NBA Eastern Conference Odds & Expert Pick for 2017 Regular Season

NBA Eastern Conference Odds & Expert Pick for 2017 Regular Season

Written by on October 17, 2017

NBA Betting News
Hip, hip hooray! Sure, that joyous expression might not be one you hear very often in today’s technologically advanced times, but if you’re an NBA basketball fan and betting enthusiast, then you’re probably jumping for joy with the start of the 2017-18 regular season at hand. Better yet, if you’re looking to find out just which teams manage the best NBA Eastern Conference odds to upset the Cleveland Cavaliers – and more specifically – LeBron James – this coming season to end James’ incredible run of reaching the NBA Finals in each of the last seven seasons, then you’re in luck. Thanks to the latest NBA Odds and the expert basketball betting analysis that you’re about to get, you’re going to have a great idea of just which teams could potentially beat out the Cavs to represent the Eastern Conference in the 2017-18 NBA Finals. Just know, that this list of legitimate contenders isn’t very long, as sad as that may be.

NBA Eastern Conference Odds & Expert Pick for 2017 Regular Season

Cleveland Lead NBA Odds Against Boston in Opening Week

Cleveland Cavaliers

  • NBA Eastern Conference Odds: 2/3
  • Last season record: 51-31
  • Key addition: Dwyane Wade
The Cavs may have traded 25-year-old all-star point guard Kyrie Irving, but they may have also gotten better by adding former league MVP floor leader Derrick Rose and Boston Celtics scoring machine Isaiah Thomas. Though he won’t be ready to suit up until January reports say. The Cavs added LeBron James ‘homeboy’ and future Hall of Famer Dwyane Wade and former Celtics two-way forward Jae Crowder. Throw in a veteran forward in Jeff Green, a talented young center in Ante Zcic and a first-round pick in next year’s draft and it’s easy to see why everyone believe Cleveland actually got better this offseason.

Boston Celtics

  • NBA Eastern Conference Odds: 5/3
  • Last season record: 53-29
  • Key addition: Kyrie Irving
The Celtics made some big-time moves in the offseason, first by acquiring former Utah Jazz all-star small forward Gordon Hayward and then making another big splash by acquiring Irving from the Cavs. Boston also brought in veteran forward Marcus Morris and drafted ‘scoring machine forward Jayson Tatum third overall to go along with 2017 No. 3 pick Jaylen Brown. Still, Boston has just four players returning from last season’s roster in Marcus Smart, Terry Rozier, Brown and Al Horford and lost two-way performers, Jae Crowder and Avery Bradley. The C’s could be better, but they’ll likely need time to find their new identity this season and I think they’re going to miss Bradley and Crowder more than they realize.

Milwaukee Bucks

  • NBA Eastern Conference Odds: 16/1
  • Last season record: 42-40
  • Key addition: Roy Hibbert
The Bucks have a blossoming league MVP kind of talent in Giannis Antetokounmpo and a ton of other talented players in Malcolm Brogdon, Thon Maker, Khris Middleton and the oft-injured, but gifted Jabari Parker. The Bucks have a very good player that will come off the bench in center Greg Monroe and a head coach that knows what he’s doing in Jason Kidd. No doubt, Milwaukee should at least challenge for a spot in the conference finals.

Washington Wizards

  • NBA Eastern Conference Odds: 16/1
  • Last season record: 49-33
  • Key addition: Brandon Jennings
Point guard John Wall and backcourt mate Bradley Beal both averaged an identical 23.1 points per game and Wall, in particular, looks like he could challenge for the league MVP this season. I love small forward Otto Porter, feisty forward Markieff Morris and veteran big man Marcin Gortat. The NBA Eastern Conference Odds are not very good for the Wizards. I also like Washington’s offseason additions of sweet-shooting guard Jodie Meeks and veteran forward Mike Scott, not to mention veteran point guard Brandon Jennings. At the bottom, I really like Washington heading into the new season and believe they could reach the conference finals after coming up just one game short a year ago.

Philadelphia 76ers

  • NBA Eastern Conference Odds: 25/1
  • Last season record: 28-54
  • Key addition: Markelle Fultz
The Sixers have back-to-back No. 1 overall draft picks on their roster in Ben Simmons and Markelle Fultz, not to mention a seriously gifted big man in center Joel Embiid. Philadelphia added veteran sniper J.J. Redick in free agency and have a couple of other very good players in Dario Saric and center Jahlil Okafor. Philly has a ton of talent, but they’re really young and at least a couple of years away from challenging for anything significant.

Toronto Raptors

  • NBA Eastern Conference Odds: 25/1
  • Last season record: 51-31
  • Key addition: Davion Berry
Sure, the Toronto Raptors still have a pair of all-star guards in Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan and some very good players in veteran forward Serge Ibaka, CJ Miles, and Norman Powell, but I just get the sense that this is a team that has missed its window of opportunity the last couple of seasons. The Raptors will challenge in a watered-down Eastern Conference, but I don’t see it happening.

The Rest

  • Miami Heat: 33/1
  • Detroit Pistons: 66/1
  • Indiana Pacers: 66/1
  • New York Knicks: 80/1
  • Charlotte Hornets: 100/1
  • Atlanta Hawks: 250/1
  • Brooklyn Nets: 250/1
  • Chicago Bulls: 250/1
  • Orlando Magic: 250/1

Expert Final Pick

Look, it’s a bit sickening, but the fact of the matter is that barring a season-ending injury to LeBron James, the Cleveland Cavaliers are a virtual lock to get past whoever meets them in the Eastern Conference Finals, whether it’s Washington, Boston or Milwaukee, which are the three most likely candidates. The Cavs have the edge in experience, plus they’ve got a monster superstar in LeBron James, plus a handful of other all-star caliber players in Kevin Love, Isaiah Thomas, D-Wade and even Derrick Rose. I like John Wall and the feisty Washington Wizards to reach the conference finals, before ultimately falling to the Cavs! Pick: Cleveland Cavaliers