Chicago Bulls vs Charlotte Hornets 10/23/19 NBA Betting Odds and Prediction

The Chicago Bulls travel to the Hive on October 23, 2019 to take on the Charlotte Hornets at the Spectrum Center.

The Bulls look to challenge for a playoff spot and they have surrounded Zach LaVine and Lauri Markkanen with complimentary veteran players to help them achieve that. Meanwhile, the Charlotte Hornets will be without Kemba Walker since drafting him in 2011 and they will play the season searching for his replacement.

Adding Veteran Talent

The Chicago Bulls spent the first two seasons of the post-Jimmy Butler era trying to build around Zach LaVine and Lauri Markkanen. But the two had their share of injuries in the last couple of years that hampered Chicago’s plans. This year, the Bulls added veteran Otto Porter Jr., Thaddeus Young, Tomas Satoransky and Luke Kornet to help their young duo win games this year.

Chicago also drafted guard Coby White this summer and White should give the Bulls a solid point guard rotation along with Satoransky and holdover Kris Dunn. Last year’s draft pick Wendell Carter Jr. and veteran Denzel Valentine will help provide depth in Jim Boylen’s first full season as head coach.

The Bulls ranked 27th in team scoring last season at 104.9 points per game. Chicago averaged 42.9 rebounds per contest which put them at 25th overall. They were 27th in passing at 21.9 assists per game and the Bulls ranked in the bottom half in scoring defense at 113.4 points per game allowed.

Without Kemba Walker

The Charlotte Hornets will begin their life without Kemba Walker this season. The Hornets drafted Walker in 2011 and he has been the only superstar the team has known since then. Kemba was traded to the Boston Celtics for Terry Rozier. Rozier was looking for a bigger role than what he had in Boston. It remains to be seen if he can be the guy to replace Walker.

The Hornets didn’t do anything in the free agent market. They drafted P.J. Washington, Cody Martin, and Jalen McDaniels. With holdovers Miles Bridges, Malik Monk and Dwayne Bacon, this is a team that is very young and inexperienced. Veterans Cody Zeller, Nicolas Batum, and Marvin Williams will be back, but this is a team that is definitely still searching for a new star and leader.

Charlotte was 19th in the league in scoring at 110.7 points per game. The Hornets ranked 23rd in rebounding at 43.8 boards grabbed per contest. They were 24th in the NBA in passing with 23.2 assists per game. Charlotte allowed the 14th most points per game last season at 111.8 per contest.

Who Wins?

Chicago is 1-8 SU in their last nine games played. The Bulls are 2-7 SU in their last nine games played on the road and 1-6 SU in their last seven games against an Eastern Conference opponent. Charlotte is 4-1 SU in their last five games played. The Hornets are 1-5 SU in their last six Wednesday games played. Head to head, the Bulls are 6-3 SU in their last 10 games played against the Hornets.

The NBA betting gods see this as a pick ‘em game with both teams currently pegged at -115 at Spinsports.com as of 10/21/19. The Bulls and Hornets are both trying to return to the Eastern Conference playoff picture. The Hornets won 39 games last season, 17 more than the Bulls but the big issue in this game is Charlotte playing without Kemba Walker for the first time since 2011. James Borrego is a terrific coach but I’m not sure right now where this team turns to for offense.

Terry Rozier is a terrific scorer and we’ve seen the likes of Malik Monk and Miles Bridges have big scoring games last season. However, the Hornets lack a star in the mold of Walker. On the other hand, the Bulls are certain with their direction. Their rebuild is built around Zach LaVine and Lauri Markkanen. When both players are healthy, they are a terrific one-two punch. With the veteran acquisitions, the Bulls have made this summer, I think they are going to be competitive in a weak Eastern Conference.

I like what the Bulls have done during the summer. I think their experience will prevail over Charlotte’s youth. I have doubts if this Charlotte team will find its identity in the first half of the season. Meanwhile, I think the Bulls have what it takes to start making their move. As their new slogan says: “Run with us.”. I like the Bulls to run away with this game.

Prediction: Chicago Bulls

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Spread Betting Odds

The Bulls are 1-6 ATS in their last seven games played. Chicago is 5-2 ATS in their last seven Wednesday games played. The Hornets are 5-1 ATS in their last six games played and 4-1 ATS in their last five games played at home. Charlotte is also 5-1 ATS in their last six games against the Eastern Conference. Head to head, the Bulls are 6-4 ATS in their last 10 meetings.

The Hornets have outscored the Bulls by an average of 3.1 points per game and 11.33 points per game in their last three meetings. Seven out of the last 10 meetings between these two teams were separated by only eight points or fewer. These teams have been competing against each other in the last couple of years. However, when I look at these teams right now, the Bulls have more direction than the Hornets. Chicago has a go-to guy in LaVine while the Hornets are still looking for theirs. I think the Bulls win this opening game matchup.

Prediction: Bulls +1

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