Wizards vs Bulls – Game 3 Picks

Chicago Bulls vs. Washington Wizards

Game 3

Friday, 8:05 pm EST

April 25, 2014

Line: Washington Wizards -3

Carmelo Anthony’s name will soon be permeating around the Windy City for an entire offseason. The Bulls, however, are hoping that their season has more than just two games remaining.

Trailing 2-0, in a best-of-seven series versus the Washington Wizards, the venue now shifts to the Nation’s Capital, where the Wizards will be hosting a playoff game for the first time since the 2007-2008 season.

The Wizards appear to be peaking at the right time. They have gone 21-11 since the all-star break, including the playoffs, and made strides on defense. But the difference in the series has been the Wizards play on offense and the inability of the Bulls to score in key situations.

John Wall and Bradley Beal combined for 42 points in Game 2. They made just 7 combined shots in Game 1. That bodes well for this dangerous duo to continue their stellar play at home.

The Wizards closed the regular season winning eight of 11 games while allowing 98.1 points per 100 possessions over that span. They have held the Bulls to an average of 92 points in regulation in the first two games of this series, including just 12 total points in the final six minutes of the fourth quarters in Games 1 and 2.

Every series has a defining moment. The Bulls had theirs leading 87-77 with 6:58 to play in the fourth. Smelling a Game 2 victory, heading to Washington with the series tied at a game apiece was in the sights. Then, the game started to slip away and maybe the series too.

Instead of riding Taj Gibson’s playoff career-high of 22 points to a victory, the Bulls are in a dire situation. Noah is a very worthy Defensive Player of the Year, but there’s no John Wall or Bradley Beal on his roster. Noah can’t score at will. During the regular season, he was able to make the hustle play on defense, but he’s struggled to guard Nene all series and Washington has to continue running their offense through him, in order to free up their guards for better looks. Without their offensive superstar, the Bulls trip to Washington will be their last road trip of the season.

While one Noah was able to save humanity from destruction, this Noah won’t even be able to save his team from elimination. Not in this series, and especially, not in Game 3.

My Pick: Wizards -3