Brooklyn Nets vs Chicago Bulls 11/8/21: Starting Lineups, Matchup Preview, Betting Odds, Live Stream

Brooklyn Nets vs. Chicago Bulls Matchup Preview (11/8/21)

The Brooklyn Nets (6-3) will have their second back-to-back game against the Chicago Bulls (6-3) in the United Center. These are two of the top four teams in the Eastern Conference right now, and it will be interesting to see how they fare against each other. The Nets will still be without Nic Claxton for this game. Due to illness and demotion to their G-League affiliate, he will miss another few weeks and have plugged in forward Bruce Brown to the starting lineup in his place. This has forced Blake Griffin to the center position and Kevin Durant to power forward in their small-ball lineup. Since Brown has been placed into the starting lineup, the Nets have won five of their past six games, including four straight wins, which hardly feels like a coincidence. Claxton was struggling, and this small-ball lineup has been working for the Nets.

Brooklyn will need to contain DeRozan and LaVine to win this game. The Nets have been much improved over the past several games, now ranking first in opponent defensive efficiency and seventh in defensive efficiency. More often than not, Brooklyn will win games when it plays that well on the defensive end.

For Chicago to win, it will need to keep Kevin Durant around 30 points or fewer and play tremendously well on offense. The Bulls have let teams shoot a high percentage from behind the arc against them this season, ranking 25th in opponent 3P% (three-point percentage) through nine games. They can win by limiting Durant and protecting the perimeter on defense.

Brooklyn Nets vs. Chicago Bulls Betting Odds

Odds have not yet been dropped at the time this article was published. There are still plenty of ways to analyze this game and identify key catalysts that could sway the outcome of a bet one way or the other.

Since being inserted into the starting lineup six games ago, Bruce Brown has averaged 9.3 points and 3.5 rebounds. While those numbers are not overwhelming, he is still shooting 55.6% from the field, which is tremendous for a forward. His effort on the defensive end has also been a huge contributing factor, and in my opinion, he makes more sense in this starting lineup than Claxton.

The Bulls just dropped a game at home to the surging Philadelphia 76ers. The Sixers have the best record in the Eastern Conference and have been playing tremendously, so this is not much indication of where the Bulls stand. Chicago has not played all that great at home (3-2) this year, while the Nets have been pretty solid on the road (2-1); therefore, I don’t put too much emphasis on a home-court advantage for the Bulls.

I would lean towards the Nets with the points. They should be slight road underdogs, perhaps two points, and I think Brooklyn is riding a hot streak right now. While the Nets won’t win every game, it is encouraging to see progression defensively over the past several games, and I think they will squeak out a win on the road.

TV Schedule

Date: 11/8/21
Time: 8:00 PM ET
Arena: United Center – Chicago, IL
Channel: NBA TV

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Brooklyn Nets Starting Lineup

PG: James Harden
SG: Bruce Brown
SF: Joe Harris
PF: Kevin Durant
C: Blake Griffin

Brooklyn Nets Analysis

The Brooklyn Nets have looked terrific since inserting Bruce Brown into the starting lineup. That was probably the right decision, as the Nets needed more help on the defensive end through the first few games. Now, Brooklyn ranks first in opponent defensive efficiency, seventh in defensive efficiency and tenth in opponent 3P% (three-point percentage). If the Nets keep up the impressive defense run, they should find themselves atop the Eastern Conference in no time. Meanwhile, Kevin Durant is without a doubt the best player in the world, even though he tore his Achilles in 2019, which has been a career-altering injury for many players in the past. If James Harden can acclimate to the way the game is being called this season and become the version of himself that we are all used to, then the Nets can go as far as they want this season.

Chicago Bulls Starting Lineup

PG: Lonzo Ball
SG: Zach LaVine
SF: DeMar DeRozan
PF: Javonte Green
C: Nikola Vucevic

Chicago Bulls Analysis

Chicago has started this season with a 6-3 record, which currently places it as the No. 3 seed in the Eastern Conference. DeMar DeRozan and Zach LaVine are playing some of the best basketball they have ever played through nine games of the 2021-22 season, averaging 26.8 points and 26.4 points, respectively. After many people critiqued the acquisition of DeMar DeRozan this summer, it seems that the Bulls have the last laugh. Unfortunately, Chicago has lost one of its key contributors, especially on the defensive end, in Patrick Williams. Williams recently sustained a wrist injury in late October, and he will be out for at least 4-6 months while he recovers. The Bulls have plugged Javonte Green into the starting lineup for defensive purposes, and he has done well enough. Green is not known for his offense, but in the four games he has started for the Bulls, he averages 1.5 steals in merely 21.3 minutes per game. Green will need to continue contributing on the defensive end at a high level for the Bulls to retain their current position.

Brooklyn Nets vs. Chicago Bulls Daily Fantasy Picks

Durant has been magnificent for the Brooklyn Nets; he averages 28.3 points, 8.8 rebounds, and 5.2 assists per game, while shooting 56.9% from the field, which is an absurd percentage for a forward who shoots a lot from the perimeter. Even so, Durant’s 3P% (three-point percentage) and FT% (free throw percentage) are lower than usual, which means that there is an upside for him to score even more as the season progresses. That will happen sooner versus later, especially as the Nets rely on Durant more and more with Kyrie Irving still out.

DeMar DeRozan has had an amazing beginning to this season, looking better than he has in years. DeRozan found himself in Chicago this off-season after a sign-and-trade with the Spurs; however, no one likely expected he would average 26.8 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 3.7 assists through the first nine games of the year. DeRozan is even shooting a career-best 42.1% from three and is extremely close to 50/40/90 averages. He has tremendous value in DFS, especially since he has had over 32 points in three of his past four games. DeRozan looks better than he has since 2016, and Chicago is a terrific fit for him.