At the beginning of the season, the Chicago Bulls were largely ignored in the NBA betting futures market. But after a 5-0 start, the Bulls are catching the attention of sharps and bargain hunters. Most important of all, the Bulls have been the biggest value on the board. Now the question for gamblers is whether Chicago’s success is sustainable. The Bulls achieve success by playing a full-court game. Since squares are looking to the bigger, more successful brands, Chicago may be able to hold its value for the foreseeable future.
Opponents and gamblers will soon start taking the Bulls seriously, which will affect pricing and betting value. But for the present, Chicago is printing cash.
Chicago Bulls Breakout Season?
Since 2020, Billy Donovan has been the head coach of the Bulls. He arrived after a highly successful tenure as head coach of the Oklahoma City Thunder. At the beginning, there was plenty of offshore betting enthusiasm for Donovan’s arrival. However, the results have been mediocre. This year, Donovan may have the roster he needs for a breakthrough.
Josh Giddey leads the Bulls with 22.0 points, 8.8 rebounds, and 8.0 assists per game. Previously, Giddey was the sixth overall pick of the 2021 NBA Draft out of Australia by the Oklahoma City Thunder. Last year, Giddey arrived to Chicago and has been a consistent presence in the lineup.
Namely, Nikola Vucevic is a more familiar NBA betting name. Vucevic was the 16th overall pick in the 2011 NBA Draft out of USC by the Philadelphia 76ers. He is a 2-time NBA All-Star and made his name with the Orlando Magic. A native of Switzerland, Vucevic is averaging 19.8 points, 12.0 rebounds, and 4.4 assists per game. Vucevic has been with the Bulls since the latter half of the 2020-21 season.
This week, the Bulls will host the Philadelphia 76ers on Tuesday night before a two-game road trip. The Bulls will face the Milwaukee Bucks on Friday and the Cleveland Cavaliers on Saturday.
Correlate that the Bulls covered all five of their games to begin the season.
Philadelphia 76ers Maxey Out
Yet another surprise starter in the NBA is the Philadelphia 76ers. The Sixers have wallowed in misery for the past couple of years without the services of center Joel Embiid. Although Embiid has returned, he is not manning the marquee for Philadelphia. Philadelphia is off to a promising start of 4-1 straight up and against the spread.
Instead, Tyrese Maxey is balling out with 35.2 points and 9.4 assists per game. Maxey was the 21st overall pick of the 2020 NBA Draft out of Kentucky by the 76ers. Last year was a breakout season for Maxey, as he was named an NBA All-Star, averaging 25.9 points and 6.2 assists per game. So far this year, Maxey picked up where he left off with 26.3 points and 6.1 assists per game. The question is whether Maxey can sustain such a torrid pace.
Joel Embiid is a 7-time NBA All-Star who played only 39 games in 2023-24 and 19 last year. His absence ruined the seasons of a Philadelphia team that was totally dependent upon Embiid being in the lineup. Thus far, Embiid is averaging 22.3 minutes per game, 17.3 points, and 5.3 rebounds.
The 76ers are at the Chicago Bulls on Tuesday, followed by a Wednesday game against the Cleveland Cavaliers. Next, Philadelphia will host the Toronto Raptors on Saturday and the Detroit Pistons on Sunday.
Pelicans Continue Pathetic Ways
It is hard to forget the insanity of New Orleans Pelicans employees going berserk after their team won the lottery to pick Zion Williamson first overall in the 2019 NBA Draft out of Duke. Williamson was indeed the most coveted player in the draft, but he has been working on eating himself out of the league. Although Williamson has stayed in the lineup, he is averaging 23.5 points and 6.3 rebounds per game. Nice stats, but hardly dominant.
Overall, New Orleans is 0-5 straight up, 1-3-1 against the spread, and 3-2 over the total. The Pelicans will host the Charlotte Hornets on Tuesday night. Following that is a Wednesday road game at the Dallas Mavericks and a Saturday game at the San Antonio Spurs.