Bulls vs Nets Picks and Predictions: Getting Buckets in Brooklyn

The Brooklyn Nets will try and build some momentum out of what's been a highly dysfunctional season so far when they host the Chicago Bulls in NBA betting action Tuesday night. 

Brooklyn played last night, beating the lottery-bound Pacers for just its second win of the season. Meanwhile, 3-4 Chicago has had two nights off since a close loss to the 76ers, and is still navigating the likely long-term loss of underrated point guard Lonzo Ball. 

Find out which of these wayward squads should be getting your financial support as we preview our Bulls vs. Nets NBA picks and predictions for November 1.

(Editor's Note: This preview was originally published prior to Tuesday afternoon's news that the Nets had fired Steve Nash.)

Bulls vs Nets best odds

Bulls vs Nets picks and predictions

It seems pretty safe at this point to assume that the Nets are going to be trash on defense most given nights.

After ranking in the league's bottom third in defensive rating each of the last two seasons, Brooklyn's bottomed out so far in 2022-23, with the NBA's No. 29 D-rating, giving up the third-most points per game (a ghastly 120.3).

The leaks are everywhere. The Nets' perimeter rotation is littered with minus defenders (Joe Harris, Patty Mills, apparent bigot Kyrie Irving). Kevin Durant looks entirely disengaged on D most nights. And while Nic Claxton is a capable shot-blocker, he's liable to suffer several ADD fits per game and is frequently caught out of position. It doesn't help matters that Ben Simmons — the Nets' best defender by any rational definition — is day-to-day and didn't suit up last night.

Conversely, the Bulls have topped tonight's team total — 115.5 — in three of their last four games, averaging 120.5 overall in those contests. The one bogey was a near-miss 114 against the Sixers — a respectable defensive unit that's currently playing at the slowest pace in the whole league. 

Zach LaVine (listed as questionable for load management, but just had two nights' rest), is still working himself back into game shape, putting up what, for him, are fairly pedestrian point totals. We can expect his overall impact on the Bulls' offense to increase, and this looks like a great spot coming off rest against a shit defense that had to battle for a win just last night.

There's absolutely zero reason to expect Brooklyn to come with a strong effort on D, and whichever of LaVine or DeMar DeRozan isn't being checked by Royce O'Neale could have a field day. 

Even if LaVine sits, this isn't an awful team total line against a defense as bad as Brooklyn's, but if he plays (which should happen given the rest and the fact that Chicago needs to build some momentum itself here) 115.5 should be easily attainable.

My best bet: Bulls team total Over 115.5 (-115 at bet365)

Bulls vs Nets spread analysis

Wanna hear a truly unbelievable stat?

Since 2021, the Nets are 6-32-1 against the spread as home favorites. I know, I had to do a double-take myself, but you can look it up.

Covering the NBA odds as home favorites at just a 15.8% rate in that span could seem like a bad-variance anomaly for most samples, but actually makes a lot of sense for a team like Brooklyn with inflated public perception and a fairly dubious recent track record.

Of course, the Nets were supposed to return among the East's elite after last year's flat tire of a season, but have come out limping to a pathetic 1-6 ATS mark in 2022-23. Chicago's at least managed to break even at 3-3-1, which doesn't inspire a ton of confidence, but isn't anywhere near as fade-worthy as Brooklyn's current state. 

The Nets are in serious turmoil right now: their defense has more holes than a literal basketball net, and their offensive depth outside of Kyrie and KD is truly concerning thus far. Meanwhile, head coach Steve Nash is being undermined at seemingly every turn, and Irving's Wheel-O-Distractions somehow landed on public antisemitism this week, adding yet another layer to the Nets' onion of foolishness.

I find it really hard to see why the Nets should be favored over any half-competent basketball team right now, even at home. Take the Bulls on the spread if you're inclined, and the moneyline at slight plus money looks attractive as well. 

Bulls vs Nets Over/Under analysis

With a team as bad defensively as the Nets that also houses two of the most nuclear scorers in NBA history, the Over should always be in play.

This is particularly the case tonight, with a team like Chicago that's probably undervalued on offense. Chicago averaged just 104 ppg in its first three games before getting LaVine back, and had ratcheted up to 120.5, now getting to sink its teeth into Brooklyn's butter defense. 

Without Simmons to pressure either of the Bulls' wing scorers, and no dependable rim protection flanking the many holes on the perimeter (6'9" Markieff Morris and Day'Ron Sharpe are moonlighting as Brooklyn's backup centers) they could easily start to run up this score.

And the Nets only have one gear with which to counter if they get caught in a firefight. I'd take the Over 230 here. 

Bulls vs Nets betting trend to know

Nets are 6-32-1 ATS as home favorites since 2021. Find more NBA betting trends for Bulls vs. Nets.

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