The best betting lines for wins for the Bulls this upcoming season are over 41.5, per PointsBet and under 43.5, per Caesars (h/t Action Network).
Given Chicago’s acquisitions of DeMar DeRozan and Lonzo Ball in addition to Zach LaVine and Nikola Vucevic, the Bulls have the making to be a playoff team in the Eastern Conference.
Vucevic brings excellent mid-range and 3-point shooting and post play to give the Bulls a reliable scoring option, as it will also help open up the floor for his teammates to get some good looks within the flow of the offense.
DeRozan brings a reliable threat to score in the mid-range and on drives to the rim. The pick-and-roll possibilities with DeRozan and Vucevic are endless.
Both scorers will take a ton of pressure off of LaVine this upcoming season, as having both players in the fold could maximize catch and shoot opportunities for LaVine, who converted 48.6 percent of those attempts last season.
During his stint with the Pelicans, Ball’s 3-point shooting improved significantly, and in the preseason, he showed no signs of slowing down, as he made 5-of-6 of his attempts from downtown in a recent preseason game that just so happened to take place against the Pelicans.
Defense could be an issue with this group, but Alex Caruso and Tony Bradley should come in and help address that area of weakness.
Having said all of this, I’m inclined to take the over. All of these players are too talented to not win at least 45 games as a collective group.
More Bulls Rumors
- As previously mentioned, Ball’s 3-point shooting has drastically improved since entering the league, as his percentage is up nearly eight points on a higher volume of attempts. He’s been the best 3-point shooter for the Bulls in the preseason, Sam Smith of NBA.com writes.
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With the new pieces on the roster, Vucevic will still be a focal point of the team’s offense, Darnell Mayberry of The Athletic writes. “With all the guys I have around me now, I have so many opportunities to score: trail 3s, drive-and-kick, off pick-and-pops, on rolls and dump-offs,” Vucevic said. “We have so many guys who are good on the ball and that are willing passers, as a big man, it’s a luxury to have. We just have to get used to each other and build that chemistry, and I think it’ll be great for everybody.”
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Patrick Williams was a full participant in practice yesterday, Darnell Mayberry of The Athletic relays. “My ankle feels good,” he said.
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Coby White isn’t close to being cleared for contact, as the Bulls are 3-4 weeks away from making a decision on the next step for his shoulder rehab, Cody Westerlund of 670TheScore.com relays. With the crowded depth at the guard position for the Bulls, he may not have an easy path to playing time in the future.
