Chicago Bulls Fading Fast in NBA Central; Pacers Surging
The Chicago Bulls have made a valiant effort for most of the season without their star point guard Derrick Rose who is recovering from a torn ACL suffered in last year’s playoffs. The Bulls may be running out of steam however as they are now on a skid that has seen them lose four of their last five, the most recent one an embarrassing loss to the Sacramento Kings 121-79.
The Bulls are now in a flat three way tie at 35-29 for fifth place in the Eastern Conference with the Boston Celtics and the Atlanta Hawks. Even more distressing is that not only is this also a three way tie for seventh, the Bulls are now only 2.5 games up on the eighth place Milwaukee Bucks. If the Bucks pass them for the seventh spot, then that means a first round series with the Miami Heat. Where are you, Derrick?
The Bulls upcoming schedule looks like this: Tonight @ Golden State Warriors, Monday hosting Denver Nuggets, Thursday hosting Portland Trail Blazers. The Blazers game is a chance to pick up a win, but the other two will be difficult.
As for those Bucks, tonight they have a chance to stop Miami’s 20-game win streak. So far this year the Bucks and Heat have split their two games. Milwaukee will be jacked up for this one as will every team with a chance to stop the streak. But 20 teams in a row have failed, okay some more than once so it’s not really 20 different teams. After the Heat the Bucks will have the Orlando Magic at home on Sunday as J. J. Redick faces the team that traded him as will Tobias Harris on the Magic. Then they will host the Blazers on Tuesday before playing @ the Atlanta Hawks in a big game on Wednesday.
The Indiana Pacers now have a five-game lead in the division and are in a tight battle for the second spot in the Eastern Conference. With injuries to Carmelo Anthony and Tyson Chandler of the New York Knicks, the Pacers are looking better and better for the second spot. This would mean home court for the first two rounds and avoiding the Heat for both of those rounds.
The Pacers are 40-24 while the Knicks are 38-25 and the Brooklyn Nets are 38-27. The Pacers will host the Los Angeles Lakers tonight with either a gimpy Kobe Bryant or perhaps no Kobe at all. Advantage Pacers. Saturday the Pacers are @ the Philadelphia 76ers. Advantage Pacers. Monday @ Cleveland Cavaliers. Advantage Pacers. Tuesday vs Orlando at home. Advantage Pacers.
Look for the Pacers to grab a firm hold on the number two seed this week.
