Vegas' Top 10 Teams To Win This Year's NBA Championship, Miami Heat at #1
Perhaps the most eventful and drama filled NBA off season is finally over; now it’s time for the NBA betting season officially to begin.
After taking a quick scan at the NBA Championship betting odds, the usual names are at the top of the list.
To no surprise, the NBA betting odds indicate that LeBron James and his new team, the Miami Heat, are favored to cut down the nets next June.
Let’s take a little closer look, with betting odds to win the NBA Championship in parentheses.
Miami Heat (+140)
With the additions of James and Chris Bosh to go along with Dwyane Wade, the Heat will roll out one of the most potent 1-2-3 punches in NBA history. On paper it is scary to think how good this Heat team can be.
After all, James and Bosh join a team that finished fifth in the Eastern Conference last season with a 47-35 record. Sportsbook.com has the Heat season wins total handicapped at a lofty 64.5 victories.
Miami also did a good job retaining and acquiring talent to surround the Big Three. Shooting guard Mike Miller was a very good signing, but a recent thumb injury will keep him out until January.
Power Forward Udonis Haslem re-signed despite being a free agent and Mario Chalmers will run the point; although James and Wade will each be the primary distributor more often than not.
Anything less than an NBA Finals appearance will be viewed as a big failure in South Beach and rightfully so. Pressure is on…
Los Angeles Lakers (+250)
Coming off back-to-back championships, it is no surprise that the odds-makers have the Lakers as the next most likely to win it all this season. All of same parts are intact except for Jordan Farmar.
Kobe Bryant, with his five championship rings, is the game’s most intense competitor and will be up for the challenge of fending off the Heat.
The Lakers biggest advantage over the Heat will be chemistry. Pau Gasol, Ron Artest, Derrick Fisher and Lamar Odom are ready to go.
Center Andrew Bynum looks to be back in the lineup in November. LA also added backcourt depth by adding veteran point guard Steve Blake.
Last season, the Lakers won 57 regular season games and Vegas is expecting about the same this year as their NBA Season Win total is 58 wins.
Boston Celtics (+800)
Before the mini dream team of Wade, James and Bosh there was Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen. Although this threesome is still very talented, they are also very old.
However, they proved just how talented they were last year by winning the Eastern Conference.
Garnett (34 years old), Pierce (33) and Allen (35) welcome two more former stars in Shaquille O’Neal (38) and Jermaine O’Neal (32).
Despite all of the big names mentioned, the real star of this team is point guard Rajon Rondo. Now entering his fifth year in the NBA, the Kentucky Wildcat product has improved every year and is becoming one of the best lead guards in the league.
In 2007/08 Boston won 66 regular season games. Two years ago that number dipped to 62, then last season dropped to 50.
It looks as if the bookies are expecting a bit of improvement this season as they are predicting 53.5 wins.
Orlando Magic (+900)
The Magic are coming off of two consecutive 59-win seasons. They have all of the key parts returning and are still relatively young, so there is no reason to think they won’t be in the thick of things again this season.
Dwight Howard is the best center in the NBA and will once again be joined by familiar names Vince Carter, Jameer Nelson and Rashard Lewis.
J.J. Redick had somewhat of a breakout year last season, averaging 9.6 points per game in 22 minutes; his role will expand this year.
Barring injuries, the Magic will find themselves in the playoffs again. But do they have enough firepower to compete with the Heat? Sportsbook.com is expecting 56 regular season W’s.
Oklahoma City Thunder (+1200)
How nice is it to see a new name towards the top? “Kobe or LeBron” debates are very soon going to turn into “Kobe, LeBron or Durant” debates.
The third year forward out of Texas led the NBA in scoring last season with 30.1 points per game (PPG).
The Thunder were an eighth seed in the Western Conference playoffs last season and gave the Lakers a bit of a scare in the opening round.
With Durant, Russell Westbrook (16.1 PPG), Jeff Green (15.1 PPG) and James Harden (9.9 PPG) Oklahoma City is young, talented and athletic.
It will be hard for Oklahoma City not to improve on last season’s 50 regular season wins; the odds-makers have them pegged for 52 victories.
Dallas Mavericks (+1500)
Mark Cuban’s Mavericks are consistently one of the best teams during the regular season. They have won at least 50 games and made the postseason in each of the last 10 seasons.
However, once the playoffs commence, they disappoint. They have zero NBA championships, only one Western Conference crown and have lost in the first round in three of the last four years.
The Mavs’ biggest off season accomplishment was re-signing All-Star forward Dirk Nowitzki. There is still plenty of talent on the roster including an aging Jason Kidd, Caron Butler and Jason Terry.
But it is hard to wager on them to win it all considering their pedigree of postseason disappointment.
Getting to the 50-win mark could be more of a challenge this season as the handicappers have them at 50.5 regular season wins.
Chicago Bulls (+2000)
Sure they struck out on the crown jewel of this off-season’s free agency class (James), but they still picked up an All-Star caliber forward in Carlos Boozer.
Boozer’s offensive post game will complement center Joakim Noah’s blue collar defensive game perfectly.
Point guard Derrick Rose is a superstar in the making and Luol Deng provides scoring from the wing.
They did lose guard Kirk Hinrich to the Washington Wizards. However, three point shooter Kyle Korver is a welcome addition.
The Bulls had a 41-41 record and should improve thanks to the ever improving Rose, the stability of Noah and the addition of Boozer.
Vegas is expecting big improvements as the odds-makers handicap them with 47 wins.
San Antonio Spurs (+2500)
In each of the last four seasons, the Spurs won fewer games than the previous year; last year they won only 50.
Their starting lineup includes all of the familiar names; however, three out of the five starters are in their thirties.
Tim Duncan is still one of the best post players in the game but his game is going south.
Last season his scoring average (17.9), rebounds average (10.1) and blocks (1.5) were all career lows. Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili still form one of the better backcourts in the league.
The odds-makers have the Spurs marked at 50.5 wins; the under seems like good value here.
Portland Trail Blazers (+2500)
Michael Jordan is to Sam Bowie as Kevin Durant is to ______. If you answered Greg Oden, unfortunately you seem to be correct.
The former No. 1 pick has played in just 82 games since being drafted in 2007. However, his chronic injuries haven’t held the Blazers back as they made the playoffs in each of the last two seasons.
Portland has a nice mix of veterans and youngsters. Guard Brandon Roy is one of the best players in the NBA while LaMarcus Aldridge is an underrated yet very effective power forward.
Veteran Andre Miller is an unheralded point guard, while 14-year vet Marcus Camby will do his thing on defense and on the boards.
Coming off a 50-win season, Vegas is expecting slight improvements as the odds-makers have them at 51.5 wins for 2010/11.
For the rest of this year’s NBA Championship betting odds and to check out the NBA Season win totals, head over to Sportsbook.com.
