Atlanta Hawks at the Chicago Bulls Nov 22: Breakdown, Prediction, and Prop Bets

This is where the real action is in the East. We have a couple of young, scrappy times facing off tonight in Chicago. The Hawks have been a torrent this year, with surprises and disappointments. Sitting at 7-9, they’ve struggled early but remain relevant in an Eastern Conference that has disappointed early. Chicago, on the other hand, has been feistier than expected. Their record may only be 6-10, but they have played tough basketball at an elite pace this year. This should be a fun NBA Cup matchup in Chicago tonight! 

Hawks Breakdown 

Atlanta has been firmly in the middle lately. With the roster in limbo, they won the Dejounte Murray trade. Dyson Daniels has been the breakout player this year as a defensive juggernaut. Forcing steals and tipping balls at a level we’ve never seen before in the league. The 21-year-old has elevated the expectations of this Hawks team early as they look to push for a playoff stop in a sloppy Eastern Conference. 

Trae Young has been a frustrating piece. The star PG has been up and down this year, but his shot has not been clicking. He is shooting well below his historical averages, and Atlanta found most of its success while he was sidelined with an injury. He’s still a high-level passer, but taking up a considerable portion of the salary cap while being ineffective is concerning. Regardless of Trae’s future with this team, they have had moments.

The combination of youth and size on this roster makes them challenging. You can’t take a possession off or they will punish you for it. In this matchup against the Bulls they have a good chance of taking it. The Bulls love to run, with the highest pace in the league, Atlanta should be able to stay right with them. We think Atlanta will be able to cause havoc defensively tonight as Daniels and Jalen Johnson matchup nicely against Josh Giddey and Zach LaVine. 

Bulls Breakdown 

The Bulls have been a more potent team than we anticipated. They push the pace on every possession, and with a roster loaded with guards, it works. LaVine is proving he’s still a relevant player in this league. Averaging 22 points on 51% FG and 41% 3%, he’s one of the most efficient offensive players this year. Next to him, Josh Giddey has found a new home as the PG. He’s done well this year despite being negative on the defensive end. 

This roster, in general, is full of mismatched but likable players. Coby White, Nikola Vucevic, and Ayo Dosunmu are all winning players. It just feels like the future of this team isn’t chasing playoff spots but a draft position. Despite a better-than-expected start, this team is still missing something. They lack a proper number-one option, and it doesn’t look like they’re in a position to get one. 

In today’s matchup, we think Atlanta will be a strong competitor for the Bulls. They can counter Chicago well with size, youth, and big bodies down low. If Chicago is going to have a chance in this game, it’s on offense. They must avoid letting Atlanta get takeaways. Atlanta has been elite in transition offense, while their half-court offense has been in the middle of the road at best. If Chicago can hit from deep limit turnovers while keeping the pace up, the could steal it. However, we’re still going with Atlanta today to win the game. 

Prediction: Atlanta Hawks Win

Top Prop Best: 

Zach LaVine 23+ Points: This line comes down to the fact Trae is playing tonight. He’s been a huge liability on the defensive end. If LaVine can get the switch on the Trae, he can feast tonight. We expect to see tons of Vuc LaVine pick and roll tonight, which will hopefully help LaVine get some high-quality shots! 

Josh Giddey Over 5.5 Rebounds: With the size and athleticism Atlanta brings to this game, the Bulls will need team rebounding. Giddey may have flaws, but as a guard, he is an excellent rebounder. We expect to see him come up big on the boards tonight! 
Trae Young Under 12.5 Assists: Trae has been scared to shoot lately. His averages are tanking, and because of that, he’s committing to the pass a ton. He has racked up a fair number of assists, but I expect the Bulls to play the passing lanes hard against Trae, limiting his opportunities to get assists.