NBA Playoffs: Chicago Bulls @ Brooklyn Nets Game 2
Game 2: Chicago Bulls @ Brooklyn Nets Mon. April 22, 2013 8 p.m. ET
The Chicago Bulls were crushed in the first game of the playoff series with the Brooklyn Nets this past weekend with Deron Williams and company wiping the floor with the Derrick Rose-less squad at the Barclays Center.
After the acquisition of Joe Johnson and re-signing of Williams and Brook Lopez during the off-season, the Nets were considered a legitimate NBA title contender in the Eastern Conference in Las Vegas odds. Brooklyn made the right moves to rebuild the team around Williams and appear to be on their way to punching their ticket to the second round of the postseason with a second win over Chicago on Monday night.
The Nets will come into this game against the Bulls in Brooklyn with an advantage in every possible area. Williams being a mismatch for every point guard the Bulls can throw at him is the most glaring advantage for the Nets. Williams appeared to be on top of his game on Saturday will seems explosive and near unstoppable every time he touched the ball.
With Williams proving to be the difference maker in Game 1, the trend should continue in Game 2 with the Nets more than likely coming out on top. Although Brooklyn appears to be on their way to a second consecutive victory in the first round, Chicago should put up more of a fight on Monday after feeling out the Nets right out of the gate.
As of right now, the Nets are favored to get a second win with a -5 1/2 point spread. Brooklyn is more than capable of covering this spread, but I believe the Bulls will bounce back and make a game of it on the road before heading back to Chicago for Game 3 and 4.