Since the 2018-19 NBA season hasn’t started yet, we don’t have games to bet on. However, the so called Futures Bets are already available at all betting sites. These Futures are bets on how the teams will end up at the end of the season.
Let’s take a look at the best futures bets for some of the NBA’s top teams:
The Boston Celtics open the 2018-19 team as perhaps the team with the highest expectations. And why not? Boston will finally be playing at full strength since opening light of last season. Boston lost both Gordon Hayward and Kyrie Irving to injury and played the entire postseason without their two All-Star acquisitions. Despite their absence, the Celtics went all the way to the Eastern Conference Finals and were one win away from dethroning the Cleveland Cavaliers as Eastern Conference Champions. With Hayward and Irving back to 100% strength and Danny Ainge retaining last season’s over achieving squad, Boston is favored to replace Cleveland as the Beast of the East.
Boston has the second best odds to win the NBA title. Betway as of 9/25/18 has the most plus money for the Celtics at +650. While those odds are terrific, winning the title won’t be as easy with the Golden State Warriors adding DeMarcus Cousins during the offseason and the Rockets adding Carmelo Anthony in free agency.
As far as Eastern Conference betting is concerned, the Celtics’ best price is a -110 at sportsbetting.ag as of 9/25/18 to win the Eastern Conference. The Green Men are also at a best price of -120 ar sportsbetting.ag as of 0/25/18 to win the East’s Atlantic Division. Now these are the best bets for the Celtics but if you analyze closely, Boston’s main rivals in the East are the Toronto Raptors and the Philadelphia 76ers who are both grouped with them in the Atlantic Division. Given this scenario, take the -110 for the Celtics to win the Eastern Conference. Best Bet: Boston Celtics to Win the Eastern Conference -110
The Golden State Warriors opened as the the favorites to win the 2018-19 NBA title after sweeping the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 2018 NBA Finals. The win was the second title in a row for the Dubs and their third in the last five seasons. However, the 2018 title was the hardest among the Warriors three rings as they won only 55 games last season and had to overcome a 2-3 lead to beat the Houston Rockets in the Western Conference Finals. The Warriors “got lucky” after Chris Paul got injured and failed to play in Games 6 & & of the WCF.
Currently, the Dubs are best priced at -160 at Sportsbetting.ag as of 9/25/18 to lift the Larry O’Brien trophy for a third straight year. They are also pegged at -245 at Bovada as of 9/25/18 to win the Western Conference and at a higher -1500 to win the Pacific Division next season.
No question, the Pacific Division is the easiest win to accomplish for the Warriors but at -1500, that doesn’t have value at all. Between winning in the West and winning it all, the odds of winning it all have better value because the Warriors will have to beat the Rockets anyway to get there. Best Bet: Warriors To Win 2019 NBA Championship -160
The heartbreak kids of the 2018-19 NBA season. Houston won a franchise best 65 regular season games and finished with the best record in the entire NBA last season. James Harden won his first MVP award and the Rockets had two chances to eliminate the Golden State Warriors in the Western Conference Finals. But then Chris Paul got hurt. The Rockets lost Game six. They lost game 7 too and both games at home.
It was really a huge missed opportunity for the Rockets but with Paul healthy again and Carmelo Anthony joining the team in the offseason, the Rockets are best priced at +750 to win the NBA title as of 9/25/18 at Bovada with only the Warriors and Celtics having better odds. Houston is also listed as a +500 to win the West at Sportsbetting.ag as of 9/25/18. In the Southwest Conference, Houston is the top pick to win at -450 at Sportsbetting.ag as of 9/25/18.
Houston’s easiest win will be the Southwest division since rivals New Orleans lost Boogie Cousins to Golden State and the San Antonio Spurs lost Tony Parker to Charlotte. That’s the sure money for the Rockets right now. Best Bets: Rockets to Win the Southwest Division +450
The Los Angeles Lakers bagged the biggest prize in free agency when they signed LeBron James. With King James’ signing, the Lakers’ fortunes are expected to change for the better next season. But maybe the oddsmakers overreacted to James going to Tinseltown.
