Are injuries all that can stop Cavaliers?
There's a lot to like about Cleveland's chances to win it all this year. But there's not a lot to like about the payday with the Cavaliers the overwhelming -150 favorite to win the Eastern Conference. Could injuries prevent LeBron James and his supporting cast from reaching the NBA Finals? The same can be said for the Lakers in the West at -150. Orlando and Dallas look to upset the chalk eaters, and the LeBron-Kobe Bryant matchup.
With a little over a month left on the schedule, now’s a good time to look in on NBA conference and title futures value.
The Cavaliers (52-15 SU, 33-33-1 ATS) are the class of the Eastern Conference, and are priced at -150 to win it outright. There isn’t much of a payday in betting Cleveland, which is 9-1 SU (5-5 ATS) since a three-game losing streak coming out of the All-Star break.
If there’s a chink in the Cavs’ armor – and there needs to be to bet any other team – it’s injuries.
Antawn Jamison had 15 points and 12 rebounds in Cleveland’s win against Boston on Sunday, but he’s playing with a cyst in his left knee, while Shaquille O’Neal is out until at least the playoffs after having surgery on a sprained right thumb.
Even if Shaq comes back healthy, it’ll take some time for the Cavaliers to integrate him back into the lineup. The same goes for Zydrunas Ilgauskas, who was temporarily exiled to make room for Jamison.
The value in the East lies with the Magic (47-21 SU, 36-31-1 ATS). Orlando had an eight-game SU win streak (6-2 ATS) snapped on Sunday, but it’s the only team that can realistically stop Cleveland from getting to the Finals. Oddsmakers have the Magic at +300 to win the East.
Orlando is 21-6 SU (16-11 ATS) since falling 98-92 at Los Angeles (-6) on January 18 – the last time it lost two in a row.
The Cavs lead the season series with the Magic 2-1 (2-1 ATS), but Orlando did get the best of Cleveland in the East Finals last season. Can Shaq and Jamison make enough of a difference this time around?
Listed at +600 to win the East, the Celtics (41-24 SU, 25-38-2 ATS) aren’t worth a look, even at their current tag. Boston’s four-game winning streak (3-1 ATS) last week was fool’s gold given that it came against Washington, Philadelphia, Charlotte, and Detroit.
In the Western Conference, the public likes the Lakers (48-18 SU, 28-35-3 ATS) to win for the third consecutive year. Like Cleveland, L.A. is on the board at -150, but isn’t as sure a futures play as the league’s best team in the standings.
The Lakers’ self-identified struggle to find urgency and intensity on a nightly basis has cost them this season, although they did bring a good effort to the floor in their 102-96 win as 2-point chalk at Phoenix on Friday night.
Los Angeles is either disinterested with the regular season or has serious issues. I’d say the truth lies somewhere in between. The Lakers are still capable, but they have more to overcome this season: Kobe Bryant isn’t at 100%, Derek Fisher is clearly over the hill, and the bench is struggling.
After going to the Finals in each of the past two seasons, L.A. could be running out of gas. If you’re thinking along those lines and you’d like a bigger return, both the Nuggets (45-21 SU, 31-30-5 ATS, +500 to win the West) and Mavericks (45-22 SU, 28-38-1 ATS, +600) are viable options.
Dallas is a smarter play here, even if Denver appeared to be on the cusp of getting to the Finals last season. The Mavs are 13-2 SU (7-7-1 ATS) since acquiring Caron Butler and Brendan Haywood, and are deeper than when they went to the Finals four years ago.
Picking the team to win the championship is about capping the Cavs and Lakers. Cleveland (+180) is slightly ahead of Los Angeles (+200) in bettors’ eyes, and that’s the smart call.
The Cavaliers have beaten the Lakers twice this season, and should have homecourt should the teams meet in what would be the most public Finals since Michael Jordan’s Bulls clashed with Magic Johnson’s Lakers in 1991.
L.A. has to improve on the road to make it a viable play in place of the favorites. The Lakers had the best road record in the league last season, but it was 18-13 SU (13-18 ATS) away from Staples Center heading into Monday’s game at Golden State.
If the Finals were held today, you’d have to side with LeBron James and Cleveland based solely on Los Angeles’ relative road struggles.
Looking past the Cavaliers and Lakers, the Nuggets, Magic, Mavericks (all at +1200), and Celtics (+1400) are sensible – if risky – wagers.
