Up to NBA Betting Trends

posted October 29, 2007 at 17:36 in NBA Betting Trends

With the start of the NBA betting season, just a day away, it’s time to take a look at the candidates to win the 2007-08 eastern conference championship.

This article will separate the pretenders from the contenders and those teams that have no realistic chance at all. With that said, let’s get busy, the regular season tip-off is just around the corner.

The Contenders

Boston Celtics +225

The Celtics have vaulted themselves to the top of the eastern conference in the eyes of the oddsmakers by acquiring veteran all-stars, Kevin Arnett and Ray Allen. Now, all the team needs is to, ‘just do it’.

Cleveland Cavaliers +400

Although the Cavaliers won the eastern conference last season, they will have their work more than cut out for them this season as the target of every team’s eastern conference title hopes. Still, any team with LeBron James, is a contender.

Detroit Pistons +325

I don’t know if most people are forgetting about the Pistons or what, but I’m not. Lest we not forget, despite the past two postseason failures under head coach Flip Saunders, Detroit is an experienced, well-balanced team that still has several dangerous players – and now – an infusion of youth.

Chicago Bulls +400

With a roster full of young talent at nearly every position all the Bulls need now is more experience – and some consistent low-post scoring. Still, this team is a definite threat – unless they blow up the roster for Kobe Bryant that is.

Miami Heat +400

While I think the Heat will have a tough way to go to win the eastern conference, I can’t put anything past a franchise that has Pat Riley, Shaquille O’Neal and Dwyane Wade on its payroll.

The Pretenders

Toronto Raptors +1200

While the Raptors are most definitely headed in the right direction – and have an ‘old school’ head coach I absolutely love in Sam Mitchell, this team needs more time to grow and learn. Still, Toronto may be only a year or two away from winning the east altogether.

New Jersey Nets +1200

While this team will win its share of games because of the trio of Jason Kidd, Richard Jefferson and Vince Carter, I say any team with Carter on its roster is an instant pretender. Despite the fact that he jumps really, really high, that’s the only thing this former Tar Heel has in common with the legendary Michael Jordan.

Orlando Magic +1200

Even though the Orlando Magic went out and acquired high-scoring forward Rashard Lewis, this team is at least two or three players away from really contending.

Washington Wizards +2000

Gilbert Arenas, Antwan Jamison and Caron Butler provide plenty of offense for the Washington Wizards. I just have one question for each star player and head coach Eddie Jordan. Where’s the defense? Until the Wizards realize they have to defend, they’ll keep scoring plenty of points while losing the meaningful games.

Milwaukee Bucks +3500

The Bucks are headed in the right direction and have plenty of young talent, however, with a first-year head coach in Larry Krystowiak – and young players who need more time to learn the NBA game, Milwaukee is a team to watch out for in the next few seasons – just not right now.

Get Real

Atlanta Hawks +3500

The Hawks are in the ‘get real’ category for now, but that may not last much longer as this franchise could be headed back to respectability before anyone ever suspects it.

 

Charlotte Bobcats +3500

I’m giving Michael Jordan and new head coach Sam Vincent a few years to build a winner in Charlotte. After that, all bets are off for this franchise.

New York Knicks +2000

ABC television needs to cancel their television show ‘Lost’ and just follow the Knicks around to get the real definition for the word, ‘lost.’

Indiana Pacers +5000

Was it that long ago that the Pacers were a perennial contender in the eastern conference? Well, times have changed apparently. If the Pacers see 40 wins this season, I’ll be shocked.

Philadelphia 76ers +5000

Out with the old A.I. and in with the new. Led by talented small forward, Andre Iguoadala, the Sixers are now a very young team that will need at least two or three seasons to get back on track. Either that or speed up the process by firing GM Billy King.

And the winner is… Being the lifelong Boston Celtics fan that I am, it certainly would be easy for me to pick my beloved Celtics to win the eastern conference.

However, I can’t, in good conscious, pick the C’s to beat the team that I really believe will come out of the eastern conference this season – the Detroit Pistons.

If Pistons head coach Flip Saunders can find a way to mix the youthful talent the team has acquired – with the veteran stars already on the roster - the Pistons could not only win the east, but the entire NBA championship as well.

Of course, this would depend on enigmatic, but gifted, forward Rasheed Wallace finally maturing, but knowing the down-to-earth Wallace, who played for my Godfather, the legendary Bill Ellerbee at Simon Gratz high school in Philadelphia, I already know the bad taste left in his mouth from last year’s playoff exit at the hands of the Cleveland Cavaliers will have ‘Sheed more than ready for the start of the 2007-08 season.

If Saunders can help the Pistons get back to playing the stellar defense that led them to the championship title three years ago, under former head coach Larry Brown, Detroit could once again, become the ‘Beast of the East.’

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