For the Brooklyn Nets there are no tomorrows. They need to win this game or their season comes to a crashing end. This is not the situation they should be in. After all, they had a 14-point lead in Game 4, and were poised to come home to start what would essentially be a three-game series, with two of those games in Brooklyn. But then, as unlikely as it seems, Nate Robinson happened. Robinson scored 12 points in a 14-0 Chicago run that tied the game late in the fourth. It took three overtimes for the Bulls to finally pull off the 142-134 win, but the seeds of success had been sown late in the fourth quarter by Robinson.

Bulls at Nets Betting Storylines

Handicapping this game is ultimately a question of toughness. Are the Nets tough enough to shed the crushing loss and get back on track? Are the Bulls tough enough to get focused again and finish the series off in what could be a very hostile building? By the fifth game of a series we know how the teams match up on the court — their roster shortcomings and advantages. This game won’t be won by some advantage or matchup that we haven’t seen up to this point. It will be won by the team that is more prepared and wants it more.

At this point it is all but impossible to question the toughness of the Bulls. The comeback in Game 4 would be proof in and of itself, but there is so much more than that. Remember, this is a team that is one game away from the second round of the playoffs despite setbacks that would kill many teams.

The team has been without former MVP Derrick Rose all year. To make matters worse, Rose has been playing bizarre games with the team regarding if and when he might return since the all-star break. That situation has been a major distraction, and it is all the media wants to talk about surrounding the team. Even now Rose’s loudmouthed brother is saying that the point guard could return in the second round.

To overcome all that — and to have the backup point guard lead the way — is a clear sign of toughness. That’s not all, either. Joakim Noah has dealt with ongoing injury issues, and the training staff for the team has been earning their money all year. Despite setbacks that could have been excuses, this team keeps clicking along.

So are the Nets tough enough to counter what the Bulls will throw at them? I’m not convinced. We obviously don’t know what the players are saying to each other behind closed doors. All we can judge is what is being said to the media, and what coach P.J. Carlesimo is saying doesn’t give me a lot of confidence. Instead of talking about what needs to change, what happened or how they are moving on to the next game, Carlesimo focused his postgame comments on how close the series was to 2-2 and how different things would be if that was the case. While that’s true, it is also irrelevant. The team can’t afford to dwell on what has happened to them, and they certainly can’t focus on the fact that just eight teams have ever overcome a 3-1 series deficit.

Bulls at Nets Game 5 NBA Odds and Betting Trends

5Dimes has the Nets favored by 5.5 points with the total set at 180.

Each team is 2-2 ATS in this series and 1-1 ATS in Brooklyn. The Bulls are 0-5 ATS in their last five games following an ATS win and 1-7 ATS in their last eight following a straight up win. The Bulls are 5-1 ATS in their last six games in Brooklyn. 12 of the last 17 meetings in Brooklyn have gone over the total. The Nets are 0-4 ATS in their last four games on just one day of rest.

Bulls at Nets Picks and Game 5 Betting Predictions

The Bulls smell blood in the water, and I have faith in their toughness and ability to close this game out. The last game was a total shootout, but that isn’t typical of either team, so it should be a much lower-scoring contest. As such, I have faith in the Bulls to at least keep it close and likely to win. That means that 5.5 points is plenty here, and Chicago is attractive.

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