The Chicago Bulls and Detroit Pistons have spent years toiling in NBA Draft lottery conversations, but bettors are optimistic both teams will outperform expectations in 2021-22.
With the NBA regular season starting on Tuesday, the betting market has more information to learn from. That includes how bettors are attacking the win totals. Two of the three most popular teams bettors like to go over their regular season win total are Detroit and Chicago.
The Pistons and Bulls are joined by the Atlanta Hawks with the most bets at BetMGM to go over the posted total. Expectations vary for each team.
The Pistons welcome No. 1 overall pick Cade Cunningham to the team, hoping he can be the key cog at point guard to turn things around. That might not result in a playoff berth during his rookie season, but it doesn't have to for bettors to cash in.
Detroit's win total is 24.5, higher than only the Oklahoma City Thunder (23.5) and Orlando Magic (22.5). Detroit won just 20 games last year in a 72-game schedule. The league returns to a full 82-game regular season this year.
The Bulls have much higher expectations.
After acquiring DeMar DeRozan, Lonzo Ball and Alex Caruso in the offseason, paired with the first full season of the Nikola Vucevic and Zach LaVine duo, there are playoff expectations in Chicago.
Billy Donovan's team has a win total of 42.5 with 86% of bets and 97% of money on the over at BetMGM.
Those numbers, as high as they are, get surpassed by the love for the Atlanta Hawks. With a win total of 47.5, over 97% of bets and dollars are on the over.
Three teams bettors don't believe in are the Houston Rockets, Los Angeles Clippers and New Orleans Pelicans.
Over 90% of bets are on under 27.5 wins for Houston. The same can be said for the Clippers, who will likely be without Kawhi Leonard for the season. L.A.'s win total is 45.5.
Finally, with questions surrounding Zion Williamson's health, New Orleans has a win total of 39.5 with 86% of bets on the under.
