One of the NBA’s most plagued storylines this year just got a lot worse; Dwyane Wade is out for the rest of the regular season. Wade didn’t win over too many fans when he took to the media complaining about the younger players not buying in. Based on his contract and the expectations, he also really hasn’t played to his own fans who set the bar pretty high for him Chicago. Now, with Thursday’s news that a small fracture in his elbow will keep him out for the regular season, the future becomes a little bleaker for the Bulls. The odds tell it all.
Chicago Bulls Playoffs/Finals Odds Have Shifted – Dwyane Wade Out for Season
As of March 3rd, the Bulls had won four of their last five. A streak that included wins over Golden State, Cleveland, Boston and Toronto. People were beginning to believe that maybe this team had turned the corner.
Well, those beliefs have been dashed, as their second-leading scorer Dwyane Wade, has been officially ruled out for the rest of the regular season with a sprain and small fracture in his elbow.
The news isn’t a death sentence for Chicago as rookie Denzel Valentine will be benefit from his absence. The first-year kid has been putting up some impressive numbers over his last five games, averaging 9.8 ppg, 5.0 reb and 1.8 assists. Rajon Rondo and leading-scorer Jimmy Butler will also see heftier roles moving forward to make up for the lost talent on the floor.
Looking at the odds, though, things are a little different. Less than one month ago the Chicago Bulls were listed as +15,000 underdogs – a great value at the time with their impressive win streak. That has now dropped to +20,000, tying them with the Indiana Pacers for the 13th worst finals futures odds in the league.
