It is now over a year since the end of the 2016-17 NBA season and fans are wondering, ‘Who will be the best team in NBA this coming season?
There has been a lot of activity among NBA betting sites this past year with several new books making a comparison of predictions and valuing different players, teams and styles. There’s also been a rise in online sportsbooks with mobile version introducing live betting which brings a whole new dimension to the game. Here are the top 5 basketball teams and why they stand out from the rest for the coming season.
Boston Celtics
The Boston Celtics will be looking to defend their NBA title this upcoming season after adding a number of key players with championship experience.
In fact, the Celtics finished the 2016-17 season with a 23-7 record, which was good enough for first place in the NBA Eastern Conference.
They also managed to beat the Cleveland Cavaliers in the playoffs 4-1.
It is worth noting that the team is one of the more experienced in the NBA and, according to OddsShark.com, the C’s have a 60% chance to defend their title this coming season.
Los Angeles Clippers
The Los Angeles Clippers finished the 2016-17 season with a 32-20 record, which was good enough for third place in the NBA Western Conference.
However, they fell short in the playoffs, losing in the second round to the San Antonio Spurs 4-2.
The Clips have been consistent contributors to the top-end of the betting markets this year and are a popular choice amongst NBA bettors. According to OddsShark.com, the Clips have a 48% chance to defend their title this coming season.
Philadelphia 76ers
The Philadelphia 76ers went through a major overhaul this past offseason, losing many of their veteran players in free agency and trading for Jimmy Butler, one of the best defenders in the NBA.
The team finished the 2016-17 season with an 18-64 record, which was good enough for 16th place in the NBA Eastern Conference.
The 76ers have also seen a significant drop in their odds to win the championship this coming season. According to OddsShark.com, they have a 14% chance to capture the Larry O’Brien Trophy.
Golden State Warriors
The Golden State Warriors finished the 2016-17 season with a 50-16 record, which was good enough for second place in the NBA Western Conference.
Kevin Durant and the Warriors will be looking to continue their reign as kings of the NBA during the upcoming season. The team took out a $15 million insurance policy on Durant before the start of this year.
The Warriors have been a popular choice amongst NBA bettors for several years and their experienced roster has led them to successful title defenses in the past. OddsShark.com expect the Warriors to continue as one of the top contenders for the Eastern Conference championship this coming season.
Cleveland Cavaliers
The Cleveland Cavaliers finished the 2016-17 season with a 23-7 record, which was good enough for first place in the NBA Eastern Conference.
However, they were upset in the playoffs 4-1 by the Boston Celtics.
The team has lost a lot of talent this past offseason, with the departures of Isaiah Thomas, Richard Jefferson, and Channing Frye.
Still, owner Dan Gilbert thinks highly of the remaining players on the team and is confident that they will be able to pull of a comeback season.
According to OddsShark.com, the Cavaliers have a 42% shot at defending their title this coming season.
The Cavaliers will be looking to LeBron James and Kevin Love to lead the way this season. The 30-year-old Love missed the entire 2016-17 season due to injury. This past summer, James returned to his home country of Cleveland to play for the Cavaliers and decided to opt out of the final year of his contract.
Despite all the changes, the Cavaliers are still relatively young and have a lot of upside. Expectations are high and fans want to see if James can lead his team to an NBA title after a drought of more than a decade.
New York Knicks
Last but not least, we have the New York Knicks, who had one of the most shocking seasons in recent history.
After making the NBA finals in the past two years, the team fell apart last season. They missed the playoffs entirely and finished with a 2-28 record, which was one of the worst in the league.
The biggest news this offseason for the Knicks is the hiring of Phil Jackson as their new head coach. Since Jackson had a hand in creating the NBA’s modern era, a lot of people see this as a bold move.
OddsShark.com say the Knicks have a 12% chance to make the playoffs this upcoming season. They will likely be picking up the pieces of the NBA’s worst team, with Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving leading the way.
The Knicks will be looking to get back to the playoffs and prove to the world that last year was a fluke. However, it will be extremely difficult for the Triangle and Broadway royalty to turn things around quickly.