Prizing:

1st Place: $50 Amazon gift card

2nd-5th Place: $10 Starbucks gift card

Overview:

On Wednesday, January 4^th, the (17-18) Chicago Bulls will be on the road to take on the (26-7) Cleveland Cavaliers.

The Crowd:  

“The Crowd” is projecting a final score of Cavaliers 109.5 – Bulls 99.6 with an over/under of 209.1

Statistics (2016-17 season):

Point differential: Cavaliers +7.3 (4^th) > Bulls +0.1 (tied for 13^th)

Points per game: Cavaliers 110.3 (4^th) > Bulls 101.0 (23^rd)

Points allowed per game: Bulls 100.9 (6^th) > Cavaliers 103.0 (10^th)

Field Goal Percentage Offense: Cavaliers 45.8% (10^th) > Bulls 43.5% (23^rd)

Three Point Percentage: Cavaliers 39.3% (tied for 2^nd) > Bulls 30.7% (30^th)

Field Goal Percentage Defense: Cavaliers 44.7% (10^th) > Bulls 45.5% (20^th)

Turnovers committed per game: Bulls 12.8 (10^th) > Cavaliers 13.1 (13^th)

Turnovers forced per game: Cavaliers 13.0 (20^th) > Bulls 12.6 (24^th)

Rebounds per game: Bulls 47.6 (tied for 1^st) > Cavaliers 44.5 (10^th)

Assists per game: Cavaliers 22.4 (tied for 12^th) > Bulls 21.0 (22^nd)

Summary:

Cleveland is (8-2) in their last ten games whereas Chicago is just (4-6) in that span.  The Cavaliers own the best home record in the NBA at (18-2) while the Bulls are (6-11) on the road.  The Cavaliers just keep on winning despite injuries to starting guards J.R. Smith and Kyrie Irving.  Irving is recovering from a mild hamstring injury and I expect that he will be healthy enough to play in this one.  Kyrie and Lebron James are both on pace to record a new career high in assists this season.  Chicago has really struggled as of late and there are already rumors that Rajon Rondo is on the trade block.  That’s not surprising considering the Bulls rank dead last in three-point percentage.  Chicago can really rebound well and are one of the few teams that can bully the Cavaliers in the paint.  Chicago has gone (6-4) in their last ten head to head games with Cleveland.  If Irving indeed does play, I think the Cavaliers will win at home.

**LISTEN HERE** to the latest edition of “The Berger Shop” podcast, sponsored by The Crowd’s Line.  This week’s episode features an in-depth discussion about the return of Tiger Woods with golf pro Jason Birnbaum.

Note:

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