Once in a while, a team makes trade deadline moves that suggest a rebuild, only to see the team improve and make a playoff push.
The Chicago Bulls are just the latest example of this phenomenon.
Since trading away Zach LaVine and even enduring some key injuries, Chicago has remained in the playoff picture by maintaining its hold on the Eastern Conference’s ninth seed.
Chicago hosts the Lakers on Thursday in a rematch of an impressive win from this past Saturday in Los Angeles.
The Bulls won outright as 10.5-point underdogs with LeBron James returning from injury to put the Lakers at full strength.
The Bulls played perhaps their best game of the season, dropping 146 points on 17-of-41 shooting from behind the arc.
Overall, they shot 58.3 percent from the field with just 10 turnovers, compared to the Lakers’ 21.
I like the Bulls as a 3-point underdog in the rematch in Chicago, but my official play is Coby White to make over 2.5 three-pointers.
The guard has been on an absolute tear recently, earning consecutive Eastern Conference Player of the Week honors.
The sharpshooter is averaging 29.8 points per game this month, and White is shooting 36.1 percent from three-point territory in that span.
In that upset of the Lakers, White was 6-of-9 from downtown.
Betting on the NBA?
I am not convinced the Lakers have resolved their defensive issues, especially with this matchup coming on the second-half of a road back-to-back. White should get plenty of open looks on Thursday.
I will put my 35-20 ATS record in this Post section on the line by backing White to cash this prop.
The Pick: Coby White Over 2.5 three-pointers (-165, BetMGM)
I have a 35-20 ATS record in this Post sports section. For more betting analysis and much more, please visit our page (onlyplayers.com/pluspost) solely dedicated to New York Post readers with a 50-percent discount.