There's a lot to like about Cleveland's chances to win it all this year. But there's not a lot to like about the payday with the Cavaliers the overwhelming -150 favorite to win the Eastern Conference. Could injuries prevent LeBron James and his supporting cast from reaching the NBA Finals? The same can be said for the Lakers in the West at -150. Orlando and Dallas look to upset the chalk eaters, and the LeBron-Kobe Bryant matchup.
With a little over a month left on the schedule, now’s a good time to look in on NBA conference and title futures value.
The Cavaliers (52-15 SU, 33-33-1 ATS) are the class of the Eastern Conference, and are priced at -150 to win it outright. There isn’t much of a payday in betting Cleveland, which is 9-1 SU (5-5 ATS) since a three-game losing streak coming out of the All-Star break.
If there’s a chink in the Cavs’ armor – and there needs to be to bet any other team – it’s injuries.
Antawn Jamison had 15 points and 12 rebounds in Cleveland’s win against Boston on Sunday, but he’s playing with a cyst in his left knee, while Shaquille O’Neal is out until at least the playoffs after having surgery on a sprained right thumb.
Even if Shaq comes back healthy, it’ll take some time for the Cavaliers to integrate him back into the lineup. The same goes for Zydrunas Ilgauskas, who was temporarily exiled to make room for Jamison.
The value in the East lies with the Magic (47-21 SU, 36-31-1 ATS). Orlando had an eight-game SU win streak (6-2 ATS) snapped on Sunday, but it’s the only team that can realistically stop Cleveland from getting to the Finals. Oddsmakers have the Magic at +300 to win the East.
Orlando is 21-6 SU (16-11 ATS) since falling 98-92 at Los Angeles (-6) on January 18 – the last time it lost two in a row.
The Cavs lead the season series with the Magic 2-1 (2-1 ATS), but Orlando did get the best of Cleveland in the East Finals last season. Can Shaq and Jamison make enough of a difference this time around?
Listed at +600 to win the East, the Celtics (41-24 SU, 25-38-2 ATS) aren’t worth a look, even at their current tag. Boston’s four-game winning streak (3-1 ATS) last week was fool’s gold given that it came against Washington, Philadelphia, Charlotte, and Detroit.
In the Western Conference, the public likes the Lakers (48-18 SU, 28-35-3 ATS) to win for the third consecutive year. Like Cleveland, L.A. is on the board at -150, but isn’t as sure a futures play as the league’s best team in the standings.
The Lakers’ self-identified struggle to find urgency and intensity on a nightly basis has cost them this season, although they did bring a good effort to the floor in their 102-96 win as 2-point chalk at Phoenix on Friday night.
Los Angeles is either disinterested with the regular season or has serious issues. I’d say the truth lies somewhere in between. The Lakers are still capable, but they have more to overcome this season: Kobe Bryant isn’t at 100%, Derek Fisher is clearly over the hill, and the bench is struggling.
After going to the Finals in each of the past two seasons, L.A. could be running out of gas. If you’re thinking along those lines and you’d like a bigger return, both the Nuggets (45-21 SU, 31-30-5 ATS, +500 to win the West) and Mavericks (45-22 SU, 28-38-1 ATS, +600) are viable options.
Dallas is a smarter play here, even if Denver appeared to be on the cusp of getting to the Finals last season. The Mavs are 13-2 SU (7-7-1 ATS) since acquiring Caron Butler and Brendan Haywood, and are deeper than when they went to the Finals four years ago.
Picking the team to win the championship is about capping the Cavs and Lakers. Cleveland (+180) is slightly ahead of Los Angeles (+200) in bettors’ eyes, and that’s the smart call.
The Cavaliers have beaten the Lakers twice this season, and should have homecourt should the teams meet in what would be the most public Finals since Michael Jordan’s Bulls clashed with Magic Johnson’s Lakers in 1991.
L.A. has to improve on the road to make it a viable play in place of the favorites. The Lakers had the best road record in the league last season, but it was 18-13 SU (13-18 ATS) away from Staples Center heading into Monday’s game at Golden State.
If the Finals were held today, you’d have to side with LeBron James and Cleveland based solely on Los Angeles’ relative road struggles.
Looking past the Cavaliers and Lakers, the Nuggets, Magic, Mavericks (all at +1200), and Celtics (+1400) are sensible – if risky – wagers.