2015 NBA Season Betting Preview
The NBA season is fast approaching and there are many futures bets that you can make in terms of NBA Picks. The Cavaliers have the best betting odds to win the Eastern Conference and the NBA title and the Spurs have the best odds to make it out of the Western Conference even though the Warriors went all the way last season.
Click on these links to check out the NBA Championship Betting Preview, Eastern Conference Championship Betting Preview, and the Western Conference Betting Preview.
Besides betting on the conference and title there are other NBA bets to make such as betting on the division winners, Rookie of the Year, and MVP.
All odds are as of the start of the 2015 NBA Season
NBA Division Betting Preview
Atlantic Division
- Toronto Raptors -300
- Boston Celtics +225
- New York Knicks +2000
- Brooklyn Nets +3000
- Philadelphia 76ers +15000
The Raptors won the Atlantic Division last season and they have the best odds to win this season in what is the weakest division in the NBA. The Celtics have young talent and the Knicks look to turn the corner, but each team has major issues. The Nets may be rebuilding without Deron Williams in the fold any longer and the 76ers have a lot of young talent, but have been rebuilding for the last few seasons.
Southeast Division
- Atlanta Hawks +150
- Miami Heat +200
- Washington Wizards +225
- Charlotte Hornets +3000
- Orlando Magic +3500
The Hawks won the division last season and while they are much the same team as last season, you can tell by the NBA odds, that is a wide-open division. The Heat have a new Big 3 in Chris Bosh, Dwyane Wade, and Goran Dragic, but a thin bench and the Wizards have Bradley Beal and John Wall, but a suspect frontcourt.
Southwest Division
- San Antonio Spurs -150
- Houston Rockets +250
- Memphis Grizzlies +800
- New Orleans Pelicans +900
- Dallas Mavericks +7500
The Southwest is a open division and while the new-look Spurs with the Original Big 3 and LeMar4cis Aldridge have the best betting odds the Rockets, who made the West semis last season, Grizzlies, and young and talented Pelicans all have a chance to take the division if they can stay healthy and put it all together.
Northwest Division
- Oklahoma City Thunder -4000
- Utah Jazz +1200
- Portland Trail Blazers +5000
- Denver Nuggets +5000
- Minnesota Timberwolves +5000
Kevin Durant is back, which is why the Thunder are the HUGE betting favorites to win the Northwest Division. OK, so Durant goes down again they still may be the team to beat with the Nuggets, Timberwolves, and Jazz all rebuilding and the Blazers are now without the services of Le Marcus Aldridge.
Pacific Division
- Golden State Warriors -250
- Los Angeles Clippers +170
- Phoenix Suns +8000
- Sacramento Kings +7500
- Los Angeles Lakers +20000
The Warriors did not do much to change their championship team from last season and the only team that will challenge them in the division is the Clippers. L.A. has a good team and they signed the veterans of Paul Pierce and Josh Smith in the off-season. The Suns are rebuilding, the Kings are the Kings, and the Lakers have Kobe and that is about it.
Rookie of the Year
Jahlil Okafor has the best odds to win the ROY and with good reason, as he will get a lot of minutes for the 76ers at FW and could put up some big numbers. Emmanuel Mudiay bypassed college and played in China last season and while only playing in 12 games because of injury he did average 18 ppg.
D’Angelo Russell also has solid odds, but playing for the Lakers will he get a lot of shots playing alongside Kobe Bryant. Even with the 4th best betting odds to win ROY Karl-Anthony Towns may be a long shot since he is known more for his defense than offense and while he has an upside on the offensive end of the court he only averaged 10/3 ppg in his lone college season.
Betting Odds for the top 10 players to win Rookie of the Years
- Jahlil Okafor +250
- Emmanuel Mudiay +325
- D’Angelo Russell +350
- Karl-Anthony Towns +500
- Stanley Johnson +600
- Justise Winslow +900
- Mario Hezonja +1400
- Myles Turner +1700
- Frank Kaminsky +1800
- Kristaps Porzingis +2000
MVP
The betting odds have the usual suspects in the race with the big exception being C Anthony Davis, who averaged over 24 ppg and 10 rpg last season. Obviously, LeBron has the best odds, but he has won the award several times and voters may shy away from him even though he is still the best player on the planet.
Stephen Curry won the MVP last season, but NBA Picks has him with the 4th best odds this season behind Kevin Durant, who is back after missing most of last season with a foot injury.
Betting Odds for the top 10 players to win MVP
LeBron James +250
Anthony Davis +350
Kevin Durant +500
Stephen Curry +550
James Harden +650
Russell Westbrook +1000
Chris Paul +1400
Blake Griffin +1600
Derrick Rose +3600
Lamarcus Aldridge +3000
