The No.1 seed in the Eastern Conference was secured by the Chicago Bulls by defeating Cleveland Cavaliers 93-82 with the assist of a 24-point and 11-rebound performance from Carlos Boozer.
Derrick Rose added 11 points and eight assists for the Bulls, while Ronnie Brewer had 12 points. For the first time, the Bulls won all the games in the season series from Cleveland, ever since winning all four meetings in the 1995-96 regular season.
Through the first three rounds of the National Basketball Association playoffs, the Bulls will have home-court benefit. Chicago has now won 18 of the last 20 games. This was their six successive win. From the time when the Michael Jordan-led team of 1997-98, the Bulls had not finished with the best record in the East.
With 22 points and 15 rebounds, J.J. Hickson led the Cavaliers. For the league’s most awful record, Cleveland Cavaliers dropped into a tie with Minnesota.
Point guard Derrick Rose had a quiet game with 11 points and eight assists, while Boozer had 24 points and 11 rebounds Friday. Rose remains the desired one to capture the league’s MVP Award.
Chicago will have home-court benefit through the first three rounds of the playoffs, which has won six straight and 18 of 20.
The Bulls has six players score in double figures and they are winners of 9 of 10 on the road.
On 10 April 2011, Chicago Bulls will face Orlando Magic. NBA betting lines have received a ton of action these last few weeks. The best betting odds for the Bulls are 7/19 and for the Magic 22/19.
March Madness for 2010 has officially begun with Selection Sunday complete. Let the Bracketology begin!
A potential upset is looked for by everyone in the first round. The bill might be fit with UTEP, a no. 12 seed, and Butler, a No. 5 seed. Earning an at-large bid into the NCAA tournament, UTEP comes off regular season play as the winner of Conference USA.
Butler carries with them a 20 game winning streak into tournament play with longest streak of any team entering “The Big Dance.” A 16 game winning streak had been by UTEP, prior to their upset during the championship game of the Conference USA tournament by the University of Houston Cougars.
One common opponent during their 2009-2010 seasons in the Univeristy of Alabama-Birmingham has UTEP and Butler. UTEP defeated UAB in conference play during a double-overtime battle, winning 74-65 at Birmingham and 52-50 at home while Butler lost at UAB 67-57.
Four players who average double figures in the scoring column for the UTEP Miners are included among other note-worthy factors. A force on the boards as well is Derrick Caracter, one of those players. He leads the team in rebounds, averaging 8 per game. Caracter’s strength inside might be the straw to break the Bulldogs’ back, especially since he comes as a transfer from Louisville where he brings experience from NCAA tournament play. His 6 foot 9, 275 pound frame makes him a central inside presence.
The Conference USA Player of the Year Randy Culpepper, who will bring a lot to the table in offensive power for UTEP isn’t to be overlooked. Anything can happen on this stage with Culpepper’s quickness and 3-point range making him a threat.
Butler, no. 5 seed and the label of underdog, embraces their place and looks forward to extending their winning streak to 21 with a win over the Miners. With predictions and upsets the hot topics of the tournament, one to pay special attention might be this matchup. Any team can win, on any given day, and Thursday might just be the day for one no. 5 seed to be a first round upset for 2010.
