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Is it Time to Burn Your Bulls NBA Futures Tickets?

By Matt De Saro

The Chicago Bulls are missing two of their three best players and have begun to slide down the Eastern Conference standings.
The Chicago Bulls are missing two of their three best players and have begun to slide down the Eastern Conference standings. / Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports
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After leading the Eastern Conference ladder for most of the season, the Chicago Bulls have lost their grip on the East. The Bulls are just 3-7 in their last 10 games and have fallen to third place in the conference behind the Brooklyn Nets and Miami Heat.

So, for those of us who were high on the Bulls heading into 2022, what happened? And are those futures tickets on Chicago already a lost cause? 

The answer to the why is quite simple. The Bulls had a slew of injuries occur over the last couple of weeks that kept their best players off the court. Starting point guard Lonzo Ball suffered a knee injury last week that will require surgery. He is expected to miss up to eight weeks.

Meanwhile, Zach LaVine has been dealing with a knee injury and hasn’t played in 10 days. Billy Donovan said he is confident LaVine will return this week and, if the recent results are to be believed, the Bulls desperately need him back.

Without Ball and LaVine on the court in their last two games, Chicago has combined to score just 39 points in the first quarter against the Bucks and Magic. In the first quarter of the Magic game, one of the worst teams in the NBA, the team managed 19 points. Leading scorer Demar DeRozan had 10 points. As they attempt to get back on track, they will also be without forward Javonte Green (groin) and guard Alex Caruso (wrist). 

So, how about those of us holding Bulls’ futures tickets? Is this really the beginning of the end? I would say not to panic just yet.

First of all, LaVine could be back tonight in the Bulls’ game against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Also looking back at their last 10 games, they have played some very good teams. Without their best two players, it's hard to get too bent out of shape over losses to the Nets, Warriors, Celtics, Grizzlies, and Bucks.

And finally, the Bulls are just one game out of first place despite their recent slump. The Nets are just 5-5 in the span and the Heat 7-3. The season is not even halfway done yet. There is a lot of basketball left to be played and a lot of time for the Bulls to get healthy. 

As of Monday morning, the Chicago Bulls are the fourth team in the East according to the futures odds at WynnBET Sportsbook. The Bulls are +1000 right now with the Nets atop the odds board at +135. Chicago is also +2200 to go all the way.

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