Tag: NBA future betting

Who will win the NBA Western Conference? Bank on these best bets

Analyzing NBA odds around the NBA Western Conference with best bets to make around the Western Finals.

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The NBA restart is almost here and that means it’s time to look ahead to the NBA Conference Finals. Below, we make our best NBA bets for who will win the Western Conference.

2019-20 NBA Western Conference Finals picks

Odds provided by BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Wednesday, July 22, at 9:45 a.m. ET.

Los Angeles Lakers (+125)

Not only are the Lakers the favorites to win the Western Conference, but they are also the favorites to win the 2019-2020 NBA Championship (+250). And it’s not hard to see why either, as both SF LeBron James and PF Anthony Davis were playing at MVP levels in the final month of the season.

As we have seen over the last decade, James can often will his team to victory despite having lesser talent around him. Luckily, he doesn’t have to shoulder the load as much due to Davis’ presence on the floor. Before the season was suspended, Davis was averaging 26.7 points per game and 9.4 rebounds. With his ability to impact both ends of the floor with his athleticism and intelligence, it will be hard for any team to stop both Davis and James at the same time.

For the Lakers to make it to the NBA Finals, they will need a few of their role players such as SG Danny Green and PF Kyle Kuzma to help on the offensive end. But with Davis and James playing like top-five players in the NBA, they are still a great bet to come out of the West at +125.

Looking to place an NBA futures bet? Place your legal sports bets in CO, IN, NJ and WV at BetMGM. Bet Now!

Los Angeles Clippers (+175)

With the size, talent and depth of this roster, you can make a strong case that the Los Angeles Clippers should actually be favored over the Lakers to win the conference. The Clippers have the reigning Finals MVP in SF Kawhi Leonard coming off an extended break and he should be well-rested. The same can be said for SG Paul George, who battled injuries for most of the regular season.

The biggest thing that separates the Clippers from the Lakers is their depth. The Clippers have one of the best bench units in the NBA and have a ton of different players who can contribute in a big game. That can’t be said for the Lakers, who will be without PG Avery Bradley and PG Rajon Rondo.

There is no real disadvantage for the Clippers being the No. 2 seed in the conference rather than No. 1. Picking the Clippers to come out of the West does present some good value ahead of the league’s restart.

Also see:

Houston Rockets (+800)

After the top two teams in the conference, things drop off quite a bit. While teams like the Utah Jazz and Denver Nuggets were fantastic during the regular season, they just don’t have the same level of talent on the floor as the Lakers and the Clippers.

However, the one team in the Western Conference that does have the star power to match up with the LA teams are the Houston Rockets. Despite just being the No. 6 seed in the West, Houston has two MVP winners on their roster in SG James Harden and PG Russell Westbrook. Both players have a ton of playoff experience and won’t be afraid of the Lakers or Clippers.

While it’s unlikely Houston will be able to navigate their way through an incredibly difficult conference, don’t count them out due to their shooting. They can get hot at a moment’s notice and compete with any team in the league. It will be fascinating to see if their lack of size causes issues for them in the playoffs. Otherwise, they are a fantastic bet at +800 to win the Western Conference.

Get some action on NBA futures bets by signing up and betting at BetMGM. If you’re looking for more sports betting picks and tips, access all of our content at SportsbookWire.com.

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Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services. Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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Who will win the NBA Eastern Conference? Bank on these best bets

Analyzing NBA odds around the NBA Eastern Conference with best bets to make around the Eastern Finals.

The NBA restart is almost here and that means it’s time to look ahead to the NBA Conference Finals. Below, we make our best NBA bets for who will win the NBA Eastern Conference.

2019-20 NBA Eastern Finals picks

Odds provided by BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Wednesday, July 22, at 9:45 a.m. ET.

Milwaukee Bucks (-176) 

The favorites (by far) to come out of the Eastern Conference is the Milwaukee Bucks. After dominating the conference in the regular season, the Bucks will be the No. 1 seed when the playoffs begin. What makes the Bucks such a lock to win the Eastern Conference is their offense, which ranked No. 1 in the NBA before the season was suspended.

