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NBA Atlantic betting preview and odds: Celtics' division to lose
Steve Merril
There are plenty of storylines in the NBA's Atlantic division with the retooled Boston Celtics expected to dominate at the top of the standings. Other than the C's the Raptors are possibly a team in transition, the 76ers are trending up, and the Nets and Knicks are...well...the Nets and Knicks.
Boston Celtics (2016-17: 53-29 SU; 40-40-2 ATS)
Odds to Win the Division: -500
Season Win Total: 53.5
Why to Bet On The Celtics: The addition of Kyrie Irving makes their starting lineup top notch. Irving will pair nicely with Gordon Hayward who does more then just score. The team has solid depth all over, and players who fill their role nicely, including rookie Jayson Tatum who could be the best player from this draft class. Al Horford bangs down low, but also has some ability from the outside. To top it off, Brad Stevens is one of the best coaches in the league.
Why not bet the Celtics: The team could take some time to gel with so many new pieces. They are also relatively undersized inside with Horford and Aron Baynes being their tallest players. Interior defense is suspect without a good rim protector down low. Boston is also a young team overall.
Season Win Total Pick: Over 53.5
Brooklyn Nets (2016-17: 20-62 SU; 41-38-3 ATS)
Odds to Win the Division: +17500
Season Win Total: 27.5
Why to Bet On The Nets: The additions of D'Angelo Russell and Allen Crabbe make the backcourt passable in the NBA. This team tried hard last year at times, despite a talent difference with most of their opponents. Kenny Atkinson will get the best out of his squad. There are some other options in Jeremy Lin, Timofey Mozgov and DeMarre Carroll.
Why Not to Bet On The Nets: There are no go-to scoring option on this team and no one to stop long runs by their opponents. The squad is pretty awful defensively, yet they aren't capable of winning a lot of high scoring affairs. The frontcourt is bad and doesn't have a ton of size either. The lack of high draft picks the past few seasons is going to hurt this roster's future. They'll have to hope they get some help from their free agent acquisitions.
Season Win Total Pick: Under 27.5
New York Knicks (2016-17: 31-51 SU; 42-40 ATS)
Odds to Win the Division: +8500
Season Win Total: 30
Why to Bet On The Knicks: Carmelo Anthony is gone and that means more sharing of the ball on offense. It also means that Kristaps Porzingis is the go-to guy and he should be able to handle it. With the Zinger and Enes Kanter up front, you've got size and scoring from the forward and center positions. For the money they paid Tim Hardaway Jr, the former Michigan star is going to be a big part of the offense.
Why Not to Bet On The Knicks: Carmelo Anthony averaged 22.4 points per game. Frank Ntilikina has got a solid future in this league, but being a point guard for this team is asking a lot. At least Derrick Rose last year was able to run the offense when he was healthy. There is just not a lot of star power in New York and few consistent scorers. Defense will be an issue as well.
Season Win Total Pick: Over 30
Philadelphia 76ers (2016-17: 28-54 SU; 49-33 ATS)
Odds to Win the Division: +1000
Season Win Total: 39.5
Why to Bet On The Sixers: Joel Embiid is a megastar in the making and he's supposedly healthy entering this season. The center has a long range shot and is the juice and electricity for this roster. Ben Simmons provides excitement at the guard position and has become tough to stop when driving the ball to the rim. Robert Covington is an underrated defender, while JJ Redick is the long-range shooter that this team has desperately needed.
Why Not to Bet On The Sixers: It's not going to be easy integrating all these new pieces and there will be growing pains with such a young roster. Markelle Fultz looked lost at times during the preseason and may not be able to help right away. Embiid will probably sit out back-to-back games and that makes the team weaker. We'll also find out if Brett Brown is a good coach. So far, he's put up bad numbers with bad rosters. He now has a group that has playoff potential. Can he get them there?
Season Win Total Pick: Under 39.5
Toronto Raptors (2016-17: 51-31 SU; 45-36-1 ATS)
Odds to Win the Division: +500
Season Win Total: 48.5
Why to Bet On The Raptors: Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan are one of the best duos in the league as they averaged nearly 50 points per game last season. Serge Ibaka is a perfect complement as he provides long range shooting. Jonas Valanciunas has solid size inside and can only get better. CJ Miles is underrated and put up 10.7 ppg last year.
Why Not to Bet On The Raptors: Beyond the starting lineup, there's not much depth. They probably needed to split up Lowry or DeRozan as this roster just doesn't have enough in the Eastern Conference to get past Cleveland or Boston now. Toronto needs to share the ball more and get more players tallying assists. It has become routine for Toronto to make the playoffs, but then bow out against a better opponent.
