Celtics might win more games, but Cavaliers still own NBA East
Despite adding All-Stars Kyrie Irving and Gordon Hayward this offseason, the Celtics remain the second choice to win the Eastern Conference behind the Cavaliers.
But Las Vegas oddsmakers expect Boston to finish with more wins than Cleveland for the second straight season. The Westgate sports book recently posted their NBA 2017-18 season win totals and the Celtics opened with the second-highest total (56.5) behind the defending champion Golden State Warriors (67.5).
Early under money on Boston, which went 53-29 last season, quickly dropped its total to 54.5. That’s still more than the Cavaliers (53.5), who finished 51-31 last season before beating the Celtics in the playoffs en route to their third consecutive NBA Finals.
“It was evident last year that Cleveland didn’t care about getting the No. 1 seed, just playing in the playoffs,” Westgate sports book manager Jeff Sherman said. “Boston will try to do what they can to secure that No. 1 spot again but I don’t think it means as much to Cleveland.”
The Cavaliers acquired Isaiah Thomas, Jae Crowder, Ante Zizic and the Brooklyn Nets’ 2018 first-round draft pick for Irving. But Thomas is expected to be out with a hip injury until around the All-Star break.
Cleveland is a minus-160 favorite to win the East and Boston is 2-1. The Warriors are minus-220 favorites to repeat as NBA champs, the Cavs are 4-1, the Celtics 10-1 and the Houston Rockets and San Antonio Spurs each 14-1.
NBA risers
The Timberwolves are projected to make the biggest improvement this season. Minnesota, which added veterans Jimmy Butler and Jeff Teague to a roster featuring young stars Karl Anthony-Towns and Andrew Wiggins, has a win total of 48.5 after finishing 31-51 last season.
“Outside of Golden State in the West, they should be very competitive,” Sherman said.
The 76ers are expected to make the second-biggest jump with a win total of 41.5 after finishing 28-54 last season. Philadelphia will feature the past two No. 1 overall draft picks in Markelle Fultz and Ben Simmons and former No. 3 overall pick Joel Embiid.
“If their health is there, this seems to be the year that they’ll have the talent on the court, especially in the weaker Eastern Conference, to make a big jump,” Sherman said.
NBA fallers
The Bulls are projected to fall the furthest. After losing Butler and Rajon Rondo, and with Dwyane Wade also likely to leave, Chicago has the league’s lowest win total (22) after going 41-41 last season.
“Their veteran guys are gone and the youngsters they’re putting out there aren’t guys with superstar potential,” Sherman said. “They’re really going to be hurting.”
The Atlanta Hawks, after losing Paul Millsap, have a win total of 25.5 after going 43-39 last season. The Utah Jazz, after losing Hayward, are at 40.5 after going 51-31 and the Indiana Pacers, after losing Paul George, are at 31.5 after going 42-40.
Perfect Pats?
Will the Patriots go 16-0 on the 10-year anniversary of their perfect regular season? Yes is 10-1 at Station Casinos, which also has posted odds on when New England will suffer its first loss.
Week 1 vs. Kansas City is 7-2; Week 2 at New Orleans is 15-4; Week 3 vs. Houston is 11-2; Week 4 vs. Carolina is 6-1 and Week 5 at Tampa Bay is 13-2. The odds climb to 12-1 or higher for each game after that, including 12-1 vs. Atlanta in Week 7; 12-1 at Denver in Week 10; 12-1 against Oakland in Mexico City in Week 11 and 20-1 at Pittsburgh in Week 15.
William Hill has a prop, “Will any NFL team go 19-0?” Yes is 7-1.
Contact reporter Todd Dewey at tdewey@reviewjournal.com. Follow @tdewey33 on Twitter.
