Posted on
3/4/2008 6:14:33 PM
NBA Futures - NBA Western Conference Future Betting
By Eric Williams
While the western conference has been widely viewed as the ‘power’ conference in the NBA for nearly a decade now, this article will separate the legitimate western conference title contenders from the pretenders and also-rans in the BetUS.com Sportsbook while educating my beloved BetUS.com NBA Betting Community on which teams are going to flame-out, fall apart and fastbreak their respective way through what promises to be an absolutely tortuous western conference postseason.
With the regular season quickly winding down, let me get down to business.
To Win Western Conference
The Legitimate Contenders
San Antonio Spurs +300
The Spurs are quietly heading toward another deep playoff run and are the team to beat no matter what anyone else says.
Los Angeles Lakers +225
When young center Andrew Bynum returns to L.A.’s lineup, the Lakers will have the tallest frontcourt in all of basketball and could be the team to beat the Spurs this postseason.
Utah Jazz +800
The Jazz are obviously for real after reaching last season’s conference finals.
New Orleans Hornets +700
Don’t sleep on the Hornets bettors, this team is for real too, and has a perfect mix of youth and veteran leadership.
The Pretenders
Phoenix Suns +300
Adding Shaquille O’Neal to this team was the equivalent of trying to put a square peg into a round hole …duh.
Dallas Mavericks +350
How many times can I say it about the Mavs and Dirk Nowitzki … soft, soft, soft!
Denver Nuggets +1400
While A.I. and ‘Melo always ‘get theirs’ this team has the heart of the ‘Cowardly Lion’.
Golden State Warriors +2500
Sure, they can score points in bunches, but this team has never heard of the word ‘defense’.
Maybe Next Year
Houston Rockets +1200
No Yao for the Rockets means ‘Ow’ come playoff time.
Portland Trailblazers +2500
Adding Greg Oden to the terrific young duo of Brandon Roy and LaMarcus Aldridge will lift this blossoming franchise even quicker next season.
Who Knows When
Los Angeles Clippers +15000
Seattle Supersonics +25000
Minnesota Timberwolves +25000
Sacramento Kings +12500
Memphis Grizzlies +25000
Conference Final Four: San Antonio, Los Angeles, Utah, New Orleans
Championship Teams: San Antonio, Los Angeles
Western Conference Champion: San Antonio
Analysis: While the western conference is certainly the best conference in the league by far, I think there are only a handful of legitimate contenders to the Spurs’ western conference title supremacy this season – and the Mavericks and Suns are not two of the teams because of their recent head-scratching trades.
While it looks like several teams have gained ground on the Spurs this season, (and they have), I think San Antonio’s experience and depth will prevail once again in a thrilling western conference finals series with the league’s best player – Kobe Bryant – nearly helping his team to stun the Spurs before bowing out of the postseason gracefully.
You’ll find the latest 2007-2008 NBA odds and lines in the best online sportsbook, BetUS.com. Betting on NBA player and game props makes every aspect of the game exciting. Join BetUS.com today to bet on the NBA and make online sports betting work for you!