Professional sports handicapper Jeff Grant previews Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals between the Chicago Bulls and Miami Heat at AmericanAirlines Arena

Chicago has dropped the last two games in the series and many of the problems seem to exist on the offensive end. The Bulls have managed to score just 160 points in the last two games after posting 103 in the series opener. “We just keep plowing forward,” said Bulls forward Carlos Boozer. “We feel like we had a chance to win the last two games.” Boozer led the squad with 26 points in Sunday night’s loss and will need to continue being a force on the offensive end to alleviate the pressure that falls on point guard Derrick Rose on a nightly basis. Rose scored 20 points in the Game 3 loss, but scored just two in the final quarter and attempted just two shots. Chicago is 28-19 ATS on the road this season.

The Bulls really showed their youth for the first time in the playoffs in Sunday’s contest, highlighted by center Joakim Noah using an anti-gay slur in an exchange with a fan during the first quarter. Head coach Tom Thibodeau will need to bring the troops together and be leaned upon heavily if the squad is to prove victorious tonight. “Thibs always talks about walking through the fire together,” Noah stated. “That’s what it’s all about.” A loss would put the team on the brink of elimination and also mark the first time its dropped three consecutive games.

Miami took a 2-1 series lead over Chicago due to a brilliant defensive performance in holding its opponent 41.6 percent from the floor. The Heat have really focused on stopping Rose’s ability to get inside the paint, holding him to 15 of 42 shooting from the floor over the last two games. The result has been the squad winning consecutive games by double-digits in the playoffs for the first time since the 2009 postseason. It’s important to note that Miami has won all even home games during the postseason. Miami is 20-27 ATS on the season and 61-72 ATS over the last three years.

The Heat are known for having the “Big Three” and no one showed up bigger than power forward Chris Bosh, who scored a game-high 34 points in the last contest. “It is the Eastern Conference finals and it’s coming down to will and determination,” Bosh commented. “I want people to know I want it.” Nobody will question the desire of teammate LeBron James, tallying 22 points and 10 assists in Game 3, a performance that followed a game-high 29 points and game-high 10 rebounds in winning the second game in Chicago.

Bettors will be interested in playing the Bulls due to their 29-11 ATS mark following a spread loss, while the Heat are 2-6 ATS versus the Central Division.
 

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