27.4 PPG, 7.0 APG, 5.7 RPG, 1.9 SPG) played at an MVP level throughout the year and ended the season with a triple-double against Utah. Harden will need to use his strength to bully Monta Ellis in this series and if he is not able to get to the free-throw line then the Rockets could be in trouble.
C Dwight Howard (15.8 PPG, 10.5 RPG, 1.3 BPG) must also be healthy for the team to win this series. Howard played 24.5 MPG in the last four games he played in the regular season and will need to be able to play more in the playoffs. He should be able to move Tyson Chandler with his strength when he gets in the post and he must be ready to rebound at a high level.
SF Trevor Ariza (12.8 PPG, 5.6 RPG, 1.9 SPG) will need to knock down some outside shots in this series. He was solid from behind the arc this season (35% 3PT) and also plays very good defense. If he catches fire then it will take a lot of pressure off of Harden and Howard.
PF Josh Smith (12.4 PPG, 6.4 RPG, 3.3 APG, 1.4 BPG, 1.0 SPG) will need to have a big series for Houston. He averaged 15.4 PPG in the last five games of the regular season and must keep that up and also play well defensively.