The Lakers are a -1000 at Sporsbetting.ag on 9/25/18 to dethrone the Dubs as NBA champs. They are also a +700 at Bovada as of 9/25/18 to win the Western Conference and a +1000 to win the Pacific Division. But since the Golden State Warriors are in the Lakers’ path at every level, Los Angeles doesn’t stand a chance to win any of the three bets.
Bovada has a prop bet for total wins for the season and for the Lakers, the line has been set at 48.5. Now, Los Angeles won 35 games last season and according to basketball reference, LeBron James’ total win shares last season was 14. Add those up and you get 49 wins. Adding Bron’s win shares isn’t an absolute computation but it tells us how many wins King James is capable of adding to his new team. I will give a margin of error for adjusting period, quality of teammates and strength of opponents. I don’t think the Lakers can win over 48.5 games next season. Best Bet: Lakers Under 48.5 Wins -110
There is also a bet at Bovada that asks if the Lakers will make the playoffs. The “NO” is currently at +325 so if you want a bet on the Lakers with plus money, bet that they won’t make the postseason. Given the quality of teams out West and their unlikely supporting cast behind LeBron James, it’s likely the Lakers will miss the postseason.
Betonline.ag as of 9/25/18 has the Thunder as a +4000 win the 2019 NBA championship, a +2000 to win the Western Conference and a +210 to win the Northwest Division.
The Thunder re-signed Paul George to a long term deal during the offseason but they traded Carmelo Anthony in the summer. OKC also added Dennis Shroder but overall, the Thunder don’t have enough talent to match the Warriors and Rockets in the Western Conference. OKC’s task to win the Northwest Division isn’t easier either as they have to contend with Utah, Portland and Denver who are expected to be playoff contenders this season. In that case, we go to the season props where the Thunder’s total win line has been set at 48.5 according to Bovada as of 9/25/18.
OKC won 48 games last season with Carmelo Anthony contributing only 3.7 win shares. Shroder’s win shares in Atlanta last season was 2.6 games but with Andre Roberson returning from injury plus the fact that Paul George and Westbrook will have better chemistry in their second season together, I expect OKC to be a 50-win team this season. Prediction: OKC Thunder Over 48.5 Wins -115
This season won’t be about “trusting the process” anymore. It’s about completing that process. The Sixers were the surprise team in the playoffs last season as they beat the Heat in Round 1 and then gave the Celtics a little scare in Round 2. Philly has one of the best one-two punches in the league in Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons.
The Sixers are +1200 favorites to win the NBA title as of 9/25/18 at Betonline.ag. They are also a +285 to win the Atlantic Division and another +350 to win the Eastern Conference. Again, that Atlantic Division is tough with Boston and Toronto in that bracket as well. So when you have the to two teams in the East in your division, go for the home run and bet on the Conference winner. Best Bet: Toronto Raptors To Win the Eastern Conference +350
I’m not sure why there’s a lot of buzz about Kawhi Leonard’s arrival in Toronto. Sure, Leonard is one of the best players in the league. But not only is he coming off a long injury, the Raptors also traded All-Star guard DeMar DeRozan to get Leonard on board. Sure, Leonard is going to make them a better team but remember that this is a team that chokes in the playoffs.
At Betlonline.ag, the Raptors are +400 to win the Eastern Conference and a +275 to win the Atlantic Division. Their best plus money is a +1600 to win the NBA title according to Bovada.com as of 9/25/18. Realistically, I don’t think the Raptors can make the NBA Finals so that +1600 is out of the topic. And since Toronto faces Boston in the Atlantic Division and Eastern Conference finals, go with the bigger yield and bet on Toronto to top the East. Best Bet: Toronto Wins Eastern Conference +400
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