If you’re looking for added entertainment with your basketball betting thrills that go beyond betting on which team will win a particular game or how many three-pointers Giannis Antetokounmpo will score on a given night, then an NBA Futures bet might be for you.
Typically, NBA Futures won’t pay out until the end of the season or until the future event in question is settled. It’s playing the long game, so patience, tenacity, and nerves of steel are required. Sound like you?
BetUS sportsbook has rolled out a slew of NBA Futures Specials that deal with several aspects of the upcoming playoffs. Markets such as which conference will win the NBA Championships or the state from which the winner will emerge? These markets (and more) are the subject of this piece, so join us as we dive in, examine the NBA odds and serve up some way too early predictions for the NBA Playoffs, which start in two weeks. NBA fans, rejoice!
*DANCE BREAK* 🕺 pic.twitter.com/5tNGggvRNC
— NBA (@NBA) March 30, 2022
NBA Futures Specials Preview
Conference of NBA Championship Winner
- Eastern Conference -115
- Western Conference -115
This market is poised delicately on the betting online board with both the Eastern and Western Conferences priced at -115 to win outright. The parity in betting should come as no surprise, especially for those NBA fans that have followed the 2022 NBA season with a keen eye.
From the start, two teams, one from each conference, set the pace in their respective sections and never took the foot off the gas – the Miami Heat and the Phoenix Suns. As well, several representatives from each conference have maintained momentum throughout – these include the Milwaukee Bucks and Boston Celtics in the East, the Memphis Grizzlies and the Golden State Warriors in the West.
With quality and form oozing from both sides of the bracket, it’s right that this market is even right now. It really does feel like a total tossup for NBA free picks.
Pick: Western Conference -115
First Time NBA Championship Winner?
- Yes +105
- No -135
Now, with two weeks before the postseason gets underway, both the Heat and Sun are still in the driver’s seat. The Heat are alone atop the Eastern Conference standings, albeit with a nominal 0.5 edge over the defending champions the Bucks and the Celtics. On the flip side, the Phoenix Suns appear to have run away with the Western Conference, building up an 8.5 game lead over the Memphis Grizzlies and a 13.5 game lead over the Warriors.
If the regular season were any indication, the Phoenix Suns are the team to beat. Indeed, BetUS tips the Suns as the +300 bet to win the NBA Championships.
Considering Phoenix has never clinched an NBA title, despite three appearances, in 1976, 1993, and 2021, it’s quite possibly their year finally. They were unable to get over the hump last year, falling to the Milwaukee Bucks in game 6 of the NBA Finals. If they were to accomplish the feat this year, betting the YES bet here could prove the value play at +105.
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Milwaukee @Bucks are the 2020-2021 @NBA Champions! 🏀Game 6️⃣ | @Bucks wins series 4-2 !@Bucks first @NBA title 🏆 in 50 years 🤦🏻♂️ pic.twitter.com/z1DDLTcp48
— Cityzen Dave 🧢 (@iAmDaveQuarshie) July 21, 2021
Other teams that have never won an NBA Championship include the Brooklyn Nets, Memphis Grizzlies, Charlotte Hornets, and Minnesota Timberwolves, to name a few. Of these aforementioned teams, the Memphis Grizzlies have clinched a spot in the West. They could very well be the dangerous floaters to spot.
Pick: Yes +105
State of NBA Championship Winner
- California +500
- New York +550
- Florida +1000
- Texas +2800
- Any Other State -200
Betting this market comes down to which team is favored to win the NBA Championship right now. That said, it’s interesting that Arizona isn’t listed as a separate state in this market, given how well the Suns are playing.
If the Suns are your top pick, then betting “Any Other State” would be the top sport betting pick here. The same goes for those that fancy the Bucks repeating or teams like the Philadelphia 76ers and Memphis Grizzlies turning markets upside down. The Miami Heat were finalists a couple of years ago, losing to the Los Angeles Lakers. Backing the Heat to deliver a win for Florida is priced at a very attractive +1000.
Pick: Any Other State -200,
Division of NBA Championship Winner
- Atlantic Division +200
- Pacific Division +250
- Central Division +550
- Northwest Division +900
- Southeast Division +900
- Southwest Division +1400
Once again, this market comes down to which team fancies winning the NBA title this season. The top candidate according to the oddsmakers to win the Larry O’Brien trophy are the Phoenix Suns (+300), the Brooklyn Nets (+550), the Golden State Warriors (+650), Milwaukee Bucks (+700), and the Boston Celtics (+900).
A repeat of last season’s final between the Phoenix Suns and the Milwaukee Bucks is quite possible given how well both teams are playing right now. So, a bet on either the Pacific Division or the Central Division holds appeal. It’s worth pointing out that betting the Pacific Division would also encompass the Warriors, giving more bang for your buck.
