2009 Western Conference Predictions
October 21, 2009
If you plan on doing any NBA handicapping on your own this season then you are going to want to make sure you know all of the teams inside and out before the year begins. Of course if you want the best chance of beating the NBA spreads and making extra money with NBA betting, then you will do yourself a favor and get signed up for the NBA picks offered here by our experts. Steve Merril has hit 56% in pro basketball the last three years and Mike Lineback is at 55% dating back to 2002. Long term results from some documented champions.
The most important thing to realize about the Western Conference futures is that everyone is graded against the Los Angeles Lakers. The oddsmakers saying that the Thunder are +10000 to win isn’t saying that this team is bad, they’re just saying that they probably aren’t going to beat the Spurs or Lakers.
The West is a top-heavy Conference. Unlike the Eastern Conference, the West pretty much has three amazing teams, and then has 10 more teams that could make the playoffs or bust. Then they have the Kings and Grizzlies. Yeesh.
1. Los Angeles Lakers (-110 To Win Western Conference)
The Lakers were banking on Ron Artest being a potential distraction. It’s just that I’m not so sure if the locker room was ready for Lamar Odom to become a prima donna. Two of L.A’s top dogs are now eligible distractions, and the rest of the Western Conference has to hope that that the Lakers implode from the inside out. Honestly, that’s the only reason the Lakers would ever lose the Western Conference.
2. San Antonio Spurs (+450 To Win Western Conference)
I love the Spurs through and through, but Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobli’s health terrifies the betting crap out of me. The Spurs were decimated against the betting line at home, and I’m not sure if Richard Jefferson is the kick in the pants they need to get over the hump after going 17-23-1 ATS at home. But if Duncan is healthy, this is perhaps the only team that can hold a candle to the Lakers in terms of talent.
3. Denver Nuggets (+600 To Win Western Conference)
How did Chauncey Billups react to J.R. Smith’s playoff explosion and subsequent off-court issues? He flew to Las Vegas to mentor the youngster. The Nuggets smashed the betting line, going 45-36-1 ATS last season, and needed a real leader to unify the talent of Kenyon Martin, The Birdman, Nene, Smith and Carmelo Anthony. They’ve got it now, and if any team is going to play with a chip on its shoulder this year, it’s the team that narrowly lost to the Lakers in the Western Conference Championships.
4. New Orleans Hornets (+2500)
The most undersold trade in the offseason was Charlotte practically giving the Hornets center Emeka Okafor. Any team that has a definitive inside-outside presence at the point and center position has a chance to win, and the Hornets have the best point-guards (Chris Paul) with one of the best, young centers in the league. The rest of the team is a crapshoot, but I love their chances of being the outside shot this coming season.
5. Portland Trailblazers (+1000)
The Blazers’ main man is Brandon Roy, who is perhaps the best clutch shooter behind Dwyane Wade or Kobe Bryant. But this team still revolves around Greg Oden. Whenever Oden’s on the floor, the Blazers watch Oden as if he’s about to explode on the court. Instead, they watch him miss open field-goals and blow his defensive assignments. This guy has all the natural talent in the world, but unless he can realize it, the Blazers are stuck in Western Conference purgatory.
6. Utah Jazz (+1000)
There’s one thing I just don’t like about the Jazz – they don’t feel like a team. They play like one (i.e. they pass to each other), but the trade talk around Carlos Boozer, the weird treatment of Andrei Kirilenko and the lack of championships in Jerry Sloan’s cupboard make me seem that this team is missing an identity. Something’s really off about this team.
7. Houston Rockets (+1800)
They didn’t even try to keep Ron Artest, who was the unspoken leader of this team. Instead they let him saunter over to the rival Lakers and the Rockets signed Trevor Ariza, a guy who nobody thinks can take “the step”. That’s bad news for a team that will eventually lose Tracy McGrady, and replaced Yao Ming with…what do you mean they didn’t sign any credible centers?! No, Luis Scola can’t play center all season! He’s 6-foot-9!!! This isn’t high school basketball!!!
8. Oklahoma City Thunder (+10000)
Nobody thinks that the Thunder will upgrade from last year, where they went just 23-59 SU. But their betting investors know how good they are after they went 45-36-1 ATS. Kevin Durant is a top-5 player in the NBA (maybe top -3) and his supporting cast is only getting better. The West is a crapshoot with only three or four really good teams in the mix. You’re telling me that the Thunder aren’t that good when they have one of the best players in the entire league on their roster?
9. Dallas Mavericks (+1400)
On paper the Mavericks are pretty much exactly what they were last year, except with Shawn Marion. That says a lot about a team that only escaped the first round because the Spurs had two injured starters. Whenever a team’s biggest upgrade is a 6-foot-7 swingman who has averaged 15-7 his entire career and is playing for this fourth team in three years, you have to wonder why nobody bothered to hang on to him in the first place. That’s who the ringer for the Mavs is, and they weren’t that good to begin with.