While the Bucks are a massive favorite, there just isn’t a ton of value here for NBA bettors. Instead, consider betting them to win the NBA Championship or look at pairing the Bucks with another Western Conference team in another futures bet.

Looking to place an NBA futures bet? Place your legal sports bets in CO, IN, NJ and WV at BetMGM. Bet Now!

Boston Celtics (+650)

The team with the next best odds to come out of the Eastern Conference is the Boston Celtics. While they are currently 9.5 games back of the Bucks in the conference, they are still the No. 3 seed. In fact, they are only three games back of the Raptors, who currently own the No. 2 spot.

With the amount of talent and depth the Celtics have on their roster, don’t be surprised if they at least make it to the conference finals, assuming they don’t have to go through the Bucks first. Boston does lack some size up front, but given all of the guards and forwards they have on their roster, they have the chance to out-shoot a team like the Bucks on any given night. At +650, the Celtics aren’t a bad bet to make ahead of the NBA restart.

Also see:

Philadelphia 76ers (+900)

If there is one team in the Eastern Conference that has a chance to upset the Bucks, look no further than the Philadelphia 76ers. Not only do they have the size to match up with Milwaukee, but they are also the one team that could present some problems on defense for the Bucks. If Philadelphia gets the chance to play Milwaukee, look for them to feed C Joel Embiid on the block and use his size to win in the post.

While they are just the No. 6 seed in the Eastern Conference right now, they present a ton of value at +900. Don’t be surprised if the 76ers get hot and make a run within the conference over the next few months.

Get some action on NBA futures bets by signing up and betting at BetMGM. If you’re looking for more sports betting picks and tips, access all of our content at SportsbookWire.com.

Follow SportsbookWire on Twitter and Facebook. Please gamble responsibly.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services. Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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NBA Rookie of the Year Odds and Best Bets: Zion Williamson among favorites

Analyzing the betting odds to be named the 2019-20 NBA Rookie of the Year. Is Zion Williamson worth a bet among the midseason favorites?

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The 2019-20 NBA season is roughly half over and the top contenders for the Rookie of the Year award have started to emerge. The 2019 NBA Draft’s No. 1 pick in PF Zion Williamson of the New Orleans Pelicans makes his NBA debut Wednesday and remains among the betting favorites. Below, we analyze the 2019-20 NBA Rookie of the Year betting odds and make our picks. Can Williamson make up for missed time and upset the midseason favorites?

Get some action on the NBA Rookie of the Year odds or other NBA action by placing a legal sports bet at BetMGM.

NBA Rookie of the Year Picks: Zion Williamson +1100

NBA odds courtesy of BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports for a full set of today’s betting odds. Odds last updated Wednesday at 2 p.m. ET.

Williamson was considered the likely first overall pick for almost the entirety of his freshman season at Duke in 2018-19, and he just so happened to fall right into the lap of the Pelicans as the logical replacement to Anthony Davis. The 6-foot-6, 284-pound forward averaged 22.6 points, 8.9 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game while shooting 68.0% from the field over 33 games in his only college campaign.

He steps into a Pelicans lineup sitting 12th in the Western Conference at 17-27. They’re averaging 114.4 points per game and allowing 117.6 (minus-3.2).

While it’s conceivable Williamson’s return could lead the Pelicans to an unexpected playoff berth (they trail the Memphis Grizzlies by 3.5 games for the eighth seed), the Pelicans are unlikely to allow him to play all of their remaining 38 games. They have four sets of back-to-backs remaining, likely limiting Williamson to a maximum of 34 games for his rookie campaign.

Since the 2010-11 season, only PG Kyrie Irving in 2011-12 has won Rookie of the Year honors while playing fewer than 70 games. He played 51. It’s hard not to root for Williamson for the remainder of the season, but there’s no sense in backing him to win this award at such low odds. PASS.

