All eyes are on the new "Big Three" in South Beach as the
Heat are set on an NBA championship as we take a look at the NBA futures betting odds. Team President Pat Riley worked over the offseason, hatching a plan to bring at least one more superstar to partner Dwyane Wade in Miami.
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Even Riley himself couldn't have fathomed the end result which brought both LeBron James (who even took a pay cut in the process) and Chris Bosh to South Beach.
Miami still had quite a few roster spots to fill, and
quickly signed one of the best pure shooters in the game in Mike Miller.
Zydraunas Ilgauskas and Eddie House also penned deals with the new-look Heat
while Udonis Haslem also decided to re-sign.
Still, it is the South Beach Trio that will have the NBA
betting world chomping at the bit. Chemistry obviously remains an issue, but
the three stars have played together before for Team USA and all have one goal
in mind: surpassing the Lakers as the league's best team.
Will that happen? We'll have to wait and see, but William Hill currently have the Heat as favorites to win both the East (-200 odds)
and the NBA title (+175).
The Eastern Conference has seemingly gotten stronger as a
whole. The vastly experienced Boston Celtics added both Shaq and Jermaine
O'Neal for frontcourt cover while incumbent starter Kendrick Perkins nurses a
knee injury.
With coach Doc Rivers as well as the elder "Big Three"
returning for another year, the Celtics will be right in the hunt once again.
Orlando will undoubtedly be in the mix as well having retained their entire
starting lineup from last season. The Magic compiled an impressive 59-23 record
(second-best in the NBA) before falling short in the playoffs.
Meanwhile, Chicago pried Carlos Boozer away from Utah to
give Derrick Rose a formidable threat down-low. The Bulls have a roster capable
of making some noise this coming season.
Yet the Conference is still the Heat's to lose. Provided
Wade, LeBron and Bosh can share the limelight as well as the rock, Miami should
have little problem winning 60 games at the minimum.
LeBron, who ever so famously shunned the entire city of
Cleveland, is priced on Bookmaker at +480 betting odds to claim the MVP
crown for his new team, behind both Kevin Durant (+237) and Kobe Bryant (+368).
Wade is at +909 odds to win the honor with teammate
Chris Bosh much more of a long shot at +4766.
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Regardless, when you have three players who are even
mentioned in the running for the league's most valuable player, you know you
have an absolutely dominant squad on your hands.
As the season draws close, much has been said about the lack
of depth in Miami, yet Pat Riley has done a phenomenal job in bringing in some
support for the South Beach Trio. Miller should get ample opportunities out on
the perimeter while Haslem, Ilgauskas and House are all veterans who can provide
productive minutes off the bench.
Naysayers aside, the Heat are in a prime position to begin
their own dynasty. But with high expectations comes high pressure, and we'll
just have to see if this star-studded lineup has what it takes to start this new chapter off in Miami on the
right foot.