NBA Playoff Picks – Game 2 – Bulls vs Cavs

With a dominating, convincing win to take a 1-0 lead in the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals, can anyone beat the Cleveland Cavaliers? We’ll find out as you get ready to make your Monday night NBA basketball picks.

NBA Playoffs First Round: Chicago Bulls (41-41 SU, 42-38-1 ATS) at Cleveland Cavaliers (61-21 SU, 38-43-1 ATS)

Cleveland 1-0 Series Lead (1-0 ATS)

Monday, April 19: 8:00 p.m. TNT

Betting Odds: Cleveland -10 ½

Here are some NBA Betting Trends which may impact this game:

Chicago: Total has gone UNDER in their last 4 games

Chicago: 3-1 ATS in their last 3 games

Cleveland: 1-3 ATS in their last 4 games

Cleveland: 1-3 SU in their last 4 games

Cleveland comes into this game off an impressive win in Game 1 Saturday, proving to all their doubters why they were the best team in the NBA all season long. From the get go, the Cavaliers jumped out to a 32-18 first quarter lead, and cruised from there to a 96-83 victory.

Leading Cleveland was the usual cast of suspects, including 2009 NBA MVP LeBron James. James is simply on another level of his contemporaries right now, as he scored 24 points, grabbed six rebounds and added five assists and four blocks. The sad thing was, that James hardly played his best game. Guard Mo Williams added 19 points and forward Antawn Jamison 15.

For Chicago, if they’re to have any chance in this game, it ultimately comes down to how well their best player- point guard Derrick Rose- plays. It’s incredible really, but as good as Rose was in Game 1 (28 points, seven rebounds and 10 assists), it still wasn’t enough as Cleveland held the rest of the Bulls team to just 55 points. Forward Luol Deng and center Joakim Noah- both who’ve battled injuries all season long- combined for 22 points and 14 rebounds.

Going into Monday night’s game, the key for Chicago will be on the defensive end, and whether or not they play more like they did in the first half of Game 1, or like they did in the second half. In half No. 1, the Bulls could do nothing right, as they allowed 56 points, and allowed the Cavs to basically do as they pleased. In half two, it was actually the Bulls who outscored Cleveland and held them to just 40 points.

When making your NBA basketball picks in this game, Chicago should be your play.

They came into Game 1 getting the Cavaliers absolutely best performance, as Cleveland had rested their starters for several games leading up to the opener of this series. Watching the game, you could see the Cavaliers more amped than usual, and eager to play. However, after the initial flurry of the first half, it was actually Chicago who played best.

We’re not saying that the Bulls can win straight up, just that they can keep this game in the single digits. Expect another big game from Rose, improvement from Noah, Deng and the supporting cast, and a win for you, when making your NBA basketball picks.

Aaron’s Play: Chicago +10 ½