Lakers vs Bulls Betting Line
The back-to-back defending NBA Championship Los Angeles Lakers (16-6) head east for the second of an eight game road trip against the Chicago Bulls (12-8) at 8 pm on Friday night. The betting lines have just been posted, and you can view them below.
This is a game scheduled for live betting at the Bodog Sportsbook, which a lot of people think is the most fun way to bet on basketball. Here’s a preview of the game, with our free pick included.
LA Lakers vs Chicago Bulls Online Sportsbook Betting Lines
The lines below are current as of 5:15 am ET. For the most current odds at the best sports betting sites, use the links below.
Bodog Sportsbook – LA Lakers – 1.5 (-110), Bulls +1.5 (-110). *Featured Live Betting
Sportsbook.com – L.A. Lakers -1.5 (-105), Bulls +1.5 (-105). 198.5 O/U
BetOnline.com – L.A. Lakers -2 (-110), Bulls +2 (-110). 198.5 O/U
Players Only Sportsbook – L.A. Lakers -1.5 (-105), Bulls +1.5 (-105). 198.5 O/U
Lakers @ Bulls – 2010 Stats & Game Preview
Los Angeles Lakers
One of the questions for the Lakers is whether or not injured center Andrew Bynum will be able to play. Head coach Phil Jackson has given no indication either way, but the big guy’s presence in the middle relieves the pressure on Pau Gasol.
Gasol is having one of the best seasons of his career, averaging 20 points, 11.6 rebounds, and 4.3 assists per game. Although the season is still young, the Lakers need need Bynum to get back and take over some minutes, giving Gasol a break. At 39 minutes per game, Gasol is playing more minutes than any other big-man in the league. Only 6 players in the entire NBA are playing more minutes per game than Gasol. To make another run at the NBA Championship, the Lakers will need to remove some of the wear and tear Gasol is enduring so far in the 2010-2011 season. With all this said, Gasol hasn’t shown any sign of slowing down yet, and their should be a battle under the boards between Gasol and Lamar Odom (10.0 RPG) versus the Bulls top rebounder Joakim Noah (12.3 RPG).
Last year’s super sub Lamar Odom has been starting while Shannon Brown has been huge off the bench (11 PPG). Ron Artest is a defensive force and can hit the three as well. Kobe is being Kobe, scoring 26.9 PPG, grabbing 5.4 RPG, and dishing out 4.5 assists as well. His minutes are down from his career averages, as Jackson is looking to keep Kobe fresh for later in the season. While it may cost the Lakers a few wins during the regular season, it’s good for the team in the long run.
Chicago Bulls
The baby Bulls are expected to grow up and dominate someday but haven’t yet realized that potential. They’re 12-8 for the season, averaging 100.6 points per game. The United Center used to rock for the Bulls defense which now ranks 16th in the NBA. Houston, Boston and Orlando all put up over 100 points on them in recent games, and the Bulls lost two of those three games.
Derrick Rose leads the offense at 25.1 points and 8.2 assists per game, and Joakim Noah rips down 12.3 boards (2nd in the NBA). The rest of the team has yet to rise to the season. Luol Deng has done well with 18.6 points per game, but Carlos Boozer has only played five games (back now after injury), and Keith Bogans is only putting up 4.6 points from the shooting guard spot. Chicago will need more productivity from that position if they’re going to be serious contenders for the title.
LA Lakers vs Chicago Bulls – Friday, December 10th
Rose is a huge match-up issue for the Lakers and watch for Bryant to switch off and guard him defensively. Noah vs Gasol should be fun to watch down low but expect the veteran from Spain to win much of that battle. Bryant will get his 25+ but if the Lakers get scoring from Odom and their bench, the Bulls will go down.
If the Lakers come in playing the same sub-par game they’ve been playing recently, the game could be closer than it should be. But, if they step it back up to the form they were in earlier in the season, this could be an easy win for the purple and gold.
Chants of Beat LA will come down from the United Center rafters, but in the end the Lakers should take it.
Where to Bet on the Lakers vs Bulls Game
- For the Lakers, get -1.5 (-105) at Sportsbook.com.
- For the Bulls, get +2 (-110) at BetOnline.com.
