Tonight at 8:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, the Chicago Bulls and the New Orleans Pelicans will begin their 2024-25 National Basketball Association season at the Smoothie King Center. Surprisingly, the Bulls were able to sweep the Pelicans in the previous season, a feat that was unexpected given the Bulls’ underdog status in both contests.
During this season, the Bulls have made several notable trades. They acquired Josh Giddey in exchange for Alex Caruso, a move that added a promising young talent to their roster. They also traded DeMar DeRozan for Chris Duarte and two second-round selections, a trade that was met with mixed reactions from fans and analysts. After placing 21st in true shooting % in the previous season, Zach LaVine continues to be an important player for the squad; nevertheless, the team’s offensive efficiency is calling into question. They need to decrease their dependence on shots from the middle of the field to increase their scoring output.
Following a season in which they finished with a record of 49-33, the Pelicans have strengthened their already formidable offense by acquiring Dejounte Murray. This offense already has talents like Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram. Nevertheless, they are facing difficulties defensively, notably at the center position, and they need to improve their rim protection after finishing the previous season ranked 25th.
Because both teams can score significant points, the total points over/under has been set at 224.5. Given the offensive firepower of both teams, placing a wager on over 222.5 points is a good decision. This is because the likelihood of both teams scoring high is high, making the over bet a favorable option.