NBA 2021/22 on Thursday, 30.12.2021
Just a few days ago we were treated to the game between the Chicago Bulls and the Atlanta Hawks. There is a good reason why I have chosen the new edition for today’s NBA tip.
Because as we will find out in my Bulls Hawks prediction, the visitors are in pure chaos. Players in double figures will once again be absent, which will make defending dangerous three-point shots a real challenge!
Few games are better suited right now than the recent matchup between the Bulls and Hawks to highlight just how much the Omikron variety has the NBA in its grip. Atalant’s list of absences was and is off the charts.
For the guests had 12 players drop out. These include John Collins, Danilo Gallinari, Kevin Huerter, Lou Williams, Timothe Luwawu-Cabbarot and replacement centre Onyeka Okongwu. Just a few days later, just about all these players will have to rest again.
Incidentally, the Bulls unsurprisingly won 130-118 – and it would have been even worse had the Hawks not released Trae Young, one of the NBA’s best players, from quarantine just a few hours before the start of the game.
Trae helped his team to a dignified defeat with a contribution of 29 points and 9 assists. But much more was simply not possible, because with all the absences and the prevailing chaos, a completely improvised starting five was cobbled together.
Atlanta’s need was so great that they had to send Chaundee Brown onto the field, a player who had been signed as an emergency purchase only a few hours earlier. So it should come as little surprise when Brown scored just four points that night.
The Bulls, for their part, were back to full strength just a week ago, but now have two more players, along with Lonzo Ball, who are also out due to Corona. However, these players were already absent from the last clash against the Hawks.
Tactically, the Bulls won the last matchup against the Hawks largely because of the unexpected freedom enjoyed by their three-point specialists. Atlanta is known for fending off opposing three-point attempts with good defensive work.
However, due to the many absences, the necessary coordination is currently lacking. As a result, Zach LaVine and DeMar De Rozan got plenty of opportunities to contribute to their team’s fantastic three-point success rate of 48.6%.
The fact that the visitors’ most important defensive artists have to rest again means that the Bulls’ long-range shooters can continue to work their magic. The statistics also show us that the Hawks’ first suit is doing it against the Bulls in the “normal case”.
Because, amazingly, the Hawks won each of their three head-to-head duels against the Illinois franchise last season. At a time when Atlanta was at full strength and spared significant Corona blowouts.
However, if the Bulls were able to win by more than twelve points just a few days ago, it should be even easier for them to win in front of their home crowd, which, incidentally, will be under almost identical personnel conditions.
Chicago has won 80% of its last ten NBA games at the United Center – the last five in a row. They even managed to successfully put strong teams like the Lakers and Nuggets in their place.
The bookmakers are expecting the Bulls to take home the win with odds of around 1.26. The Hawks’ C-section will be a big hit. The C-team of the Hawks, on the other hand, are considered to have a chance of success, which is reflected in the significantly higher odds of currently around 4.25!
Summary: It’s only been a few days since the Hawks lost to the Bulls in front of their home crowd with a total of twelve shutouts. Tonight’s game is shaping up to be similar as the majority of the squad remains in quarantine.
Chicago, on the other hand, will benefit from its home strength in the rematch, having already won each of the last five NBA home games. But the mismatch outside the perimeter will once again prove decisive for the game.
The Bulls’ long-range shooters converted almost 50% of their threes on Tuesday and were able to shoot many uncovered shots. The Hawks have been so wildly composed that their fine-tuning in defending the 3-point line is inadequate.
