NBA Western Conference Betting Preview
Once again the Western Conference is loaded and while the Warriors on it last season the Spurs, who landed prize PF LeMarcus Aldridge in the off-season, have the best betting odds to win it this season. NBA Picks also has the Thunder, Clippers, and Rockets with legit betting odds to get out of the West this season.
The Spurs (+200) have it all, as they obviously have veteran leadership in Tony Parker, Tim Duncan, and Manu Gibobili, youth in Kawhi Leonard and Danny Green and now another superstar in LeMarcus Aldridge. Health will be key for the old guys, especially Parker and Duncan, and Aldridge has to learn to play in the Spurs’ team system, which is different from his Portland days when he was THE man.
The NBA champion Warriors (+275), pretty much, stood pat in the off-season and if it isn’t broke don’t fix it. The Splash Brothers of Klay Thomson and MVP Stephen Curry lead them and the team was wise to resign Draymond Green in the off-season. Harrison Barnes and Festus Ezeli give the team youth and with them coming up on new contracts Golden State may not be able to afford them next season. Andrew Bogut was healthy for the title run last season and he has to do the same this season for a repeat.
NBA Picks have the Thunder (+400) with the 3rd best betting odds and the main reason is that Kevin Durant is back. Obviously, his health is key, as when he was out last season Oklahoma City did not make the playoffs. Russell Westbrook almost averaged a triple-double with Durant out and one big question is can he get back to playing 2nd fiddle? Serge Ibaka, has to help out in the scoring department and the guards also have take some of that slack with the loss of Reggie Jackson
De Andre Jordan is back in La La Land for the Clippers (+600) after spurning the Mavericks in the off-season. Blake Griffin and Chris Paul lead the team and J.J. Reddick and Jamaal Crawford are solid pieces, but the bench is a thin one and that hurt the Clippers last season. The team made some veteran moves bring in Josh Smith and Paul Pierce and can the old guys put L.A. over the hump?
The Rockets (+1000) were solid last season and while Josh Smith is gone they landed scoring PG Ty Lawson. How will he play alongside James Harden, who controls the rock most of the time? Big question. For Houston to win the West they will need a big season from Dwight Howard and it is obviously key that his knees hold up and he stays on the court.
The Grizzlies (+1500) resigned Marc Gasol and inked Brandan Wright to a deal, but other than that the team will be much like last season. Gasol and Randolph are a great frontcourt duo and Mike Conley and Courtney Lee patrol the backcourt, but some other players need to step up, especially in the scoring department.
If you are looking at a dark horse in the West look no further than the Pelicans (+2000). They have star C Anthony Davis and underrated Eric Gordon and a solid roster and if the squad can stay healthy they have a chance in the loaded West. Tyreke Evans already has knee issues in the preseason and Jrue Holiday and Ryan Anderson, who combined for only 42 games last season, need to stay on the court.
It looks as if the sun may have set on the Mavericks (+4000), as they were burned by De Andre Jordan and Monta Ellis signed with the Pacers. The team still has Dirk Nowitzki and Chandler Parsons, who is coming off a knee injury, and their 2 big off-season additions were Wesley Mathews, who is coming off an Achilles injury, and Deron Williams, who has dealt with injuries the last couple of seasons and is no longer one of the top PG’s in the league.
The other NBA Picks in the Western Conference are major long shots, especially in the conference that is, by far, the toughest one in the NBA.
The season begins soon and as of October 23rd here are the betting odds for the teams to win the Western Conference.
- San Antonio Spurs +200
- Golden State Warriors +275
- Oklahoma City Thunder +400
- Los Angeles Clippers +600
- Houston Rockets +1000
- Memphis Grizzlies +1500
- New Orleans Pelicans +2000
- Dallas Mavericks +4000
- Utah Jazz +6800
- Los Angeles Lakers +8000
- Phoenix Suns +6000
- Portland Blazers +8000
- Sacramento Kings +10000
- Denver Nuggets +12000
- Minnesota Timberwolves +15000
