If Derrick Rose were healthy, a Chicago Bulls Central Division title might be a near certainty.
But with the team’s heart-and-soul point guard on the shelf with a torn ACL and no return date currently set, the picture becomes quite a bit foggier.
Coming off of two years in a row with the NBA’s best regular season record, the Bulls are still the betting favorite to win the Central Division at TopBet at -175 going into the season. Chicago didn’t make a splash in free agency to try and replace Rose’s production, so it would appear that the Bulls are hoping that the current core led by Carlos Boozer, Luol Deng and Joakim Noah can keep the team in the hunt until Rose is ready to return.
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If any head coach is up to the task of getting the most out of his players, it is Chicago’s Tom Thibodeau.
With Derrick Rose out for at least half of the season (in all likelihood), this could be the time for the Indiana Pacers (+125 to win the Central Division) to pounce. Indiana doesn’t have the star power of the Eastern Conference’s elite teams, but Roy Hibbert, Danny Granger, David West, Paul George and George Hill are a solid starting five from top to bottom, and this team has a good bench too.
Coming off of a 42-24 SU effort in 2011-12, the Pacers are a logical choice for the division’s top spot if the Bulls falter.
The Milwaukee Bucks (+2500) are loaded with talented bigs in the front court and on the bench and have a pair of offensively gifted guards in Monta Ellis and Brandon Jennings as well. There will likely be a learning curve as this team tries to figure out what it wants to be, but the Bucks should push for a playoff spot this year and could take a big step forward if they gel out of the gate.
The Cleveland Cavaliers (+5000) and Detroit Pistons (+5000) are both still early in their rebuilds. Rookie shooting guard Dion Waiters joins Kyrie Irving in Cleveland to form what could be one of the game’s most exciting young guard tandems for years to come.
NBA Odds: Central Division Props (courtesy of ):
Chicago Bulls
Total Points Per Game - Luol Deng
Over / Under 16.5
Total Points Per Game - Derrick Rose
Over / Under 19
Total Assists Per Game - Derrick Rose
Over / Under 6
Total Points Per Game - Carlos Boozer
Over / Under 16.5
Total Rebounds Per Game - Carlos Boozer
Over / Under 9
Total Points Per Game - Joakim Noah
Over / Under 11
Total Rebounds Per Game - Joakim Noah
Over / Under 10.5
Cleveland Cavaliers
Total Points Per Game - Kyrie Irving
Over / Under 22
Total Assists Per Game - Kyrie Irving
Over / Under 6.5
Total Points Per Game - Dion Waiters
Over / Under 12.5
Total Points Per Game - Tristan Thompson
Over / Under 11.5
Total Rebounds Per Game - Tristan Thompson
Over / Under 8
Total Points Per Game - Anderson Varejao
Over / Under 9.5
Total Rebounds Per Game - Anderson Varejao
Over / Under 9.5
Detroit Pistons
Total Points Per Game - Greg Monroe
Over / Under 17
Total Rebounds Per Game - Greg Monroe
Over / Under 10
Total Points Per Game - Rodney Stuckey
Over / Under 15
Total Points Per Game - Brandon Knight
Over / Under 13.5
Indiana Pacers
Total Points Per Game - Danny Granger
Over / Under 18.5
Total Points Per Game - Paul George
Over / Under 13
Total Points Per Game - Roy Hibbert
Over / Under 13.5
Total Rebounds Per Game - Roy Hibbert
Over / Under 9
Total Points Per Game - David West
Over / Under 13
Total Points Per Game - George Hill
Over / Under 13
Who will average more Assists Per Game?
George Hill -140
D.J. Augustin +100
Milwaukee Bucks
Total Points Per Game - Monta Ellis
Over / Under 21
Total Assists Per Game - Monta Ellis
Over / Under 5.5
Total Points Per Game - Brandon Jennings
Over / Under 19
Total Assists Per Game - Brandon Jennings
Over / Under 5.5
Total Points Per Game - Ersan Ilyasova
Over / Under 13.5
Total Rebounds Per Game - Ersan Ilyasova
Over / Under 8.5
