Usually, the NBA is pretty cut and dry. The Golden State Warriors are locks to win a title. In past years, it’d be the Cavs joining them on the other side, and the best teams stand out pretty early in the year.
The Kevin Durant vs. Draymond Green drama at least provides cause for pause right now, the Cavs are trash without LeBron James, and a slew of slow starts have division races somewhat up in the air.
Through it all, sports bettors have a chance at some amazing value if they hitch their wagon to the right franchise.
Here’s a list of some of the best bets based on how top NBA betting sites like SportsBetting.ag grade them out at the moment.
The Toronto Raptors are in the lead, and Philadelphia just made waves with the trade for Jimmy Butler, but let’s pump the brakes a bit here.
Who was it that reached the Eastern Conference Finals the past two years and came within a game of the NBA Finals last season? That’s right. It was the Boston Celtics.
Let’s not forget that the rendition that made it happen a year ago wasn’t even at full strength, as both Kyrie Irving and Gordon Hayward were on the shelf for the entire playoff run.
Boston is undeniably off to a slow start, but they’ll figure things out eventually. When they do, they’re going to look like a flat-out steal as they threaten the Atlantic Division at this sick +300 price tag.
I tend to favor the Milwaukee Bucks in the Central Division, but let’s keep two things in mind: the Cavs won’t be winning this division, and Indiana nearly did just that a year ago.
Milwaukee has the better record and more talent as I write this, but the Pacers aren’t far behind in either regard. It really could simply be a matter of time before Victor Oladipo and company make a push for first place.
There isn’t really a threat elsewhere in the division, which could put the focus on last year’s season series. Indiana took three of four games, and if they’re able to do that again, Milwaukee will have something to worry about.
This is easily the worst division in the Eastern Conference, as the Hornets lead the way and are just 7-7. Based on their lack of star power and general inconsistency, I don’t really trust them to hold onto first place.
The online sports betting sites prefer the Wizards here, but Washington has been an utter mess during a horrific 5-9 start. John Wall and company could still turn things around, but this division is drowning in mediocrity, and they’ve regressed in each of the past two seasons.
That isn’t to say the Heat are some locks to get the job done, but Hassan Whiteside has committed himself to dominating on the defense end, and few teams are deeper than Miami.
It’s establishing who their go-to scorers are that will be the main dilemma, but considering Miami has all the same pieces they did when they won this division a year ago, they feel like an awesome value.
The Northwest Division was never going to be easy to figure out.
The Portland Trail Blazers were my personal preseason pick to take this division, and I still stand by that. Sometimes when you like a favorite to win, though, it can still pay to hedge your bets and attack some logical value.
That’s the case here with Denver, who is stacked from a talent perspective and could still get a whole lot better with banged-up guys like Isaiah Thomas and Will Barton returning later in the year.
The Nuggets have already put themselves in a good position, as they’re literally one game out of the top spot as I write this.
Bettors need to pay mind to Portland, Oklahoma City, and even Utah right now as well. Still, when you consider talent and price, nobody in the Northwest Division gives you more bang for your buck right now than the Nuggets.
The Houston Rockets got off to a brutal start, and their marriage with Carmelo Anthony is already headed for a painfully quick divorce. Things don’t look promising for them as a whole, but I won’t be shocked at all if they regroup and win this division again.
The problem is the Rockets haven’t really figured it out yet, and it’s still possible they might just keep regressing. If that is something you believe is likely, you need to look elsewhere for a bet in the Southwest Division.
Two things get me excited here: Houston offers zero betting value right now anyway, and you have a real shot by backing either the Spurs or Pelicans.
Of the two, I tend to trust San Antonio a bit more.
They don’t have Anthony Davis, but they do have possibly the greatest coach in NBA history and a strong one-two punch via DeMar DeRozan and LaMarcus Aldridge.
The fact that the Spurs haven’t fully figured everything out yet and are already competing for first place in a fairly loaded division is pretty telling. Don’t completely rule out Memphis here, either, but they’re not really a team I’d confide in.
Lastly, I know betting against the Golden State Warriors in any regard is borderline blasphemous, but it may pay to buy into their recent drama.
If this Kevin Durant vs. Draymond Green feud truly cuts as deep as the media is hyping it, then there could be a serious problem here.
Add in a Stephen Curry injury and the chance that a legit rift is created in the Dubs’ locker room, and there may be an opportunity here for someone else in the Pacific Division.
This is undoubtedly Golden State’s division to lose, and they’re still off to a hot start. However, LeBron James has the Los Angeles Lakers cooking with gas at the moment (four straight wins).
They’re still a bit behind the Dubs, but if King James can heat things up and put some pressure on a team that is apparently cracking from within, this +2500 price could look mighty attractive in a hurry.
For the most part, I won’t get too crazy going against some of the favorites. Specifically, I still really like the Rockets and Warriors to hold onto the divisions they won a year ago.
I do see some fluidity and high-level competition in a few other divisions, though. Anytime that’s the case – when you literally have 3-4 teams that can take a division – it’s worth it to toss some money on slight underdogs that boast a better price.
Denver, Boston, Indiana, and San Antonio are far from locks to win their respective divisions.
As you can see, however, they offer tantalizing value and do have a path to taking their division crown. Keep that in mind as you track the NBA and prepare your NBA future bets.
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