Warriors top NBA season win totals at Westgate LV, Lakers near bottom again

Barely three months have passed since the Golden State Warriors beat the Cleveland Cavaliers in six games to win their first NBA title in 40 years. But it's already time to look ahead to the 2015-16 season as Westgate Las Vegas on Tuesday released its NBA regular-season win totals.

The Warriors, who return virtually their entire championship roster, top the list at 60.5 wins after finishing 67-15 last season.

"With what they did with their run, it seemed like a natural starting point at 60 wins," Westgate race and sports book assistant manager Jeff Sherman said. "I'm sure they'll get some support on the over and the type of action we get on these, we find some people bet under on the high numbers, too."

Teams from the deeper, superior Western Conference own six of the top seven win totals, with the San Antonio Spurs at 58.5, the Oklahoma City Thunder at 57.5, the Los Angeles Clippers and defending Eastern Conference champion Cleveland Cavaliers at 56.5 apiece, the Houston Rockets at 54.5 and the Memphis Grizzlies at 50.5.

"It's pretty familiar with what we've seen the last couple of years," Sherman said. "The wins added up to a lot more in the West than they did in the East."

The Spurs' longtime trio of Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobli might be a year older, but San Antonio has improved on paper with the additions of former Portland Trail Blazers star LaMarcus Aldridge and Indiana Pacers veteran David West.

"The last few years, their numbers have been in the mid-50s. A lot of the time they got under support and got just over the number. Last year, they got over support and went just under the number," Sherman said. "With what they've done, we've seen a slight increase than the past few years. They'll have a deeper bench."

Former NBA Most Valuable Player Kevin Durant will return from injury to team with Russell Westbrook and new coach Billy Donovan in Oklahoma City and the Clippers added veteran Paul Pierce and Lance Stephenson to their core, which still includes DeAndre Jordan after he spurned the Dallas Mavericks in free agency.

The Cavs are the 2-1 favorites to win the NBA title in the second year of LeBron James' second stint with his hometown team, but their win total isn't as high as it would've been without injuries.

"We had to lower it a bit just because Kyrie Irving is out until January, (Kevin) Love is coming back from his (shoulder) injury and they just lost Iman Shumpert (to wrist surgery) for 12 to 14 weeks (Tuesday)," Sherman said. "But I don't expect them to start the season like last year (when they opened 19-20). Being year two, I expect more chemistry and continuity with the team."

The Los Angeles Lakers, coming off their worst season (21-61) in franchise history, are once again expected to be among the league's worst teams. Their win total of 29.5 is higher than only five other teams (New Jersey Nets, 28.5; Denver Nuggets/Portland Trail Blazers, 26.5; Minnesota Timberwolves, 25.5; Philadelphia 76ers, 21.5).

"I'm a Lakers fan, so it pains me to put these low numbers up every year," Sherman said.

Kobe Bryant, 37, returns for what could very well be the final season of his illustrious career after missing most of the last three seasons with injuries. He'll be joined by rookie point guard D'Angelo Russell, second-year pros Jordan Clarkson and Julius Randle — who missed virtually his entire rookie season — and veteran newcomers Roy Hibbert, Brandon Bass and Lou Williams.

"What we've seen out of Kobe the last three years is he's broken down at some point. Even if he doesn't break down, he'll be on a minutes restriction and will be sitting out back-to-backs," Sherman said. "Mix that in with a lot of youth and they'll take a lot of bumps and bruises in the Western Conference. There's something to look forward to down the road, but it's not gonna happen this year."

The Blazers' win total changed the most from last season, down 22 after they lost four starters from a 51-win squad in Aldridge, Wesley Matthews, Nicolas Batum and Robin Lopez.

"They lost so much and really haven't replaced them with comparable players," Sherman said. "They're really taking a step backward. It's Damian Lillard and fill-ins against the Western Conference. It will be tough going for that team."

Westgate also will book the NBA preseason, which starts Friday.