The Miami Heat are early favorites in next year's NBA futures odds for the championship, but will LeBrom and crew rise to the occasion or choke again in their quest for the ring they so desire.
I
f you’re an NBA fan of the “glass half full”
mentality then you’re not worried about things like collective bargaining
agreements lockouts or hard vs. soft salary caps. You aren’t concerned with
guaranteed contracts or NBA draft slots.
What gets your motor running is the thought of seeing LeBron clutching for
air in the fourth quarter of a close game. You want to hear about NBA trades and
free-agent signings not a sound bite from the latest Owners vs. Players
meeting. Since the final horn sounded in Game 6 of the finals you’ve been ready
to get you’re your bets down on the upcoming 2011-2012 futures.
First, the public still loves the Miami Heat. Maybe they
don’t necessarily care for LeBron and likely never will, but as a team Miami
has drawn most of the early money from NBA bettors. Personally I think it’s too early to be
spending any of my bankroll on a
wager that can be affected by things like the draft or free agent signings or
work stoppages. But perhaps you’re from the school of thought that this is the
right time to get your NBA betting money down.
Keep in mind that “Prices may vary” at different books
that are currently offering NBA odds. With our disclaimer in place, here’s a
closer look at the current numbers
and the Top 5 betting odds favorites for the upcoming season that we trust will get
started on time.
Miami
Heat (+225).
Good, bad or indifferent, no matter your feelings
about this money grubbing team, you must admit that thanks to their ongoing
soap opera and the national loathing for LeBron James people followed them.
Personally, I hope James never sniffs a ring and professionally I don’t think
he will. He not only brought his game to South Beach but with it enough bad
karma to last a lifetime. As the Heat discovered in the NBA finals, a full
house beats three of a kind. The West is still best until proven otherwise.
Los
Angeles Lakers (+685).
The LA Lakers are another team high on drama. They’ll be
itching to make amends for their earlier than expected departure from the NBA
playoffs and they could do it with a revamped roster. Pau Gasol could be in
Minnesota, the Lakers could have a new point guard and Kevin Love, or both. However it shakes out, the Lakers are
never boring. Mike Brown welcome to Hollywood. I’d like you to meet Kobe Bryant.
Dallas
Mavericks (+825).
The Dallas Mavericks demonstrated what team play is all about.
They had experience, a deep bench and Dirk Nowitzki but it’s awfully hard to
repeat in the NBA.
Oklahoma
City Thunder (+825).
I’m one of the naysayers when it comes to the
Thunder. They made it to the Western Conference finals but as they showed in
that series, they weren’t ready for Prime Time. Maybe this year but how many
years have we asked that question?
Chicago
Bulls (+1015).
My beef with naming Derrick Rose the MVP is that the
media already had it decided two months before the end of the season. The
basketball beat writers messed this one up. It was Dirk not Derek who was the
most valuable player to his team last season and if you need further proof just
like at which team made it to the championship series. The Bulls are good but
aren’t even the third best team in the East. Rose needs some fresh faces around
him to take his team to the next level.
Final thought: Here’s hoping that NBA commissioner
David Stern along with the owners and players are aware of the record
television ratings and increased attendance the league enjoyed this season. If
so and if they have a modicum of business sense they’ll get a new collective
bargaining agreement done sooner than later and avoid a lockout.
It’s taken
them years to build interest in the sport following Michael Jordan’s departure.
They’ve captured the Golden Goose again but the fear is they’re going to shoot
it.