Season Win Total Pick: Under 48.5
Steve Merril
There are plenty of storylines in the NBA's Atlantic division with the retooled Boston Celtics expected to dominate at the top of the standings. Other than the C's the Raptors are possibly a team in transition, the 76ers are trending up, and the Nets and Knicks are...well...the Nets and Knicks.
Boston Celtics (2016-17: 53-29 SU; 40-40-2 ATS)
Odds to Win the Division: -500
Season Win Total: 53.5
Why to Bet On The Celtics: The addition of Kyrie Irving makes their starting lineup top notch. Irving will pair nicely with Gordon Hayward who does more then just score. The team has solid depth all over, and players who fill their role nicely, including rookie Jayson Tatum who could be the best player from this draft class. Al Horford bangs down low, but also has some ability from the outside. To top it off, Brad Stevens is one of the best coaches in the league.
Why not bet the Celtics: The team could take some time to gel with so many new pieces. They are also relatively undersized inside with Horford and Aron Baynes being their tallest players. Interior defense is suspect without a good rim protector down low. Boston is also a young team overall.
Season Win Total Pick: Over 53.5
Brooklyn Nets (2016-17: 20-62 SU; 41-38-3 ATS)
Odds to Win the Division: +17500
Season Win Total: 27.5
Why to Bet On The Nets: The additions of D'Angelo Russell and Allen Crabbe make the backcourt passable in the NBA. This team tried hard last year at times, despite a talent difference with most of their opponents. Kenny Atkinson will get the best out of his squad. There are some other options in Jeremy Lin, Timofey Mozgov and DeMarre Carroll.
Why Not to Bet On The Nets: There are no go-to scoring option on this team and no one to stop long runs by their opponents. The squad is pretty awful defensively, yet they aren't capable of winning a lot of high scoring affairs. The frontcourt is bad and doesn't have a ton of size either. The lack of high draft picks the past few seasons is going to hurt this roster's future. They'll have to hope they get some help from their free agent acquisitions.
Season Win Total Pick: Under 27.5
New York Knicks (2016-17: 31-51 SU; 42-40 ATS)
Odds to Win the Division: +8500
Season Win Total: 30
Why to Bet On The Knicks: Carmelo Anthony is gone and that means more sharing of the ball on offense. It also means that Kristaps Porzingis is the go-to guy and he should be able to handle it. With the Zinger and Enes Kanter up front, you've got size and scoring from the forward and center positions. For the money they paid Tim Hardaway Jr, the former Michigan star is going to be a big part of the offense.
Why Not to Bet On The Knicks: Carmelo Anthony averaged 22.4 points per game. Frank Ntilikina has got a solid future in this league, but being a point guard for this team is asking a lot. At least Derrick Rose last year was able to run the offense when he was healthy. There is just not a lot of star power in New York and few consistent scorers. Defense will be an issue as well.
Season Win Total Pick: Over 30
Philadelphia 76ers (2016-17: 28-54 SU; 49-33 ATS)
Odds to Win the Division: +1000
Season Win Total: 39.5
Why to Bet On The Sixers: Joel Embiid is a megastar in the making and he's supposedly healthy entering this season. The center has a long range shot and is the juice and electricity for this roster. Ben Simmons provides excitement at the guard position and has become tough to stop when driving the ball to the rim. Robert Covington is an underrated defender, while JJ Redick is the long-range shooter that this team has desperately needed.
Why Not to Bet On The Sixers: It's not going to be easy integrating all these new pieces and there will be growing pains with such a young roster. Markelle Fultz looked lost at times during the preseason and may not be able to help right away. Embiid will probably sit out back-to-back games and that makes the team weaker. We'll also find out if Brett Brown is a good coach. So far, he's put up bad numbers with bad rosters. He now has a group that has playoff potential. Can he get them there?
Season Win Total Pick: Under 39.5
Toronto Raptors (2016-17: 51-31 SU; 45-36-1 ATS)
Odds to Win the Division: +500
Season Win Total: 48.5
Why to Bet On The Raptors: Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan are one of the best duos in the league as they averaged nearly 50 points per game last season. Serge Ibaka is a perfect complement as he provides long range shooting. Jonas Valanciunas has solid size inside and can only get better. CJ Miles is underrated and put up 10.7 ppg last year.
Why Not to Bet On The Raptors: Beyond the starting lineup, there's not much depth. They probably needed to split up Lowry or DeRozan as this roster just doesn't have enough in the Eastern Conference to get past Cleveland or Boston now. Toronto needs to share the ball more and get more players tallying assists. It has become routine for Toronto to make the playoffs, but then bow out against a better opponent.
Season Win Total Pick: Under 48.5