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 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 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 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).