It was back in January 2022 when Lonzo Ball and the new-look Bulls had taken off to start the season, holding the best record in the Eastern Conference at 27-13. A healthy Ball had led Chicago to an impressive 23-17 ATS start, the fourth-best ATS team in the East. However, Ball has not played since then, and the Bulls have gone 59-64 SU & ATS in the regular season since his last game, experiencing ups and downs on offense and defense.
Despite successful acquisitions like Patrick Beverley to add to Alex Caruso’s skills at the Point Guard position, the team couldn't emulate the synergy between DeMar DeRozan and Zach Lavine that once electrified the stands. Ball was the connection between the two, bridging the gap like Banana Republic and Old Navy.
On Friday, the team announced that they do not expect Lonzo Ball's highly anticipated return to happen in the 2023-2024 season, leading to a perceptible dampening of spirits throughout the Chicago Bulls fan base.
The absence of Lonzo Ball has been frustrating for the team, as he serves as a crucial link on both offense and defense. The Bulls have struggled to replicate the same level of cohesion without him. In the second half of the 2021-2022 season, following Ball's injury in January, the Bulls maintained a solid offense, ranking 14th in the league during that period. However, their defense suffered, falling to 22nd in the league, which ultimately had an impact on their declining record.
This year, the Bulls aimed to bolster their defensive security by relying on veteran point guards rather than young players like Coby White and Ayo Dosunmu. However, this defensive strength was offset by a lack of scoring punch. Chicago maintained a top-5 defense throughout the 2023-2024 season, thanks to the disruptive pairing of Caruso and Beverley in the backcourt. Nevertheless, their offense experienced a significant decline, finishing the season ranked 24th in the league. The Bulls fell 2.5 games below their projected season win total of Over/Under 42.5
The reactions across Twitter to the announcement show a deep sense of loss, with fans lamenting the team's ill luck, particularly with Point Guards. One notable example is user @IamYoungX, who mourns the brief but impactful period of Ball's on-court chemistry with the team, lamenting “That small window we seen with him is going to haunt me as a Bulls Fan forever!” Conversely, others express frustration and desire for decisive action, including removing Ball from the payroll. Additionally, there's a pragmatic concern over the Bulls' lack of first-round picks in the 2023 NBA Draft, adding pressure on the team. In summary, the news has significantly dampened the spirits of the Bulls' fanbase, highlighting concerns for the team's future.
The betting market's response to the announcement was lukewarm at best, as the Bulls' 2024 Title Odds remained at 120-to-1. The lack of movement in the odds could be attributed to the prevailing low market sentiment on the Bulls, positioning them as the 22nd favorite to win the NBA Title. It appears that the marketplace is anticipating a potential 'blow it up' scenario for the team this season.
Despite being placed in the country's third-biggest TV market, the Bulls currently have the 13th-highest payroll expected for the 2023-2024 season, after clocking in at 17th last year.
Considering it from a Vegas perspective, this development certainly diminishes the Bulls' appeal as a betting prospect. The continued absence of Lonzo Ball underscores a void in the team's playmaking ability, putting the onus on two players in DeMar DeRozan and Zach Lavine whose best abilities are one-on-one scoring and one-on-one scoring, respectively. How the team responds to this setback presents intriguing possibilities for both fans and bettors alike.
The Bulls' trajectory, marked by this unexpected tumble, demonstrates the fickle nature of sports, where a single injury can rewrite a team's destiny. For now, the Vegas odds are stacked against the Bulls, but as every seasoned bettor knows, in the world of sports betting, fortunes can change as swiftly as a three-pointer at the buzzer.
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