Tweet
NBA Central betting preview and odds: The King won't be dethroned
Matt Fargo
With little in the form of resistance in their division this season, LeBron James and Co. are huge -930 chalk to win the Central.
The Cavaliers made some big moves this offseason, swapping point guard Kyrie Irving for Isaiah Thomas and LeBron James is getting the band back together as Dwyane Wade reunites with him in Cleveland. With little resistance in the Central, the Cavs are huge chalk to win the division.
Cleveland Cavaliers (2016-17: 51-31 SU, 36-43-3 ATS)
Odds to Win the Division: -930
Season Win Total: Over 53.5 -155/Under 53.5 +132
Why TO bet the Cavaliers: LeBron James is a proven winner and as long as he stays healthy, his team is the team to beat. The Cavaliers went to the NBA Finals last season, the seventh straight time a James-led team won the Eastern Conference and he continues to be a force. The loss of Kyrie Irving will be felt early in the season since Isaiah Thomas will be out for a few months but the additions of Derrick Rose, Dwyane Wade and Jae Crowder will keep them favorites once again
Why to NOT bet the Cavaliers: Chemistry could be a real issue with Cleveland with so many new faces plus the fact that James missed almost the entire preseason and has not been able to work with his new teammates. He knows Wade so there is no issue there but the remainder could be a problem early on. Cleveland is the biggest favorite to win a division in the Eastern Conference so there should be no issue but as has been the case the last few years, the Cavaliers will be overvalued on a nightly basis.
Season Win Total Pick: Over 53.5 -155
Milwaukee Bucks (2016-17: 42-40 SU, 36-46 ATS)
Odds to Win the Division: +790
Season Win Total: Over 47.5 +135/Under 47.5 -158
Why TO bet the Bucks: Giannis Antetokounmpo is a superstar already and one to build a franchise around. Last season, the Bucks were without Khris Middleton for 53 games to start the season and Jabari Parker for 31 games to end the season with neither being on the floor together so any significant time and the Bucks still finished above .500 and made it to the playoffs. This team is still one of the youngest in the NBA but there is enough experience to make a considerable run.
Why to NOT bet the Bucks: Injuries hurt the chemistry of Milwaukee but the Bucks nucleus remains stable which is a good thing. However, two years ago that same nucleus went just 33-49 and injuries were not even part of it as those three players along with Greg Monroe all played at least 76 games. Milwaukee is a sleeper pick to make a significant run and the pressure could derail them if they get off to an average start. This is another team that will be overvalued based on the hype.
Season Win Total Pick: Over 47.5 +135
Detroit Pistons (2016-17: 37-45 SU, 38-44 ATS)
Odds to Win the Division: +3350
Season Win Total: Over 38.5 -118/Under 38.5 +101
Why TO bet the Pistons: Last season was a big disappointment in Detroit as it was pegged as a lock to make the playoffs but ended up seven games under .500 and missed the postseason. There will be a lot of motivation after the slide and the Pistons can look to Milwaukee which was a playoff team, went in reverse and then came back strong. Reggie Jackson is the leader of the team but he struggled last year with injuries and never got in the groove. He will bounce back and the addition of Avery Bradley was huge.
Why to NOT bet the Pistons: This team cannot get over the hump it seems as there is too much talent on this team for mediocrity to settle in again. But it very well could. Whether it is coaching or just bad chemistry, there has been no consistency. Bradley is the type of player that can turn that around with the right parts but it is still unclear if the right parts are even there. There is not a whole lot of optimism and that could be a problem for Stan Van Gundy who is in his fourth season.
Season Win Total Pick: Under 38.5 +101
Indiana Pacers (2016-17: 42-40 SU, 39-42-1 ATS)
Odds to Win the Division: +12300
Season Win Total: Over 31.5 -117/Under 31.5 +100
Why TO bet the Pacers: The Pacers are rebuilding after trading star Paul George but with low expectations, we can buy them low. Indiana still has Myles Turner who is a player than can be built around could be out for a breakout season. The Pacers did the right thing to get something for George instead of letting him walk after this season and they got Victor Oladipo in the trade and he is no slouch who could also have a breakout season. Indiana had a very solid draft that can help right away.
Why to NOT bet the Pacers: When the talk of rebuilding is so prevalent, it is hard to look past that to find confidence. A rebuilding team in the Eastern Conference will have more success than in the Western Conference but the east is getting stronger overall which hurts teams in transition like Indiana. After Turner and Oladipo, there is not a lot of star power than can help carry the team and the bench is extremely thin and will be even more so if those draft picks do not work out.
Season Win Total Pick: Under 31.5 +100
Chicago Bulls (2016-17: 41-41 SU, 42-40 ATS)
Odds to Win the Division: +40500
Season Win Total: Over 21.5 -158/Under 21.5 +135
Why TO bet the Bulls: Chicago is going through the ultimate rebuild as it had a plan in place on draft night when it traded guard Jimmy Butler to Minnesota. Other pieces from last season have also left so this is basically a brand-new team that has no identity. The good news is that there is no pressure so playing loose could make the Bulls succeed and become more respectable than what people may think. Justin Holiday, Kris Dunn and Zach LaVine, once he gets fully healthy, could be a sneaky good backcourt.
Why to NOT bet the Bulls: It is rare to see teams go from possible division contender to one of the worst teams in the conference but that is the case with the Bulls. This is a big plummet and if things go bad early, it could be a very long season even if they play with to pressure. While there has been a lot of talk about tanking in the NBA, it fits here and would make sense even if it is not good for basketball. Fred Hoiberg did little to show he is a capable NBA coach and this season is not going to suddenly change that.
