Eastern Conference teams on the bubble

I'm always looking for teams with bad records that have motivation to do well. Books often don't give respect to these teams and the lines are off.

This year we have 7 teams with good records in the East and 1 playoff spot for bad teams. Here are teams vying for the 8th spot:

Atl 32-40
NJ 31-42
Ind 30-43
Chi 28-44
Char 27-45

Look for these teams to do well in the remaining games.

FairWarning said:

Why would the Bulls do well? Their longest winning streak is 2. They will be blowing this team up after the season. A lottery pick only helps them if it is a top 2-3 pick, otherwise they will probably trade it.

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Good points FW. Yet they did quite well in the 1st half on Saturday only to let Milwaukee come back in the 2nd. They eventually pulled out the win so they must be playing for something.

quantumleap said:

Good points FW. Yet they did quite well in the 1st half on Saturday only to let Milwaukee come back in the 2nd. They eventually pulled out the win so they must be playing for something.

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I follow the Bulls and the media is the only reason they haven't flat-out quit on the season. The effort has been questioned ever since Ben Wallace got Skiles fired. They are giving "effort" because they are playing for next year's contracts. Remember Deng and Gordon both turned down $50 million contracts.

FairWarning said:

I follow the Bulls and the media is the only reason they haven't flat-out quit on the season. The effort has been questioned ever since Ben Wallace got Skiles fired. They are giving "effort" because they are playing for next year's contracts. Remember Deng and Gordon both turned down $50 million contracts.

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Can you think of any upcoming games when they may not want to put in a full effort. For example, a team they know they can't compete with?

TIA.

Here is their remaining schedule:

<table class="data" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="1"><tbody><tr class="datahead"><td width="18%">Date</td> <td width="25%">Vs</td> <td width="28%">Last Vs</td> <td width="20%">Odds</td> <td width="9%">Result</td> </tr> <tr class="datarow"> <td> 04/01/08 Tue</td> <td> Boston </td> <td> 03/07/08 L 93-116</td> <td> 11.5/198.5</td> <td> L/O</td> </tr> <tr class="datarow"> <td> 04/03/08 Thu</td> <td> @ Cleveland </td> <td> 03/06/08 W 107-96</td> <td> -4.5/197.5</td> <td> W/O</td> </tr> <tr class="datarow"> <td> 04/05/08 Sat</td> <td> Washington </td> <td> 02/29/08 L 91-97</td> <td> -6/197.5</td> <td> L/U</td> </tr> <tr class="datarow"> <td> 04/08/08 Tue</td> <td> @ Miami </td> <td> 02/14/08 W 99-92</td> <td> 2/195</td> <td> W/U</td> </tr> <tr class="datarow"> <td> 04/09/08 Wed</td> <td> @ Orlando </td> <td> 01/15/08 L 88-102</td> <td> 6.5/201.5</td> <td> L/U</td> </tr> <tr class="datarow"> <td> 04/11/08 Fri</td> <td> Cleveland </td> <td> 03/06/08 W 107-96</td> <td> -4.5/197.5</td> <td> W/O</td> </tr> <tr class="datarow"> <td> 04/13/08 Sun</td> <td> Orlando </td> <td> 01/15/08 L 88-102</td> <td> 6.5/201.5</td> <td> L/U</td> </tr> <tr class="datarow"> <td> 04/14/08 Mon</td> <td> @ Milwaukee </td> <td> 03/29/08 W 114-111</td> <td> -10.5/207.5</td> <td> L/O</td> </tr> <tr class="datarow"> <td> 04/16/08 Wed</td> <td> Toronto </td> <td> 11/25/07 L 78-93</td> <td> 5/184</td> <td> L/U</td></tr></tbody></table>Instead of trying to guess which games they won't show up in (maybe 4/14 @ Milwaukee), the Bulls don't bring it on D anymore. Since most of their roster is auditioning for jobs next year, and have tuned the coach out long ago, I would look for overs. Bulls are also 5-29 when giving up 100+. I would fade them after any win, personally.

Atlanta has an easy schedule, NJ has a tough one.

I think NJ is the better team and would have a better record if they had their current roster all year.

FairWarning said:

Here is their remaining schedule:

<TABLE class=data cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=2><TBODY><TR class=datahead><TD width="18%">Date</TD><TD width="25%">Vs</TD><TD width="28%">Last Vs</TD><TD width="20%">Odds</TD><TD width="9%">Result</TD></TR><TR class=datarow><TD>04/01/08 Tue</TD><TD>Boston </TD><TD>03/07/08 L 93-116</TD><TD>11.5/198.5</TD><TD>L/O</TD></TR><TR class=datarow><TD>04/03/08 Thu</TD><TD>@ Cleveland </TD><TD>03/06/08 W 107-96</TD><TD>-4.5/197.5</TD><TD>W/O</TD></TR><TR class=datarow><TD>04/05/08 Sat</TD><TD>Washington </TD><TD>02/29/08 L 91-97</TD><TD>-6/197.5</TD><TD>L/U</TD></TR><TR class=datarow><TD>04/08/08 Tue</TD><TD>@ Miami </TD><TD>02/14/08 W 99-92</TD><TD>2/195</TD><TD>W/U</TD></TR><TR class=datarow><TD>04/09/08 Wed</TD><TD>@ Orlando </TD><TD>01/15/08 L 88-102</TD><TD>6.5/201.5</TD><TD>L/U</TD></TR><TR class=datarow><TD>04/11/08 Fri</TD><TD>Cleveland </TD><TD>03/06/08 W 107-96</TD><TD>-4.5/197.5</TD><TD>W/O</TD></TR><TR class=datarow><TD>04/13/08 Sun</TD><TD>Orlando </TD><TD>01/15/08 L 88-102</TD><TD>6.5/201.5</TD><TD>L/U</TD></TR><TR class=datarow><TD>04/14/08 Mon</TD><TD>@ Milwaukee </TD><TD>03/29/08 W 114-111</TD><TD>-10.5/207.5</TD><TD>L/O</TD></TR><TR class=datarow><TD>04/16/08 Wed</TD><TD>Toronto </TD><TD>11/25/07 L 78-93</TD><TD>5/184</TD><TD>L/U</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>Instead of trying to guess which games they won't show up in (maybe 4/14 @ Milwaukee), the Bulls don't bring it on D anymore. Since most of their roster is auditioning for jobs next year, and have tuned the coach out long ago, I would look for overs. Bulls are also 5-29 when giving up 100+. I would fade them after any win, personally.

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Thanks for the input FW. I like that angle on the overs.

FairWarning said:

Quantumleap, now that the Bulls are eliminated, tonight would be a good time to fade them, after losing to Miami.

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Nice call FW.



Too bad I didn't see this until now.

Still, a good team to fade in the next few days.

quantumleap said:

Nice call FW.



Too bad I didn't see this until now.

Still, a good team to fade in the next few days.

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You can probably go ahead and fade them the rest of the year outside of the last home game. Bulls don't need lottery picks, they need veteran leadership.