10. Phoenix Suns (+4000)
The Suns were fortunate to retain the services of Steve Nash through 2010 in a rebuilding phase. Too bad their betting investors won’t be able to rely on them.
11. Los Angeles Clippers (+8000)
Outside of the Thunder, not starting roster looks more dangerous on paper as an underdog killer. Blake Griffin has rejuvenated and motivated Baron Davis, Marcus Camby and Chris Kaman. With Eric Gordon and Al Thornton getting better and Ricky Davis coming off the bench, the Clippers could be the biggest turnaround team in the league.
12. Minnesota Timberwolves (+10000)
Al Jefferson comes back, and Kevin Love breaks his hand. Great. Toss in the Ricky Rubio disaster, a rookie head coach and the overspending for Ramon Sessions and you have a veritable disaster in the making.
13. Golden State Warriors (+10000)
Steven Jackson is supposed to be holding this team together as its captain. Instead he’s ripping it apart with his whining.
14. Memphis Grizzlies (+10000)
Rudy Gay is one of the most underappreciated talents in the league, a trend that’s likely to continue when they drafted a college kid second overall who is tagged as “needs to improve…everything”. That’s Hasheem Thabeet in a nutshell.
15. Sacramento Kings (+15000)
Does anything about this team excite anyone? They won 17-games last year, covered the spread lost to the spread 44 times.
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2009-10 NBA Predictions
October 5, 2009
We’re about a month out before the NBA Season officially starts, but already NBA fans should be lining up to lay money down on which team they believe will take home the 2009 – 2010 NBA Championship. If you are going to get in on the action, make sure you take a look at the $500 in FREE bonus money BetUS offers our readers.
The Los Angeles Lakers are a solid +225 favorite in the BetUS online sportsbook. Even though Lamar Odom is probably having fun with his new bride, Khloe Kardashian, the rest of the Lakers must be thinking hoops as a month really isn’t a long time and the rest of the NBA desperately tried to improve themselves during the off season.
How will things play out in 2009 – 2010? Let’s take a quick peak at some of the teams, with their NBA betting odds, which have a shot to win the NBA Championship.
Los Angeles Lakers +225 – - The Lakers are easily the best team, on paper, in the basketball championship. They are coming off of a championship, have the best player on the league in Kobe Bryant, resigned Lamar Odom, and added Ron Artest. It doesn’t get much better than that. If the Lakers show up to play, and there’s no reason that they won’t, the +225 on them might be a gift.
Then again, Artest may not be the role player that Trevor Ariza was in 2008 – 2009 and if Kobe got hurt, this team wouldn’t have a chance. But with the Black Mamba, Odom, Artest, Gasol and center Andrew Bynum all healthy, there’s just nobody really that can challenge this team.
Boston Celtics +400 – - Look what the Celtics did in the off season and suddenly things become clear. Boston is looking to get back to the top. Yes, Rasheed Wallace, their prized pick-up during the off season, has been in the league for a while, but when ‘Sheed is on, he’s about as good as any player at his position in the NBA. Not only that, but ‘Sheed, Rajon Rondo, Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett make up a who’s who of basketball defenders.
Expect this team to play in a lot of high 60 to low 70 games where they just frustrate their opponents into making terrible shots. I wouldn’t want to play the Celtics if I were any team in the NBA, that includes the Lakers, because the Celtics get you out of your game patiently. Boston “meditates” you into shooting bad shots. How do you beat that? You don’t. What an interesting contrast in styles it would be if the Lakers faced their arch nemesis in the NBA Championship this season!
Cleveland Cavaliers +300 – - I’m not sold on LeBron James. Yes, as a player I am sold on him. He can score, rebound, dish, defend and pretty much out play anyone on the court but as a leader I have my doubts. When it comes to go time and Shaquille O’Neal is trying to throw his weight around in the locker room or on the court, LeBron will either go into a corner or he will step up and tell Shaq that the Cavs are his team. Either way, neither egotistical giant will let the other one get away with it. Shaq is a pariah because he can’t play nice. I doubt he does it in Cleveland. We’ll see what happens, but at the odds, I’m much more inclined to put my basketball wagering money on the Lakers or Celtics. I’ll steer clear of this “experiment” until it proves to me that it will work.
Orlando Magic +1000 – - The key with the Magic is Jameer Nelson is back and healthy and playing like he did before getting hurt last season. Vince Carter will help this team on the perimeter, but that’s not where they needed help. They need a guy to take charge and lead them and that was Nelson for most of the 2008 – 2009 season.
Dwight Howard cannot lead from the center position and Rashard Lewis prefers to be a background type player. That leaves Nelson to lead the charge. There’s no doubt that he could, but the Celtics got much better as well and Howard, as good as he is, will find the going more difficult in the center when facing up against Shaq and a healthy Kevin Garnett. A frustrated Howard will hurt this team big time. Beware putting money on this team to win the championship even though the basketball odds are pretty good on them.
