The NBA season is one week away, and we’re locked and loaded for another fantastic season. Last year we picked up a +45 Net Stars profit for clients in the NBA regular season alone.
Below you will find our future wagers and predictions.
Eastern champion – Milwaukee Bucks 5/4 – The Bucks roster is essentially the same and they have the most dynamic player in the league with Giannis. With the departure of Kahwi Leonard from the Raptors the East becomes much less formidable and the Bucks path to the Finals that much easier. Milwaukee was 50-17 SU (74.6%) against the East last year with an average margin of victory of +9.5PPG. Being able to win on the road is another crucial factor and the Bucks were second best the league at 31-17. The next best road teams in the East and potential contenders Boston and Philadelphia were 24-22 and 23-24 SU away from home. The Bucks advance to the Finals from the East this season.
Western champion – Houston Rockets 5/1 – With all the talk surrounding the California teams (Lakers, Clippers and Warriors) everyone has forgotten about the Rockets. Houston has more wins in the past two seasons than any other team with a 135-57 SU record and an average margin of victory of +6PPG. The key for Houston this off-season was acquiring Triple-double machine Russell Westbrook and giving up a declining Chris Paul but maintaining the rest of their roster. The Rockets also have an advantage of playing in the weakest of the Western Conferences, the Southwest. There are just too many offensive weapons on this roster and they can manage minutes for Harden and Westbrook and keep them fresh for the Playoffs.
NBA champion – Houston Rockets 8/1 – Don’t get baited into betting one of the Los Angeles teams to win it all this year. The best value on the betting board is easily the Houston Rockets. The Rockets will prove to be the best team in the league and will eventually face and beat the Bucks in the Finals. One glaring aspect that was overlooked last year in the Eastern Conference Finals was the lack of adjustments by Bucks head coach Mike Budenholzer. He’ll do enough to come out of the East this year but fail again in the Finals this season. As we mentioned in our prediction of the Rockets winning the West, they’ve essentially kept their roster intact and added Westbrook. Veteran additions of Tyson Chandler (6th in real plus minus last year defensively) and Thabo Sefolosha (31st DRPM) improve the Rockets defense just enough to put them over the top.
Best Over/Under play – Under 35.5 Minnesota Timberwolves – Last year the oddsmakers posted a win total of 44.5 for the Wolves so we see a significant drop in that number this year but we still have value. Minnesota went 36-46 last season and an average loss margin of -1.5PPG which was 22nd in the NBA. They haven’t improved their roster this season and the Western Conference has gotten infinitely better at the top. The T’Wolves won just 42% of their Conference games a season ago and the significance of that is the following. Minnesota plays 33 of their first fifty-three games against the West prior to the All-Star Break. The 20 games against the Eastern Conference features 11 teams that made the playoffs last year. By the All-Star Break this team will be out of the Playoff picture which will lead to them blowing up the roster and moving Towns and Wiggins or they tank the rest of the way for a better draft position. Easy Under call here.
SEASON WIN TOTAL NUMBERS:
Atlanta 35½
Boston 49½
Brooklyn 44
Charlotte 23
Chicago 33½
Cleveland 24½
Dallas 42½
Denver 53
Detroit 38
Golden State 48½
Houston 54½
Indiana 47½
L.A. Clippers 54½
L.A. Lakers 50½
Memphis 27
Miami 44½
Milwaukee 58
Minnesota 35½
New Orleans 38½
New York 27½
Oklahoma City 31½
Orlando 42½
Philadelphia 55
Phoenix 29½
Portland 46½
Sacramento 38½
San Antonio 47½
Toronto 46
Utah 54½
Washington 26½
ODDS TO WIN THE 2019-20 NBA FINALS
Los Angeles Clippers 7/2
Los Angeles Lakers 4/1
Milwaukee Bucks 6/1
Philadelphia 76ers 8/1
Houston Rockets 8/1
Golden St Warriors 12/1
Denver Nuggets 16/1
Utah Jazz 16/1
Boston Celtics 25/1
Portland TrailBlazers 40/1
Brooklyn Nets 40/1
San Antonio Spurs 50/1
Indiana Pacers 50/1
Toronto Raptors 100/1
Dallas Mavericks 100/1
New Orleans Pelicans 100/1
Miami Heat 100/1
Orlando Magic 200/1
Chicago Bulls 200/1
Sacramento Kings 200/1
Atlanta Hawks 300/1
Detroit Pistons 300/1
New York Knicks 1000/1
Okla City Thunder 1000/1
Charlotte Hornets 1000/1
Washington Wizards 1000/1
Cleveland Cavaliers 1000/1
Minn Timberwolves 1000/1
Memphis Grizzlies 1000/1
Phoenix Suns 1000/1
ODDS TO WIN THE 2019-20 EAST FINALS
Milwaukee Bucks 5/4
Philadelphia 76ers 3/2
Boston Celtics 8/1
Brooklyn Nets 12/1
Indiana Pacers 20/1
Toronto Raptors 30/1
Miami Heat 40/1
Chicago Bulls 80/1
Orlando Magic 80/1
Atlanta Hawks 120/1
Detroit Pistons 120/1
New York Knicks 400/1
Charlotte Hornets 400/1
Washington Wizards 400/1
Cleveland Cavaliers 400/1
ODDS TO WIN THE 2019-20 WEST FINALS
Los Angeles Clippers 11/5
Los Angeles Lakers 5/2
Houston Rockets 5/1
Golden St Warriors 8/1
Denver Nuggets 10/1
Utah Jazz 10/1
Portland TrailBlazers 20/1
San Antonio Spurs 30/1
Dallas Mavericks 60/1
New Orleans Pelicans 60/1
Sacramento Kings 120/1
Minn Timberwolves 600/1
Memphis Grizzlies 600/1
Okla City Thunder 600/1
Phoenix Suns 600/1
