We are still weeks away from the return of the NBA for the 2014/15 season but the pre-season games are upon us, allowing us to get a little bit excited when it comes to the new season. If you are keen to get involved with some basketball action, you will be delighted to know that the leading betting sites are rolling out a range of betting options for the big pre-season games, so you can get involved right now!
Washington Wizards at the Chicago Bulls
Last year was a disappointing one for the Bulls but there are hopes that the changes made to the roster will bring about success in the new campaign. After proving his fitness at the FIBA World Cup, Derrick Rose is back and there will be a great deal of hope pinned on him. Pau Gasol has been added and although his FIBA World Cup ended in disappointment, he will be a key man in the new campaign.
The Wizards have managed to retain their back court specialists in Wall and Beal, and power houses Gortat and Nene but the addition of veteran Paul Pierce provides a bit more experience to the team. This means that the previous outcomes may not be totally indicative of what is going to occur for the two teams this season but it does provide a starting platform for analysis.
| Tipster | Tip-off | Home Team | Away Team | O/U | Odds | Free Tip | Sportsbook | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| [+] Show TrendsNBA tip locked in at 06/10 10:55 (Spread Result: 81-90.5, Totals: 166) | ||||||||||
| giorgio | 07/10 01:05 |  | Chicago BullsCHI |  | Washington WizardsWAS | 190.5 | 1.90 | Under 190.5 | ||
| SPREAD | -5.5 | +5.5 | 1.90 | Washington WizardsWAS |  Bet ► | |||||
Chicago Bulls Trends
The final five games of the Bulls 2013/14 campaign came in the post-season matched with the Wizards and it doesn’t make for happy reading. The record stands at 1 win and 4 losses, with three defeats occurring at home. The only win came in a 100-97 triumph in game 3 of 5 with the losses in other matches being a 75-69 loss, a 98-89 loss, a 101-99 OT win and a 102-93 win. It is not as if any of these defeats were crushing defeats with a big margin but the consistency of their losses will be a concern for Bulls fans.
Washington Wizards Trends
The final five games of the Wizards 2013/14 campaign came in the Eastern Conference and the team’s record stands at 2 wins and 3 losses. Sadly for the Wizards, this run coupled with a loss in their 6th last game, saw them lose out to the Indiana Pacers by a record of 2-4. The team managed two wins on the road but suffered three defeats at home. When the Wizards won, they tended to win big (102-96 and 102-79) but they were all too often out powered by the Pacers. Top men for the Wizards in these games were Bradley Beal and Marcin Gortat, who delivered a great number of points.
Head To Head
The matchup between the Washington Wizards and the Chicago Bulls is a repeat of the quarter final from the 2013/14 Eastern Conference Play-offs and if that is going to be a guide to how the match the pan will out, you should look to place your money on the Wizards. Washington romped to a 4-1 triumph over the Bulls but it wasn’t of much benefit in the long run as they found themselves outclassed by the Pacers in the following round.
This could be a chance for the Bulls to get some revenge before the season gets underway, which would be a handy psychological boost, or this match could emphasise the gulf in class that the Wizards showed when they dismantled the Bulls, ending their season in the last campaign.
Even though it is understandable that the range of basketball betting odds on offer for a pre-season match are limited, there are points spread, game totals and money line options available from Bet365.
Conclusion
While pre-season games are difficult to predict, and not always an indicator of what will happen when the action starts for real, there is no getting away from the fact that this looks like being a routine victory for the Wizards.
More NBA pre-season games taking place in the night of the 7th of October
The other games on offer on the 7th of October include the New Orleans Pelicans taking on the Atlanta Hawks, The 76ers taking on the Celtic and the Denver Nuggets will be squaring off against the Los Angeles Lakers. If you have been waiting far too long to enjoy basketball from the top NBA teams, the pre-season games will provide you with the perfect opportunity to get back into the swing of things before the season starts.
| # | Betting Site Review | % | Bonus | Visit Betting Site | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  | Everygame Review |  |  | $20 free bet | Everygame | |
| 2 |  | Bovada Review | | | 50% | $250 | Bovada |
| 3 |  | BetOnline Review | | 25% | $1000 | BetOnline | |
| 4 |  | SportsBetting Review | | 50% | $500 | SportsBetting | |
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