Season Win Total Pick: Under 21.5 +135
Matt Fargo
With little in the form of resistance in their division this season, LeBron James and Co. are huge -930 chalk to win the Central.
The Cavaliers made some big moves this offseason, swapping point guard Kyrie Irving for Isaiah Thomas and LeBron James is getting the band back together as Dwyane Wade reunites with him in Cleveland. With little resistance in the Central, the Cavs are huge chalk to win the division.
Cleveland Cavaliers (2016-17: 51-31 SU, 36-43-3 ATS)
Odds to Win the Division: -930
Season Win Total: Over 53.5 -155/Under 53.5 +132
Why TO bet the Cavaliers: LeBron James is a proven winner and as long as he stays healthy, his team is the team to beat. The Cavaliers went to the NBA Finals last season, the seventh straight time a James-led team won the Eastern Conference and he continues to be a force. The loss of Kyrie Irving will be felt early in the season since Isaiah Thomas will be out for a few months but the additions of Derrick Rose, Dwyane Wade and Jae Crowder will keep them favorites once again
Why to NOT bet the Cavaliers: Chemistry could be a real issue with Cleveland with so many new faces plus the fact that James missed almost the entire preseason and has not been able to work with his new teammates. He knows Wade so there is no issue there but the remainder could be a problem early on. Cleveland is the biggest favorite to win a division in the Eastern Conference so there should be no issue but as has been the case the last few years, the Cavaliers will be overvalued on a nightly basis.
Season Win Total Pick: Over 53.5 -155
Milwaukee Bucks (2016-17: 42-40 SU, 36-46 ATS)
Odds to Win the Division: +790
Season Win Total: Over 47.5 +135/Under 47.5 -158
Why TO bet the Bucks: Giannis Antetokounmpo is a superstar already and one to build a franchise around. Last season, the Bucks were without Khris Middleton for 53 games to start the season and Jabari Parker for 31 games to end the season with neither being on the floor together so any significant time and the Bucks still finished above .500 and made it to the playoffs. This team is still one of the youngest in the NBA but there is enough experience to make a considerable run.
Why to NOT bet the Bucks: Injuries hurt the chemistry of Milwaukee but the Bucks nucleus remains stable which is a good thing. However, two years ago that same nucleus went just 33-49 and injuries were not even part of it as those three players along with Greg Monroe all played at least 76 games. Milwaukee is a sleeper pick to make a significant run and the pressure could derail them if they get off to an average start. This is another team that will be overvalued based on the hype.
Season Win Total Pick: Over 47.5 +135
Detroit Pistons (2016-17: 37-45 SU, 38-44 ATS)
Odds to Win the Division: +3350
Season Win Total: Over 38.5 -118/Under 38.5 +101
Why TO bet the Pistons: Last season was a big disappointment in Detroit as it was pegged as a lock to make the playoffs but ended up seven games under .500 and missed the postseason. There will be a lot of motivation after the slide and the Pistons can look to Milwaukee which was a playoff team, went in reverse and then came back strong. Reggie Jackson is the leader of the team but he struggled last year with injuries and never got in the groove. He will bounce back and the addition of Avery Bradley was huge.
Why to NOT bet the Pistons: This team cannot get over the hump it seems as there is too much talent on this team for mediocrity to settle in again. But it very well could. Whether it is coaching or just bad chemistry, there has been no consistency. Bradley is the type of player that can turn that around with the right parts but it is still unclear if the right parts are even there. There is not a whole lot of optimism and that could be a problem for Stan Van Gundy who is in his fourth season.
Season Win Total Pick: Under 38.5 +101
Indiana Pacers (2016-17: 42-40 SU, 39-42-1 ATS)
Odds to Win the Division: +12300
Season Win Total: Over 31.5 -117/Under 31.5 +100
Why TO bet the Pacers: The Pacers are rebuilding after trading star Paul George but with low expectations, we can buy them low. Indiana still has Myles Turner who is a player than can be built around could be out for a breakout season. The Pacers did the right thing to get something for George instead of letting him walk after this season and they got Victor Oladipo in the trade and he is no slouch who could also have a breakout season. Indiana had a very solid draft that can help right away.
Why to NOT bet the Pacers: When the talk of rebuilding is so prevalent, it is hard to look past that to find confidence. A rebuilding team in the Eastern Conference will have more success than in the Western Conference but the east is getting stronger overall which hurts teams in transition like Indiana. After Turner and Oladipo, there is not a lot of star power than can help carry the team and the bench is extremely thin and will be even more so if those draft picks do not work out.
Season Win Total Pick: Under 31.5 +100
Chicago Bulls (2016-17: 41-41 SU, 42-40 ATS)
Odds to Win the Division: +40500
Season Win Total: Over 21.5 -158/Under 21.5 +135
Why TO bet the Bulls: Chicago is going through the ultimate rebuild as it had a plan in place on draft night when it traded guard Jimmy Butler to Minnesota. Other pieces from last season have also left so this is basically a brand-new team that has no identity. The good news is that there is no pressure so playing loose could make the Bulls succeed and become more respectable than what people may think. Justin Holiday, Kris Dunn and Zach LaVine, once he gets fully healthy, could be a sneaky good backcourt.
Why to NOT bet the Bulls: It is rare to see teams go from possible division contender to one of the worst teams in the conference but that is the case with the Bulls. This is a big plummet and if things go bad early, it could be a very long season even if they play with to pressure. While there has been a lot of talk about tanking in the NBA, it fits here and would make sense even if it is not good for basketball. Fred Hoiberg did little to show he is a capable NBA coach and this season is not going to suddenly change that.
Season Win Total Pick: Under 21.5 +135