The Milwaukee Bucks will unveil their championship banner on Tuesday when the season tips off against the Brooklyn Nets.
Bettors have been waiting patiently for NBA action to return, and NBA betting lines are available for every game in the 2021-22 season.
Fiserv Forum will be rocking in a game featuring the top-rated Eastern Conference teams.
Are the Nets Distracted?
Kyrie Irving is a heck of a talent, but he’s a distraction. The Nets’ superstar guard not only believes the world is flat, but now he’s refusing to take the Covid vaccine, which puts his future in doubt.
He now faces a reality of either getting vaccinated or missing the season. Despite getting paid megabucks and being a key part of a potential championship season, Irving is taking the hard road.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said it’s a state-by-state issue, as opposed to an NBA problem, for vaccinated players.
“This is between Irving and New York City right now,” Silver told ESPN. “This is not a league issue … but I think it would have been best for everyone if every player were vaccinated.”
Leave Kyrie alone 💯💨 #staywoke #KyrieIrving pic.twitter.com/5W2g7hq8A8
Andrew BDT Rogers | Producer (@bdtentceo) October 15, 2021
Irving is being a distraction and it could affect how the Nets play in the early stages of the season. Brooklyn is a team that features plenty of divas, so it could be a wait-and-see tactic from a betting perspective.
The sportsbook had the Nets as -2½ favorites, but that line has flipped to +1½. Betting momentum is with the Bucks, so can the Nets put everything happening off the court to one side and come out humming?
Having Kevin Durant and James Harden helps, and it can be tough for bettors to go against the dynamic duo. Former teammates in Oklahoma City, Durant and Harden have no fear when it comes to scoring buckets.
They can take over a game at any stage, and if their jump shots are falling, that’s where Milwaukee will have trouble getting stops.
Statement Game for Bucks
It might only be the opening game, but the Milwaukee Bucks would love nothing more than to start 1-0.
Some teams don’t play well the year after winning an NBA championship, but we get a different sense about this Bucks outfit. They have mature players on the roster, including Giannis Antetokounmpo and Khris Middleton.
We’re interested to see how Middleton plays. He has the monkey off his back after being heavily criticized for not doing enough in the years that the Bucks weren’t winning championships.
The long wait is over…the Milwaukee Bucks are CHAMPIONS!!
🗓 Ring Night Is TOMORROW!! | PIN-IT USA pic.twitter.com/c9Yyy4Gl29
Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) October 18, 2021
Winning could free up Middleton to play his best basketball, so we like the betting option of Middleton Over 32½ Pts+Rebs+Assists, which pays -125. That is a value price for a player who should come out with plenty of energy in front of a home crowd.
The Bucks are a much better defensive team than Brooklyn. It might not be a high-scoring game like bookmakers predict, and the lower the score, the better chance Milwaukee has of winning.
Nets vs Bucks Betting Trends
Because it’s the first game of the season, we have taken a look at head-to-head betting trends between the Nets and Bucks.
The Nets are 1-4 against the spread in their last five games in Milwaukee. The most concerning statistic is the Nets being 15-31-1 ATS in the last 48 meetings overall, so the statistics are in line with our NBA betting preview.
The Bucks are 5-0 ATS in their last five home games, so there are plenty of positives in their favor.
Nets vs Bucks Pick
Bettors should lock in the -1½ before it moves even further. The Bucks were home underdogs, but the line is moving steadily in favor of Milwaukee.
Although we would have loved to back the Bucks with a points advantage, we think they’ll score a comfortable win to open proceedings.
The weight of money only gives us more confidence, and in what could be a celebration at Fiserv Forum, we’re happy to be on the home team.
