Nick "BookieKiller" Parsons 10/29
San Antonio vs. Chicago
For a number of different reasons I feel we're getting excellent value on the "over" in this matchup: Derrick Rose will be in the lineup tonight for Chicago; the Bulls star point guard sat out the last three weeks but has been cleared to play tonight. Rose averaged 6.3 assists and 16.8 points per game.
Other than Ben Gordon, who left to the Pistons, the core of the Bulls remains much the same as last season with Joakim Noah, Tyrus Thomas, John Salmons and Luol Deng all returning.
Salmons, acquired from Sacramento, started 21 games for the Bulls, averaging 18.3 points last year. He averaged 26.5 on 65.4 % shooting in two games against the Spurs last season.
Deng averaged 17.0 points and 6.3 rebounds for Chicago in 2007-08, but missed the final 22 games last season plus the playoffs with injury and finished with his lowest scoring average (14.1) since his 2004-05 rookie season; Deng should continue to improve and will also be leaned on to pick up the offensive slack with Gordon's absence.
On the other side of the court: I was on the Spurs yesterday and they laid down a 113-96 beating on the visiting Hornets. Tony Parker finished with team highs of 17 points and six assists in 26 minutes before leaving the game after having the wind knocked out of him.
Richard Jefferson's San Antonio debut was unspectacular; five points on 1-of-7 shooting; I expect him to play more relaxed and have a much better game this evening.
Bottom line: The Spurs displayed the type of balanced scoring that figures to be a trademark for this team as they poured in 57 halftime points vs. New Orleans. Six players finished in double-figures and three more had Nine points each. San Antonio has an opportunity to start its season strong and to put some ground between it and perennial opponent, Dallas. They play six of their first 10 at home, with one win already under their belts. Meanwhile, Dallas, which lost its home opener, plays seven of its next 10 on the road; to accomplish this San Antonio is going to have continue to concentrate on the offensive side of the ball.
The Bulls are an up-tempo team that loves to play the run-and-gun; expect this contest to be a high-scoring affair; play on the OVER! *7*.
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