NBA Free Picks – Chicago Bulls at Phoenix Suns

Chicago Bulls at Phoenix Suns
Friday, January 22nd – 10:35 PM ET
US Airways Center, Phoenix
Basketball Betting Spread: Suns -6

The Week That Was: Bulls

It’s becoming hard to figure out what the Bulls are made of. They won at Boston on Thursday, Jan. 14, but then endured a very difficult week against inferior opponents.

On Friday, Jan. 15, the Bulls faced the Washington Wizards at home. The Wizards entered the game without Gilbert Arenas, but Chicago was playing the second part of a back-to-back sequence. Still, it was surprising that a depleted Washington squad was able to take the Bulls to double overtime. At least the Bulls won, though: Derrick Rose scored with 5.4 seconds left in the second extra period to give coach Vinny Del Negro’s team its second victory in roughly 24 hours.

Then came the beginning of a nightmarish road trip to the West.

On Jan. 18, Chicago got waxed by the woeful Golden State Warriors, 114-97. The Bulls got destroyed by Golden State’s Andris Biedrins, who grabbed 19 rebounds and swatted eight Chicago shots in a lopsided affair. Things didn’t improve two days later in Southern California, as the Los Angeles Clippers shut down Chicago, 104-97, on Jan. 20. The Bulls surrendered 25 boards to L.A. forward Marcus Camby.

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The Week That Was: Suns

Coach Alvin Gentry’s team, which flourished in November, is clearly failing to maintain the pace of a championship contender. The Suns might still make the playoffs, but they’re almost certain to get a lower playoff seed. The past week showed why.

The Suns put up a brave fight last Friday in Atlanta, but fell to the Hawks, 102-101, on a buzzer-beating 3-pointer by Hawks guard Jamal Crawford. After that solid performance, things went steadily downhill for Phoenix.

On Jan. 16, the Suns – playing the second end of a back-to-back set – had no life and were crushed in Charlotte, 125-99. The Suns conceded 74 first-half points and were never competitive against the Bobcats. On Jan. 18, Phoenix proved to be toothless once again at the defensive end of the floor. The Memphis Grizzlies singed the Suns, 125-118, thanks to 31 points and nine boards from forward Rudy Gay.

Yes, the Suns came home on Jan. 20 and popped the New Jersey Nets by a 118-94 count, but the Nets are by far the worst team in the NBA. Against teams with any appreciable amount of quality, the Suns aren’t getting the defensive stops they need.

Outlook & Pick

Neither team is playing inspired basketball, but the Bulls aren’t handling their Western road trip very well. The Suns have plenty of deficiencies, but against Chicago, those weaknesses don’t figure to be exploited. Not in the Valley of the Sun, at any rate. Phoenix will prevail in a high-scoring affair.

Pick: Suns -6