2020-21 NBA Season Preview

The 2020-21 NBA regular season gets underway on Tuesday, Dec. 22 with a pair of matchups featuring four of the top title hopefuls in the league. First, the Brooklyn Nets will host the Golden State Warriors at 7:00 PM. Three hours later, the defending champion Los Angeles Lakers host the Los Angeles Clippers. Okay, sportsbook betting faithful, it’s time to take a look at what lies ahead for a number of NBA teams, starting with the Eastern Conference.

Eastern Conference

The Favorites

• Brooklyn Nets
• Philadelphia 76ers
• Miami Heat
• Milwaukee Bucks
• Toronto Raptors
• Boston Celtics

Let’s look at the NBA Division Odds!

Analysis: If the preseason has been any indication, the Brooklyn Nets (+235) look like they could be ‘scary good’ this season. Kevin Durant is going to put up monster numbers and Kyrie Irving looks motivated. However it’s Brooklyn’s plethora of other players like Caris Levert, Spencer Dinwiddie and Joe Harris that makes the Nets look like potential NBA champs as a value-packed +525 pick.

Philadelphia spanked Boston (+500) and Indiana (+3300) in the preseason. The Sixers are my pick to pull off the conference upset as a +500 pick. I love Philadelphia’s hiring of Doc Rivers as head coach and their subsequent additions of sweet-shooting veterans Danny Green and Seth Curry. I’m expecting Rivers to bring out the best in stars, Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons.

Miami (+500) looks like a team that will be at least as good as the one that just reached the NBA Finals last season, even though I’m expecting the Heat to have a much tougher way to go in 2021. Milwaukee (+275) still has two-time reigning MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Bucks made a huge addition by acquiring Jrue Holiday. The bad news is that I don’t think the Bucks are lacking when it comes to their reserves.

Former New York Knicks (+8500) star John Starks is on Unfiltered!

Hopefuls

No one is talking about Toronto (+800), but I’m expecting the Raptors to challenge for a berth in the conference finals at the very least. Toronto has a ton of experience and a quartet of excellent players that have been together for years. The Raptors also had a solid free agency, so I wouldn’t count Toronto out as a legitimate contender at all.

Boston is a +500 pick to win the Eastern Conference along with Philly and Miami, but I didn’t like the offseason the Celtics had and I believe they are set to take a step backwards. Boston got a pair of rookies in the first round of the draft, but Boston’s additions of veterans, Tristan Thompson and Jeff Teague are underwhelming if you ask me.

Let’s take a look at the odds to win the 2021 NBA Conference Championships!

They Look Dangerous

Atlanta Hawks (+3300)

The Hawks made a bunch of positive offseason moves that have them looking quite dangerous heading into the new season. Atlanta has a legitimate MVP candidate in point guard Tre Young and the Hawks added veterans Bogdan Bogdanovic, Rajon Rondo, Danilo Galinari and Kris Dunn in free agency. The Hawks have a ton of young talent in players like Cam Reddish, John Collins and Kevin Hueter. I love their selection of super active big man Oneyka Okongwu with the sixth pick in the draft. Atlanta might not be ready to win a conference crown, but the Hawks look dangerous with a capital D to me.

Here is a look at the league-wide odds to win the 2021 NBA Championship!

Western Conference

The Favorites

LA Lakers

Denver Nuggets

LA Clippers

Portland Trail Blazers

Golden State Warriors

Analysis: It’s crazy to think the defending champion Los Angeles Lakers (+125) actually got better in the offseason, but that’s just what they did. Forget the fact that LA re-signed LeBron James and Anthony Davis to extensions. Those two moves were definitely expected. What wasn’t expected was their additions of point guard Dennis Schroeder, Sixth Man of the Year Montrezl Harrell and veterans Wesley Matthews and Marc Gasol. On paper, the Lakers definitely got better.

The Nuggets (+800) reached the Western Conference Finals last season and they could do so again. Denver has two legitimate stars in Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray and a player with superstar potential in young forward Michael Porter Jr. Did the Nuggets do enough this offseason to improve their chances? I’m not sure, but this team has been trending upward for a few seasons now.

Hopefuls

The LA Clippers (+275) underachieved in a big way last season despite adding Kawhi Leonard and Paul George. The Clippers also parted ways with Doc Rovers but kept some continuity by hiring former assistant Tyron Lue. Montrezl Harrell is gone, but the addition of Serge Ibaka pretty much negates that loss. Los Angeles is still loaded with talent and the Clippers should be hungry after their postseason failures last season.

Portland (+2000) is a team that I’m expecting to really challenge for the Western Conference championship. The Blazers have arguably the best point guard on the face of the planet in Damian Lillard and another perennial all-star in backcourt mate CJ McCollum. Portland also made some nice additions by acquiring Robert Covington, Derrick Jones Jr. and Enes Kanter and their bench looks potent with Carmelo Anthony, Gary Trent Jr. and Rodney Hood.

Golden State (+900) might be listed as one of the top favorites to win the Western Conference, but after watching the Dubs in the preseason, it’s clear to me that the once perennially powerful Warriors will need some time to form their new identity.

Rooke Center James Wiseman is one of the favorites to cash in on the odds to win the 2021 NBA Rookie of the Year award!

They Look Dangerous

• Utah Jazz
• Houston Rockets
• Phoenix Suns
• Dallas Mavericks

Analysis: Utah (+1400) signed now superstar shooting guard Donovan Mitchell and all-star center Rudy Gobert to max deals while bringing back veteran big man Derrick Favors and re-signing explosive veteran Jordan Clarkson. No one’s really talking about Utah being a legitimate challenger in the Western Conference, but I think they should be.

Will Luka Doncic beat out Giannis Antetokounmpo for the 2021 NBA MVP award?

Houston (+1400) might have a problem on their hands with James Harden wanting out. But the Rockets have looked pretty good in going 3-1 this preseason. Houston has added a potential star in young big man Christian Wood. Plus, two former perennial all-stars that have chips on their respective shoulders, John Wall and DeMarcus Cousins. I’ll take veterans Eric Gordon and PJ Tucker on my team any day of the week. I suspect the Rockets will surprise this season whether Harden remains on the roster or not.

Phoenix (+1800) pulled off the biggest stunner of the offseason by acquiring veteran point guard Chris Paul. He’ll pair with superstar Devin Booker in the backcourt. The Suns have some impressive young talent in center Deandre Ayton and Mikal Bridges. And their additions of veterans Jae Crowder and Dario Saric look great.

The Mavs (+1100) have a young superstar in Luka Doncic and another potential star in Kristaps Porzingis. But they need for the latter to stay healthy, and I’m just not sure that’s going to happen. Like Boston in the Eastern Conference, I didn’t like Dallas’ offseason very much. When the Mavs have to go to their bench or Doncic sits, I expect them to struggle.

NBA Finals Pairing

In the end, it looks like Brooklyn is the team to beat in the East while everyone is trying to catch up to the Lakers out West. Betting on these two as a possible NBA Finals matchup pays +800 right now. Things could definitely change over the 72-game campaign, but right now, I’m expecting KD and Kyrie to meet up with LeBron and AD in the 2021 NBA Finals.