Feb. 19 NBA – Latest Betting News and Tips
The All-Star break concludes and we continue the rest of the regular season in the NBA. With football over, pro basketball fans start to determine who can reach the playoffs and what teams are legitimate title contenders.
One aspect you have to know for possibly putting down a futures bet for who wins a championship. In NBA history, since 1950, only twice has a team seeded lower than No. 3 in either conference taken home the trophy. Those instances came in 1969 (#4 Boston) and 1995 (#6 Houston), and in both cases, those teams could have easily been higher seeds, which we won’t delve into here.
History tells us that no long-shot team is likely to come out of the pack to “shock the world” unless the top teams experience an unprecedented wave of injuries.
There will undoubtedly be upsets and surprises in series matchups, but the NBA champion will most likely emerge from this list because, unlike other professional sports, the best team does win. Here is a look at the contenders, with current odds from FanDuel.
Boston Celtics +175 odds
The defending champions have all the pieces but their maddening inconsistency is alarming. Boston can seemingly blow out any team if in
the mood. Granted, an ample amount of previous champions have lollygagged their way to the All-Star break and then turned it on to repeat as NBA champs.
It bears watching if the Celtics turn it on or not. The talent is in place for Boston, but is the mental part there to complete the mission? Outlook – Low value bet
Oklahoma City Thunder +200 odds
Oklahoma City and Cleveland are tied with the best records in the NBA at 44-10 and each has significant leads and would seem they would be the top seeds in their respective conferences.
The Thunder has done all the right things by taking a good defensive team from a year ago and making it a great club. The offense is less dependent on the transition game and significantly better in the half-court offense, which is a must for the postseason.
OKC is young, but so was Golden State all those years ago when they captured their first title. Outlook – Low value bet
Cleveland Cavaliers +700 odds
How can Cleveland, with the second-lowest odds in the Eastern Conference, still offer value? It’s all about comparison to Boston.
The Cavaliers have the tools to beat Boston in a seven-game series. Donovan Mitchell has conquered his postseason nerves, and the Cavs are arguably superior to Boston and Oklahoma City in the paint, both offensively and defensively. It’s a matter of translating that potential into performance on the court. Outlook – Medium value bet
Denver Nuggets +1300 odds
Denver has been in this position before and currently holds the #3 seed. The Nuggets won the championship two seasons ago and know the road to a title. They have one of the top 4 starting lineups in the league when fully healthy. The main concern heading into this season was the lack of a reliable bench when Nikola Jokic needed rest or when both Jokic and Jamal Murray were off the court. However, the bench has noticeably improved, which is a major positive.
With Mike Malone as head coach, Denver is well-equipped to return to the Finals. The key for the Nuggets is staying healthy, as they’ve already gone through the growing pains that teams like Oklahoma City and Memphis are currently experiencing, potentially giving them an edge. Outlook – High value bet
New York Knicks +1400 odds
A key formula for championship success is having two-star players and a third contributor who can step up when needed, particularly if one of the stars has an off-game. That’s why the trade for Karl-Anthony Towns was so smart for the Knicks—it pairs him with Jalen Brunson to form a solid foundation.
The third option could come from Mikal Bridges, OG Anunoby, or Josh Hart. New York mirrors Denver in that they have strong starters but a shaky bench. They have the pieces to compete with Boston and Cleveland, but their defense needs improvement. Additionally, Tom Thibodeau’s lack of playoff success is a concern. Still, Rick Carlisle had a similar reputation before winning a title in Dallas when everything came together. Outlook – Medium value bet
L.A. Lakers +1800 odds
The pairing of Luka Doncic and LeBron James is thrilling and filled with potential, but the Lakers face a major issue: they lack a legitimate center, just a bunch of bodies filling the role. As a result, they’re unlikely to finish in the Top 3 in the West. Furthermore, who on their roster can guard the starting centers from Oklahoma City, Memphis, or Denver? While LeBron and Doncic are star players, neither is a strong defender in the post or on the perimeter. Outlook – Low value bet
Memphis Grizzlies +3300 odds
Memphis has been the #2 team in the West all season, and no team boasts more depth from 1 to 10 than the Grizzlies. However, as the odds suggest, they lag behind the Top 6 in terms of title chances. Their depth can prove crucial in the regular season, especially against weaker teams, but playoff series are a different challenge. In a seven-game series, depth matters less as star players log more minutes. Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr. are exceptional, but are they Top 6 or Top 10 players in the West? This season, Memphis is just 3-6 straight up against the teams in this list.
Nevertheless, this is a young team that could hit another gear in April and May, possibly exceeding expectations. If key players for Oklahoma City or Denver are sidelined, Memphis could capitalize. Outlook – Medium value bet
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