NBA Preview: Things go from bad to worse for the Chicago Bulls after a fight during practice between Bobby Portis and Nikola Mirotic.
Chicago Bulls (0-0) at Toronto Raptors (0-0), Thursday, 7:30 p.m. EST
Line: Raptors -12.5. Total 206.5.
Back on April 17, the Chicago Bulls had just finished a 111-97 spanking of the Celtics at Boston. That was Game 2 of the first round of the NBA playoffs to give the Bulls a 2-0 lead in the series. Chicago won both games in Boston and were heading home with a huge advantage in the series.
Since then, things have gone all downhill for the Bulls.
The Celtics flipped the switch and won the next four games by a combined total of 55 points to win the series 4-2. The losses ranged from 9 to 22 points.
A couple months later on June 22, Chicago traded Jimmy Butler and their 16th pick of the first round to the Minnesota Timberwolves for Zach LaVine, Kris Dunn and the Wolves’ #7 pick. On July 2, the Bulls Taj Gibson was signed as a free agent by the Timberwolves.
Then on September 24, the Bulls released Dwayne Wade.
Just when you thought it could not get worse for Chicago, there was an altercation at practice on Monday which resulted in Mirotic receiving fractures to his face and a concussion. He will miss several weeks. Portis, who threw the damaging punch, has been suspended by the team for eight games.
The Bulls are in full-blown rebuilding mode for the 2017-18 season. In fact, prognosticators forecast Chicago to finish with the fewest amount of wins in the league this season.
Toronto does not have these issues. The Raptors return most of their core players this season. Toronto did add CJ Miles as their 6th man coming off the bench.
The Raptors defeated the Bulls 125-104 at Chicago last Friday at the United Center on the final day of the preseason.
NBA Fantasy Information
Best value: Justin Holiday (Bulls), SG, $6500. Holiday scored over 30 fantasy points per game in 3 out of his last 4 preseason games. With Mirotic and Portis out, Holiday should see a lot of minutes and be the Bulls #1 scoring option.
New York Knicks (0-0) at Oklahoma City Thunder (0-0), Thursday, 8:00 p.m. EST
Line: Thunder -12. Total 214.5.
Another “Big 3” has been formed in Oklahoma City. The Thunder may never surpass the original Big 3 from their 2011-12 roster, although they did not know they even had a Big 3 at the time. Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant were already stars. However, James Harden came off the bench for the Thunder. Harden became a star the following season as a starter with the Houston Rockets following a trade.
This version of the Big 3 has three certified superstars. Westbrook, Paul George and Carmelo Anthony. George was acquired in a trade with Indiana on June 30 for Victor Oladipo and Domantas Sabonis. Then on September 25, Anthony was acquired in a trade with New York for Enes Kanter and Doug McDermott.
Now it is up to OKC coach Billy Donovan to make this offense work. Donovan has three elite players who are ball-handlers who launch their fair share of shots.
The Thunder were 3-1 in the preseason, while the Knicks were a league-worst 0-5.
Joakim Noah will miss the first 20 games of the season due to a suspension for violating the league’s anti-doping policy. Kristaps Porziņģis is probable despite soreness in his right hip.
Raymond Felton (wrist) and André Roberson (finger) are also probable for Oklahoma City.
NBA Fantasy Information
Best value: Willy Hernangomez (Knicks), C, $5600. This is a tough one because it is hard to determine value on the OKC side. We do not know who will get the most touches for the Big 3 of the Thunder. Hernangomez and Porziņģis (at $8200) may represent value for the Knicks. Porziņģis is clearly the #1 scoring option and will get more opportunities than anyone else for New York. Hernangomez should get his share of points and boards to possibly be worth taking a look at.
Note: I will have picks some time on Thursday, probably late in the afternoon or early evening.
Edit 6:10 p.m.: Selections for tonight. Debating bets on my top 2 totals, but may pass again tonight.
Sides: (1) NY, (2) LAL, (3) Chi
Totals: (1) NY un, (2) LAL ov, (3) Chi ov
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