NBA Basketball Futures – Handicapping the East by Division

When we handicap each of the NBA divisions at BetUS Sportsbook, we take a look at what offers value more than anything else. As we go along (and we're doing the West as well), you are going to find that the favorite in the division is not always our choice to win a division, and that is because the price is not appetizing. So we are balance who we think is the best with who we think COULD be the best, and worth a play.

So here we go with each division and the BetUS NBA odds on winning them:

Atlantic Division

Boston Celtics -300

New Jersey Nets +4000

New York Knicks +3000

Philadelphia 76ers +375

Toronto Raptors +500

The Nets are in the midst of a massive rebuilding job, and that might continue if they can figure out a way to get some value for Vince Carter. The Knicks will not have the personnel to make Mike D'Antoni's system work. Toronto is going to benefit a great deal from Jose Calderon, a potentially outstanding player, getting more time at the point guard spot. Philadelphia made great strides in the second half of last season, and now they've added Elton Brand to the mix, which allows Andre Iguodala to operate without having the scoring burden. But the Celtics, even if they don't have as strong a bench as last year, are still the class of this division, and there is very little to change that. Kevin Garnett makes all the difference in the world, not just with his defensive play, but his leadership, insisting everybody around him also contributes on the defensive end. JAY'S PLAY: BOSTON -300

Central Division

Cleveland Cavaliers +200

Chicago Bulls +550

Detroit Pistons -140

Indiana Pacers +2000

Milwaukee Bucks +6000

You still have to rate Detroit as the favorite here, but you get the feeling that they are getting ready to pass the torch, in that their starters are moving along in age. The question is - who will they pass the torch TO? And will it happen this year? Cleveland would seem the most ready to take the ball and run with it, because of some deals made last year, and obviously the presence of LeBron James, who is in the final year of his contract. The Cavs are hoping that the addition of Mo Williams, acquired from Milwaukee, provides a point guard who can score and take some of the pressure off James. But Williams, though talented, is not a playmaker-type. Scott Skiles should bring a more defensive mindset to Milwaukee, but the Bucks just don't have enough winning players. T.J, Ford is going to take over point guard duties with Indiana, but the Pacers don't play enough defense. Derrick Rose will eventually help turn that situation in Chicago around. But not in time for us. JAY'S PLAY: CLEVELAND +200

Southeast Division

Atlanta Hawks +1200

Charlotte Bobcats +1800

Miami Heat +300

Orlando Magic -200

Washington Wizards +900

I look at this as something that is rather wide open, because all these teams have holes. The Magic is listed as the front-runner, because Orlando has the inside-outside game with Dwight Howard and shooters like Hedo Turkoglu and Rashard Lewis. But I do not have a lot of faith in their guard play. Charlotte has Larry Brown taking over, but Brown doesn't seem to like the team he's been handed. Miami, I think, is overrated by these numbers. Sure, Dwyane Wade is tremendous, but when Shawn Marion went into the front office at Phoenix and asked for a trade because he wasn't getting as much publicity as Steve Nash or Amare Stoudamire, that showed me he is a "me first" loser. Atlanta, which made the playoffs and took the Celtics to seven games, is a team on the rise. Their young players are for real. They may be worth a play at 12/1. Washington is talented, but weak in the pivot and will be disrupted when Gilbert Arenas comes back. There might be some value with the longshot here. JAY'S PLAY: ATLANTA +1200

(Charles Jay of http://www.ebookies.com makes his shots from the top of the key as a regular contributor to the BetUS Locker Room).