New to sports betting? A $10 bet on Williamson to be named the 2019-20 Rookie of the Year would return a profit of $110 if he were to win.

NBA Rookie of the Year Picks: Top Contenders

Name Team Odds GP PPG RPG APG
Ja Morant MEM -556 37 17.9 3.5 7.0
Kendrick Nunn MIA +1000 43 16.3 2.8 3.6
RJ Barrett NYK +1200 41 14.1 5.2 2.5
Tyler Herro MIA +2500 40 12.9 4.2 2.1

Morant is favored by a landslide just past the halfway point of the season. The No. 2 pick of the draft has the Grizzlies in an unlikely playoff position and has fast-tracked their rebuild after the recent departures of franchise pillars C Marc Gasol and PG Mike Conley.

There’s no value in backing Morant with a $10 bet returning a profit of just $1.80. I’d make a small wager on Nunn (+1000) to hedge against a potential injury to Morant or collapse by the Grizzlies, but otherwise, I’m avoiding betting on an award seemingly already locked up.

Want some action on the 2019-20 Rookie of the Year odds or other NBA games? Place a bet at BetMGM now. For more sports betting tips and advice, visit SportsbookWire.com.

Follow @EstenMcLaren and @SportsbookWire on Twitter.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services.  Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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Updated 2019-20 NBA Championship odds, picks and best bets

Looking at the 2019-20 NBA Championship odds, with NBA futures betting picks, tips and best bets.

The first quarter of the 2019-20 NBA season is in the books and we’re looking at the updated NBA Championship futures odds at BetMGM. We make our revised picks for who’ll be lifting the Larry O’Brien Trophy in early June.

2019-20 NBA Championship Favorites

NBA odds courtesy of BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports for a full set of today’s betting odds. Odds last updated Sunday, Dec. 22 at 2 p.m. ET.

Los Angeles Lakers (+325)

The Lakers, who were +550 favorites in the summer following the acquisition of PF Anthony Davis, have dropped even lower as they’ve raced out to a 24-5 start. They’re scoring 112.6 points per game while allowing just 104.1 and showing little sign of weakness. But, as we’ve seen with the Golden State Warriors this season and last, injuries can happen. I don’t like going all-in on one team this early and a $100 bet returns a profit of just $325. There’s too much season left.

Boston Celtics (+1800)

The Celtics have been battling injuries early to PGs Kemba Walker, Marcus Smart and SF Gordon Hayward, and they’re still 19-7 and second in the Eastern Conference. They’re the top defensive team in the East with just 103.6 PPG allowed and they lost just one of their first 12 home games. They offer better than four times the odds of the conference-leading Milwaukee Bucks (+350) and are a much better play on the early futures odds.

Get some action on the 2019-20 NBA Championship by signing up and placing a bet at BetMGM!

2019-20 NBA Championship Longshots

Dallas Mavericks (+2800)

The Mavericks were one of my picks in the summer at +4200 odds. A 19-9 start to the season in which they’re scoring 117.6 PPG with 108.8 PPG allowed, has dropped those odds considerably. SF Luka Doncic is an MVP frontrunner, but the team has stayed above water during his absence due to an ankle injury. Get these odds soon, as they’ll likely drop even lower upon his return.

Portland Trail Blazers (+6000)

Fifteen teams have higher odds than the Blazers to win the championship, but they’re as deep as I’m looking. Western Conference finalists a year ago, they’ve started 14-16, but still hold the eighth seed in the conference in late December. PF Carmelo Anthony has resurrected his career as the third piece of the offense behind Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum. C Zach Collins and C Jusuf Nurkic will return from injury in the second half of the season and bolster the frontcourt for a potential playoff run.

While the NBA is controlled by the perennial favorites, the Trail Blazers are a nice lottery ticket with their odds only going down for the remainder of the season.

Get some action on the 2019-20 NBA Championship by signing up and betting at BetMGM. If you’re looking for more sports betting picks and tips, access all of our content at SportsbookWire.com.

Follow @EstenMcLaren and @SportsbookWire on Twitter.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services. Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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