The NBA
betting season is upon us, meaning those in the online sports betting
industry are getting their sportsbook
picks ready for the new hardwood campaign. If you are looking to get in on NBA
betting this season, here is a look at some of the top teams that
should be considered favorites in the Eastern and Western conferences, as well
as a couple of solid dark horse picks. Online betting
for pro hoops should be interesting this year, to say the least.
NBA
Eastern Conference Betting
The defending world champions from Boston are obviously
the favorites in the East according to NBA
Eastern Conference odds, but some wonder how much they will miss
utilityman James Posey, who left for a big-money contract in New Orleans.
Posey’s contributions to the Celtics were usually not found in the box scores,
as his hustle, defense and leadership was key to Boston’s title run. However,
with Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce leading the way, you can bet that this team
will be as intense as ever.
Detroit are ahead of Cleveland in terms of NBA
Eastern Conference odds, but the Cavaliers look ready to take the next
step. LeBron James is arguably the best player in the league, and he now has a
legitimate No.2 scoring threat in Mo Williams, who came over from Milwaukee. Sportsbook odds
still favor the Pistons, but they have a new coach in Michael Curry, and the
core of this team is getting older.
The Toronto Raptors will be a great value pick in your NBA
Eastern Conference odds, depending on the addition of Jermaine O’Neal
and his injury problems. When healthy, O’Neal could form a deadly post duo with
Chris Bosh. However, he has not played over 70 games since the ’03-04 season
(he did play 69 in ’06-07), and if he goes down Toronto will be very small.
Philadelphia rescued Elton Brand from the Los Angeles
Clippers, and they instantly moved up the NBA
Eastern Conference futures list. Brand, although coming off an Achilles
Heel injury, gives the 76ers a 20/10 player, and he opens up the floor for
Andre Igoudala’s slashing style of play.
NBA
Western Conference Betting
The Los Angeles Lakers came up just short in the NBA
Finals, losing in six games to the Celtics. Andrew Bynum is finally healthy,
forming with Pau Gasol what should be a monster inside combination. We all know
NBA MVP Kobe Bryant will be his spectacular self, but the question will be the
role players. Jordan Farmar looks much improved from last year, which is a
boost to the Lakers’ NBA
Western Conference odds.
New Orleans were the surprise of last season,
challenging the Lakers until the very end of the season for the conference
crown. Now, the young Hornets, led by Chris Paul, will try to deal with the
high expectations brought on by last season’s success. The addition of Posey
gives David West and Tyson Chandler some veteran help, but the Hornets’ NBA
Western Conference odds will live and die with Paul.
It
is difficult to select a couple of dark horses in the West, as it should be as
competitive as last season when it took 50 wins just to get the eighth seed.
Denver was the final team to reach the playoffs, but they should miss this
season with Marcus Camby gone, meaning they will somehow be even worse
defensively. You should look at Portland as a NBA
betting dark horse from the West, as their young nucleus, powered by
Brandon Roy is another year wiser. If Greg Oden could stay on the court for a
full game, this team would be downright scary. A team whose NBA
Western Conference odds could fluctuate over the season is Houston, who
picked up talented but troublesome Ron Artest. If Artest can remain dedicated
to the Rockets’ cause, Tracy McGrady can stay healthy, and Yao Ming is not
burned out from the Olympics, the Rockets could make some NBA
betting noise, and maybe even make it past the first round of the
playoffs.