Expect More Heat out of Miami
By: SBR Staff
8/7/2006 11:24:49 AM
It seems like just yesterday that the Miami Heat knocked off the Dallas Mavericks in six games to win their first-ever National Basketball Association championship. But since then we’ve had numerous player movements and coaching changes and the draft. Believe it or not, the upcoming 2006-07 NBA season is less than 90 days away. And sportsbooks around the Internet are posting odds on who will come out on top this season.
The defending champion Heat and the San Antonio Spurs top the betting board at Bet365.com at +550 to win the 2006-07 NBA title. Riley, Shaq, Wade and friends cruised through the regular season last year, going 52-30 and easily winning the Southeast Division, claiming the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference along the way. But all along it seemed like Riley was carefully preparing his troops for the big fight that was to come in the playoffs. General Riley must have known what he was doing, because Miami did away with its first three playoff opponents in fairly quick fashion, then got some rest before taking on the Detroit Pistons in the conference finals. There, after losing the first two games, the Heat swept through the next four, advancing to the NBA Finals for the first time. And in a pretty good battle with fellow first-timers, the Dallas Mavericks, Wade showed that he is one of the elite players in the league, carrying Miami to the title.
San Antonio, winners of two of the last four league titles, earned the top seed in the Western Conference last year with a 63-19 regular-season record. And all went well in the playoffs until the Spurs ran into a spirited Dallas squad that upset them in the conference finals. Nonetheless, San Antonio has all the tools in place for another run at another championship for the Alamo City.
Those Dallas Mavericks come next on the Bet365.com NBA championship betting board at +600. Dallas chased San Antonio all season last year for home-court advantage in the playoffs, and although they came up three games shy, it ultimately didn’t matter. The Mavs beat the Spurs on their home court to sew up their first conference title, then played admirably in the league finals before falling to the Heat.
The Detroit Pistons and the Phoenix Suns are paired together at +700 to win the NBA title this season at Bet365.com. Detroit rolled to the best record in the league last season, 64-18, but something seemed to be missing all along. A tough battle against the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference semis was followed by a six-game defeat at the hands of the Heat in the conference finals. And during the offseason, the Pistons lost super forward Ben Wallace via free agency to a divisional rival, the Chicago Bulls.
The Suns captured the Pacific Division title last year, going 54-28, before falling in the conference semis to eventual conference champ Dallas.
The New Jersey Nets, champs of the Atlantic Division a season ago, come in at +1500 at Bet365.com to win the NBA title this year. New Jersey won 49 games during the 05-06 regular season, and won a first-round series with Indiana. But the Nets didn’t put up much of a fight in the second round vs. Miami, falling in five games.
The up-and-coming Chicago Bulls are posted at +1700 at Bet365.com to win the franchise’s first title since The Great Jordan left the building. Chicago made the playoffs last season, falling to Miami in the second round, and has a nice collection of young talent. And now they’ve added the defensive muscle of Ben Wallace to the mix.
Another Central Division team, the Cleveland Cavaliers, follow the Bulls on the Bet365.com championship board at +1900. Cleveland is trying to follow the pattern of many past champions by making progress each season. First, a winning record. Then, making the playoffs. Then, winning a playoff series or two. Then, winning a conference title. The Cavs’ showing vs. Detroit in the playoffs last year seems to indicate this team is following that plan.
Following the Cavaliers on the championship board at Bet365.com are the Houston Rockets at +2100; the Denver Nuggets at +2300; the Los Angeles Clippers at +2600; the Sacramento Kings at +2900; the Indiana Pacers at +3100; the Memphis Grizzlies and the Los Angeles Lakers at +3400; and the Boston Celtics and Washington Wizards at +5100.
The 2006-07 NBA regular season kicks off on Halloween with a TNT doubleheader; the Chicago Bulls visit the champs in Miami, and the Phoenix Suns take on the Lakers in L.A.
By: SBR Staff
8/7/2006 11:24:49 AM
It seems like just yesterday that the Miami Heat knocked off the Dallas Mavericks in six games to win their first-ever National Basketball Association championship. But since then we’ve had numerous player movements and coaching changes and the draft. Believe it or not, the upcoming 2006-07 NBA season is less than 90 days away. And sportsbooks around the Internet are posting odds on who will come out on top this season.
The defending champion Heat and the San Antonio Spurs top the betting board at Bet365.com at +550 to win the 2006-07 NBA title. Riley, Shaq, Wade and friends cruised through the regular season last year, going 52-30 and easily winning the Southeast Division, claiming the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference along the way. But all along it seemed like Riley was carefully preparing his troops for the big fight that was to come in the playoffs. General Riley must have known what he was doing, because Miami did away with its first three playoff opponents in fairly quick fashion, then got some rest before taking on the Detroit Pistons in the conference finals. There, after losing the first two games, the Heat swept through the next four, advancing to the NBA Finals for the first time. And in a pretty good battle with fellow first-timers, the Dallas Mavericks, Wade showed that he is one of the elite players in the league, carrying Miami to the title.
San Antonio, winners of two of the last four league titles, earned the top seed in the Western Conference last year with a 63-19 regular-season record. And all went well in the playoffs until the Spurs ran into a spirited Dallas squad that upset them in the conference finals. Nonetheless, San Antonio has all the tools in place for another run at another championship for the Alamo City.
Those Dallas Mavericks come next on the Bet365.com NBA championship betting board at +600. Dallas chased San Antonio all season last year for home-court advantage in the playoffs, and although they came up three games shy, it ultimately didn’t matter. The Mavs beat the Spurs on their home court to sew up their first conference title, then played admirably in the league finals before falling to the Heat.
The Detroit Pistons and the Phoenix Suns are paired together at +700 to win the NBA title this season at Bet365.com. Detroit rolled to the best record in the league last season, 64-18, but something seemed to be missing all along. A tough battle against the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference semis was followed by a six-game defeat at the hands of the Heat in the conference finals. And during the offseason, the Pistons lost super forward Ben Wallace via free agency to a divisional rival, the Chicago Bulls.
The Suns captured the Pacific Division title last year, going 54-28, before falling in the conference semis to eventual conference champ Dallas.
The New Jersey Nets, champs of the Atlantic Division a season ago, come in at +1500 at Bet365.com to win the NBA title this year. New Jersey won 49 games during the 05-06 regular season, and won a first-round series with Indiana. But the Nets didn’t put up much of a fight in the second round vs. Miami, falling in five games.
The up-and-coming Chicago Bulls are posted at +1700 at Bet365.com to win the franchise’s first title since The Great Jordan left the building. Chicago made the playoffs last season, falling to Miami in the second round, and has a nice collection of young talent. And now they’ve added the defensive muscle of Ben Wallace to the mix.
Another Central Division team, the Cleveland Cavaliers, follow the Bulls on the Bet365.com championship board at +1900. Cleveland is trying to follow the pattern of many past champions by making progress each season. First, a winning record. Then, making the playoffs. Then, winning a playoff series or two. Then, winning a conference title. The Cavs’ showing vs. Detroit in the playoffs last year seems to indicate this team is following that plan.
Following the Cavaliers on the championship board at Bet365.com are the Houston Rockets at +2100; the Denver Nuggets at +2300; the Los Angeles Clippers at +2600; the Sacramento Kings at +2900; the Indiana Pacers at +3100; the Memphis Grizzlies and the Los Angeles Lakers at +3400; and the Boston Celtics and Washington Wizards at +5100.
The 2006-07 NBA regular season kicks off on Halloween with a TNT doubleheader; the Chicago Bulls visit the champs in Miami, and the Phoenix Suns take on the Lakers in L.A.