Chicago Bulls vs Brooklyn Nets 12/4/21: Starting Lineups, Matchup Preview, Betting Odds, Live Stream

Chicago Bulls vs. Brooklyn Nets Matchup Preview (12/4/21)

The Brooklyn Nets will be hosting the Chicago Bulls in a matchup between the two best Eastern Conference teams. Brooklyn will still be without Kyrie Irving and Joe Harris, who will be recovering from an ankle injury. The Nets have won five of their past six, with their only loss coming against the Phoenix Suns, who have already set a franchise record for most wins in a row. One aspect of the Nets that I have been a fan of in the second half of November is their ability to take care of business against teams that aren’t as good. There are a lot of NBA teams who are really inconsistent and can drop games against much less talented squads. If they keep that up, they should cruise to a No. 1 or 2 seed in the Eastern Conference by the end of the season. Chicago is another team with high hopes for the season. So far, the complete roster restructures in the off-season were a massive win for the Bulls. DeMar DeRozan, Lonzo Ball, and Alex Caruso are major contributors who have a clear-cut role in a confident offense. In the fourth quarter, this game will likely be a nail-biter, going down to the wire.

Chicago Bulls vs. Brooklyn Nets Betting Odds

Odds are not out yet for the public but should be shortly after this article is published. Check the table above as it will populate with the odds as they drop from the major sportsbooks. They should be available around 24 hours before tip-off; however, pay attention to the injury reports of both teams before placing a bet.

I could see the Nets being 3 point home favorites, but Chicago is a good enough team to keep the line from being much more than that. Brooklyn has not done well against the spread at home this season with a record of 3-7-1 ATS and a win-loss record of 7-4. I will only let those statistics deter you if the line widens. At three or less, Brooklyn is the play.

TV Schedule

Date: 12/4/21
Time: 8:00 PM ET
Arena: Barclays Center – Brooklyn, NY
Channel: NBA League Pass

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Chicago Bulls Starting Lineup

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

Chicago Bulls Analysis

Everyone questioned the Bulls’ off-season moves, citing potential chemistry issues and whether bringing in DeRozan was really a good move or not. Even some thought they had the worst off-season of any team in the NBA. In the midst of all the chaos and doubters, the Bulls seemed completely confident in their direction. Now, they are surely laughing at everyone who doubted them. DeMar DeRozan is having a career year and has some terrific stars alongside him in Nikola Vucevic, Lonzo Ball, and Zach LaVine. Chicago is top-five in eFG% (effective field goal percentage) and 3P% (three-point percentage) while also ranking in the top ten in points per game and offensive efficiency. The Bulls are not slouches defensively either, ranking ninth in opponent points per game and defensive efficiency.

Brooklyn Nets Starting Lineup

PG: Patty Mills
SG: James Harden
SF: DeAndre’ Bembrey
PF: Kevin Durant
C: LaMarcus Aldridge

Brooklyn Nets Analysis

Last season it was injuries for the Brooklyn Nets that derailed their season. This year, it is a combination of more complex issues. Apparently, Kyrie Irving is no closer to getting the COVID vaccine, which will not allow him to play for the foreseeable future unless he is traded. The Nets stated that they are fielding trade calls for Irving and may end up parting ways so he can find a team in a state that does not have the same mandates that the state of New York has at the moment. It is hard to imagine a high price tag on Irving’s name right now due to these complications, so that will be something to keep an eye on. Additionally, James Harden has regressed in most statistical categories from previous seasons, and his usage rate has dropped significantly. However, with all that being stated, the Nets are still one of the two or three best defenses in the NBA, which no one could have expected before the season. They rank first in opponent eFG% (effective field goal percentage) and opponent 3P% (three-point percentage.) Their combination of defending the three-point line and ranking third in 3P% themselves has catapulted them to the top of the Eastern Conference.

Chicago Bulls vs. Brooklyn Nets Daily Fantasy Picks

Kevin Durant is likely second in the MVP race for the 2021-22 NBA season at the moment. Durant averages 28.6 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 5.5 assists on a 54/39/86 shooting split. This is almost as close to a 50/40/90 as you can get, and the fact he is shooting 54% from the field as a small forward is extremely efficient. Durant has the highest shooting percentage out of every guard and small forward in the NBA, to give you an idea. Naturally, power forwards and centers tend to shoot closer to the rim, thus usually giving them higher percentages. However, this is incredibly impressive for a player who shoots plenty of threes and deep mid-range jumpers. Durant can go absolutely nuclear in any game he plays, which makes him a valuable DFS play. On November 27th, Durant dropped 39 points, nine rebounds, seven assists, and four steals in a massive game against the Phoenix Suns, one of the NBA’s top defenses. There is no such thing as a bad matchup for one of the greatest scorers in the game’s history.

Nikola Vucevic is coming off two amazing games for the Bulls. Even though several guys on their team can put up a significant amount of points, Vucevic has still been getting lots of looks. In those two games, he put up 30 points, 14 rebounds, and five assists against the Charlotte Hornets and 27 points, seven rebounds, and three assists on the New York Knicks. Vucevic’s averages are not spectacular on the season, but I like his chances of returning to his usual form of 20+ points per game sooner versus later. The Nets will have a hard time containing Vucevic, so this matchup is particularly favorable. While LaMarcus Aldridge is still a good player, he is fairly old in NBA years. Vooch could have 20-25 points and 15 rebounds this game if he shoots well.