BULLS at the MAGIC
The BULLS have dropped 4 of the last 5 against the MAGIC.
BULLS won 107-87 on DEC 10th, leading by as many as 23 to ORLANDO'S paltry lead of 4. CHICAGO shot 38-71, while ORLANDO shot 30-85. ORLANDO did dominate the boards while really not being a great rebounding team(24th in the NBA at the break). One thing to keep in mind is that the BULLS were playing on 2 days rest, while the MAGIC played the next day in the 3rd game of a 3 game road trip.
ORLANDO won 94-91 at ORLANDO on JAN 22. In that game CHICAGO actually outshot the MAGIC 35-75 to 30-78, but ORLANDO made 12 more free throws than their foe. being the difference in the game. ORLANDO again played on the next day after a 103-94 shallow victory at CLEVELAND. The BULLS played on 1 day rest in the 5th game of a 5 day road trip.
LAST YEAR on Dec 5th the MAGIC blasted the BULLS 102-74 leading by as many as 40 to CHICAGO'S 1 pt lead. At the end of the third quarter ORLANDO led 86-58, and relaxed in the 4th to score 16 to CHICAGO's 16. MAGIC held CHICAGO to 17, 23, 18, and 16 points respectively by quarters. Here CHICAGO played on the next day after a debilitating 28 pt loss to HOUSTON
On Feb 26th LAST YEAR , ORLANDO exploded for 38 pts in the 1st quarter to CICAGO'S 28, and led by as many as 22 to CHICAGO'S one time 2 pt lead. At the end of 3 ORLANDO led 90-68, and again relaxed in the 4th quarter with that comfortable lead. Amazingly CHICAGO played on 2 days rest while ORLANDO had 1 day rest
On Mar 22 LAST YEAR ORLANDO won in ORLANDO 96-82, dominating the boards and connecting on 34-81 to CHICAGO'S 29-75. ORLANDO led by as many as 18 in a game that was always well in hand. CHICAGO again played on 2 days rest to ORLANDO'S 1.
CHICAGO comes into this game tonight on 1day of rest after being humiliated in a 28 pt loss to PHILADELPHIA. ORLANDO, for the first time in two years against CHICAGO, goes to the floor on 2 days rest after a close win over NEW ORLEANS 99-94. This, and the fact that ORLANDO has shown the ability to draw away from the BULLS in the past tends to make me think that they will again accomplish that feat, as long as they don't let up in the 4th quarter as they so often have with a comfortable lead.
The line is now ORLANDO -7', O/U 198' and I think it will go down as the BULLS money comes in at Bet Cris.
,This material is for informational purposes only. The observations contained herein have not been copied from any other source, as they are my own.
When analyzing this material, please keep in mind that I am certainly not a professional in the field of handicapping.