San Antonio Spurs +1000 – - If the Spurs stay healthy then they have a legitimate shot to wear the NBA crown after the 2009 – 2010 Basketball Season. Yes, the Lakers are younger and deeper, but San Antonio starting five is one of the best, if not the best, in the NBA. At point guard is Tony Parker who is easily one of the top three dish men in the league. At the forward spots are Antonio McDyess and Richard Jefferson. Jefferson can take over a game offensively if need be or shut down the teams best scorer.
It depends on what you want out of the guy. At center is the venerable Tim Duncan. Roger Mason as shooting guard appears to be the only weak link but he’s backed up by Manu Ginobili who should be healthy and ready in 2009. Forget the talk that this team is over the hill. If they stay healthy, they will be a force in the Western Conference.
Miami Heat +4000 – - No shot, right? Big shot in my estimation! They have one of he top 3 players in the league in Dwayne Wade, an up and coming point guard in Mario Chalmers, and solid forwards in Udonis Haslem and James Jones. If center Jermaine O’Neal remembers that he’s a good player, then this team could go a long way.
Oh, yes, Michael Beasley has returned from rehab and will be looking to become the player that everyone envisioned him as being when he came out of college. If that happens, then look out. Beasley is a good player when his head is right. Miami could be the team to watch and bet in the 2009 – 2010 Basketball Season.
Check back for more winning NBA predictions from our handicappers.
2009-10 Toronto Raptors Predictions
October 5, 2009
Toronto finished the 2008-09 season with a 33-49 record and 33-46-3 against the spread. Key Acquisitions: Hedo Turkoglu, DeMar DeRozan, Jarrett Jack. Key Losses: Shawn Marion, Anthony Parker, Joey Graham. Take a look at the $500 in FREE bonus money BetUS offers our readers and make sure you stop back every day for more free NBA picks from our writers!
The Raptors were a complete and utter failure last NBA betting season. A team that was projected to finish in playoff contention finished fourth in the Atlantic Division, despite some all-world play by Chris Bosh. Toronto fans are getting downright nasty about the Raptors with each failing season, and the potential to lose Chris Bosh is only escalating, despite the power-forward’s efforts to soothe worries through the media. One thing you can bank on for sure: if the Raptors fail to make the playoffs, Chris Bosh will be gone.
Strengths: The Raptors can shoot the ball like crazy, and the acquisition of Hedo Turkoglu only cements that. Even with the loss of Jason Kapono, the Raptors have six or seven guys that can really hit it from the perimeter. Andrea Bargnani is a homeless man’s Dirk Nowitzki, and if he’s going to be a star in this league, his breakout has to come this year. Bargnani averaged 15.4 points and 5.3 rebounds last year, and looks to benefit by the presence of Turkoglu.
With the arrival of Jarrett Jack, the Raptors also have a reasonable backup guard for Jose Calderon. While leading the league in assist-to-turnover ratio, Calderon has his limitations in speed, which affects his defensive capabilities.
Weaknesses: Toronto has never been a tough team, and with Vince Carter as the best player in franchise history, you can see why. Chris Bosh is supposed to be the second coming of Garnett, but he lacks the physicality and strength to battle down low. Turk is a clutch shooter and an absolute gamer, and a lot of noise is being made about Reggie Evans, but if these are the two toughest guys on the team, then you’re in real trouble. I mean, who the hell is scared of Reggie Evans?
X-Factor: Team chemistry is going to be the biggest concern. Losing role players like Anthony Parker will allow guys like Andrea Belinelli to get more playing time. Scoring was always an issue for these guys because they lacked a dynamic threat. Hopefully they have that in DeMar DeRozan, the rookie they drafted from USC.
Betting Prescription: Patience. Last year, the betting world was in a frenzy over Toronto. This year, not so much. This is a team that went 16-23-2 ATS in their own building, and didn’t fair that much better at home. The oddsmakers had their sights on them properly, as the Raptors were just 18-31-3 ATS as underdogs. Be patient until the Raptors can prove they are worthy of the risk. Right now, they aren’t. There are simply too many questions.
2009-10 Outlook: Toronto is getting no love from the oddsmakers in the Eastern Conference as +6000 dogs to survive all the way to Eastern Conference Championship. That’s about right. This is a team that has serious question marks on defense, and is banking on a brand new team around a budding star in Chris Bosh.
It will take time for this team to get in sync, and until then, they’re no better than the 7th best team in the Eastern Conference. Even that’s a stretch. Boston, Cleveland, Orlando, Atlanta, Washington and Chicago are all better than the Raptors, so it will be up to Toronto to see if they can hold a candle in the frozen tundra to the upper echelon.
NBA Predictions: 3rd Atlantic Division, 7th in the Eastern Conference