NBA Win Total Plays & Title Prediction
The NBA schedule has been set and despite the fact that teams are playing just eight games before the playoffs start, the sportsbooks do have win totals for all 22 teams that will participate in NBA 2.0. In this article, I will give out a few win total plays for the rest of the season, and then I will take a look at the NBA Title odds and give who I feel will win it all. Let’s get to it.
Before I get to the NBA win totals, we must note that there are just eight games being played for each team for the rest of the season. It is odd but we are in odd times right now. Eventually, it will get back to normal… I hope.
Odds Are Courtesy Of MyBookie
Miami Heat Under 5 (-150)
The Miami Heat have had a very solid season this year but I do not see them going 6-2 the rest of the way. The reason is that the schedule is very tough. Miami will face Denver, Toronto, Boston, and Milwaukee in their first four games and then the have Indiana twice along with Oklahoma City in their last three games. The worst team of those seven is are the Indiana pacers who are 13 games over .500 for the year. Their lone slam dunk in their final eight games should be against the Phoenix Suns. Miami may not even go .500 over their final eight games.
Milwaukee Bucks Under 6 (-120)
The Milwaukee Bucks do not have to win many games to clinch the Eastern Conference. They have a 6.5 game lead over the Toronto Raptors, which means they have to win one, maybe two games at most to clinch. After that, the Bucks could very well rest their starters the rest of the way as they get ready for the postseason. The Bucks have a couple of slam dunks like Brooklyn, Memphis, and Washington but games against Miami, Boston, Houston, Indiana, and Dallas are all against teams that are at least 13 games over .500. The only way to lose this play is if the Bucks go 7-1 and against that schedule, I do not see that happening.
New Orleans Pelicans Over 3.5 (-140)
When looking at the schedule for the Pelicans, it looks as if the NBA wants to get Zion Williamson into the playoffs. They have tough games against Utah, the Clippers and Spurs, but the rest of their schedule includes games against the Kings twice, Memphis, Washington, and Orlando. Those last four teams are all under.500 for the year. New Orleans did win their final two games before the break and 11 of their last 18 so they were a team that was playing well. I will look for them to come out of the break and notch at least four wins against the soft schedule.
Philadelphia 76ers Under 4.5 (+120)
I know that all teams will be playing their games away from home but I feel that it could really hurt the Sixers in this format. During the regular season, the Sixers were 29-2 at home but just 10-24 away from home. They do have rather easy games against Orlando, Portland, Phoenix, and Washington, but they also have games against Indiana, San Antonio, Houston, and Toronto. We also note that Philly has lost games against Golden State, Cleveland, Atlanta, Brooklyn, Orlando, Phoenix, and Washington away from home. Four of those teams are not even apart of the restart. This team is beyond mortal away from home and I feel in an unfamiliar setting, they should struggle some. Philadelphia will notch no more than four wins the rest of the way.
Who Will Win It All?
Now let’s take a look who I feel will win it all. The top 5 odds are Los Angeles Lakers +185, Milwaukee Bucks +275, Los Angeles Clippers +300, Boston Celtics +1200, and Toronto Raptors +1400.
According to MyBookie, it will really come down to just three teams and I agree with that assessment. The Bucks had the best record in the NBA during the first part of the season and they will win the Eastern Conference this year. Still, I have to go with the Lakers here. LA has the 2nd best record in the league and Lebron is now fresh for the stretch run, plus the Lakers have signed JR Smith to add some depth to the team. We also can’t forget about Anthony Davis, who led the team in scoring at 26.7 ppg and rpg at 9.4. LA racked up their 49-14 record this year playing in the very tough Western Conference and that is more impressive than the 53-12 record the Bucks had playing in the weak East. Look for the Lakers to win it all this year. Prediction: Los Angeles Lakers +185.
