The odds for each NBA team’s win totals for the 2018-19 season have been released. It’s safe to say the Chicago Bulls are being heavily underestimated.
Per Jeff Sherman of the Westgate Las Vegas Superbook, the Chicago Bulls over/under for wins for the 2018-19 NBA season is 27.5.
Wait, seriously? 27.5? Yeah, I think I’ll take the over.
The Warriors lead the league with an over/under of 62.5 wins while the Celtics lead the East with an over/under of 57.5 wins. That all makes sense. The Warriors are clearly the best team in the NBA and the Celtics are likely going to be the best team in the East. But wait… 27.5 wins for the Bulls? Let’s get serious.
The Bulls finished last season with a 27-55 record which means that Las Vegas is estimating they’ll be a half game better than last year. That’s ridiculous. I’m not trying to say the Bulls are going to contend in the East or challenge any top-tier team, but I would be floored if they didn’t have a better record than last year.
Zach LaVine only played in 24 games last season after returning from a serious knee injury and his offseason was spent rehabbing that injury instead of training for the season the way most players get to. He’ll likely enter the 2018-19 season fully healthy with an entire offseason spent preparing to play basketball. I don’t know how good he’ll be, but he’ll be better.
Last year, Lauri Markkanen had to spend a solid chunk of the season just getting used to the league. He was voted to the NBA All-Rookie first team and showed steady improvement throughout the season. I’m willing to bet he’ll be better in the 2018-19 season.
Kris Dunn gets to play in what might as well be considered his sophomore season (His rookie year basically last season for the Bulls. Thibs didn’t give him a chance in his real rookie season.) He probably won’t get as many shot attempts this year, but he’ll also have the full season as the starting point guard, unlike last year where he battled with Jerian Grant at the beginning of the season.
The Bulls bench will undoubtedly be better. They will have rookies Chandler Hutchison and Wendell Carter Jr., an improving Bobby Portis and a quality veteran in Justin Holiday.
Oh yeah, I almost forgot to mention that the Bulls signed a former second overall draft pick, Jabari Parker. While it’s a complete mystery how good Jabari Parker will be due to injury and defensive concerns, he’ll likely be the first or second option on offense. He has talent and upside that the Bulls haven’t seen in quite some time. If he stays healthy, he’ll make them better.
Saying that the Bulls will have roughly the same record as last year is absolutely absurd. Maybe they’ll make the playoffs, maybe they won’t. That’s not the point. The point is that they will most definitely be better than last year – there’s no reason they won’t be. I would say a better projected win total for the Bulls would be 37.5 and even that almost feels a little too disrespectful. Either way, if the over/under is 27.5 wins, I would take the over without thinking twice.