Last Updated on April 17, 2010 8:00 am by drew
Cavs-Bulls Pick
The 2010 NBA Playoffs get underway Saturday at 3PM ET as the Cleveland Cavaliers and Chicago Bulls being their first round playoff series.
Bet the 2010 NBA Playoffs
The Cavaliers are the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference while the Bulls are the No. 8 seed.
Oddsmakers from online sports book BroburySports.com have made Cleveland the overwhelming favorites to win the series with a money line of -2800 while the Bulls have a line of +1600.
In four meetings this season, the two teams split, with Chicago winning a pair of 1-point games. Chicago had 11 or fewer turnovers in all four games.
Cleveland finished the season with the best record in the league at 61-21, which won the Central Division. The Cavaliers had the best home record in the league at 35-6 and they were also 38-14 against the rest of the East. Cleveland averages 102.1 points per-game on offense while allowing just 95.6 points per-game. LeBron James leads the Cavs with 29.7 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 8.6 assists per-game. James is shooting 50.3 percent from the field and also shoots 76. percent from the free throw line. Mo Williams and Antawn Jamison are each putting in 15.8 points per-game for Cleveland.
The Bulls are 41-41 on the year as they won their last three and seven of their last 10 to reach the playoffs. The Bulls are 24-17 at home but just 17-24 on the road. Chicago was 28-24 against the Eastern Conference this year. Chicago scores 97.5 points per-game on offense while allowing 99.1 points per-game on defense. Derrick Rose leads Chicago with 20.8 points and six assists per-game. Rose shoots 48.9 percent from the field and 76.6 percent at the free throw line. Joakim Noah adds 10.7 points and 11 rebounds per-game while Luol Deng averages 17.6 points per-game.
The money line is not at all attractive for Cleveland in this game, but you really can’t side against them. They clearly have the better talent and don’t have the off the court issues like the Bulls are currently dealing with. While Chicago could steal a game or maybe even two, we don’t see them stealing four.
Our NBA Playoff Series Free Pick for this matchup is: CLEVELAND CAVALIERS -2800
(Note: This free pick is for the entire seven game series and is not to be confused with our daily NBA picks, which are for individual games.)
NBA Playoffs Betting Trends
CLEVELAND is 96-79 ATS (+9.1 Units) in all games over the last 2 seasons.
CLEVELAND is 82-64 ATS (+11.6 Units) as a favorite over the last 2 seasons.
CLEVELAND is 40-22 ATS (+15.8 Units) in all playoff games since 1996.
CHICAGO is 17-6 ATS (+10.4 Units) in road games versus good offensive teams – scoring 99+ points/game – 2nd half of the season over the last 2 seasons.
CLEVELAND is 1-8 ATS (-7.8 Units) on Saturday games this season.
CLEVELAND is 108-141 ATS (-47.1 Units) after scoring 85 points or less since 1996.
Head-to-Head Series History
CLEVELAND is 6-6 against the spread versus CHICAGO over the last 3 seasons
CLEVELAND is 6-6 straight up against CHICAGO over the last 3 seasons
6 of 12 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons
NBA Playoffs Injury Report
CHICAGO
No significant injuries.
CLEVELAND
[C] 04/15/2010 – Shaquille O’Neal probable Saturday vs. Chicago ( Thumb )
[G] 04/16/2010 – Daniel Green injured last game, probable Saturday vs. Chicago ( Ankle )
NBA Playoffs Series Odds
Cleveland Cavaliers -2800
Chicago Bulls +1600
Cavaliers vs. Bulls Series Schedule:
Saturday, April 17 at Cleveland, 3 p.m. on ABC
Monday, April 19 at Cleveland, 8 p.m. on TNT
Thursday, April 22 at Chicago, 7 p.m. on TNT
Sunday, April 25 at Chicago, 3:30 p.m. on ABC
*TBA at Cleveland
*TBA at Chicago
*TBA at Cleveland
*If Necessary
Bet the 2010 NBA Playoffs
Posted: 4/17/10 8:00AM ET