Even with a healthy Kyrie Irving, sportsbooks never took the Brooklyn Nets seriously in 2019-20 with Kevin Durant sidelined as he rehabbed his surgically repaired right Achilles.
But the star forward is going to take the floor for Brooklyn in 2020-21. So is the Nets’ star point guard following the rehab of his surgically repaired right shoulder.
Between those two — never mind their impressive supporting cast that features Caris LeVert, Spencer Dinwiddie, DeAndre Jordan, Jarrett Allen and (ideally for Brooklyn) Joe Harris — the Nets should be viewed as the force of the Eastern Conference heading into 2020-21. Even being No. 2 to Giannis Antetokounmpo’s Bucks doesn’t seem right after Milwaukee’s play in the Disney bubble.
SportsBetting.com thinks the Bucks will be one of the best teams in the East, but not the best. The sportsbook feels Milwaukee and Boston Celtics are both just as likely to win the Eastern Conference in 2021, setting the moneyline for both at +400.
There’s only one team ahead of both Milwaukee and Boston, with a moneyline of +350: the Brooklyn Nets.