We are about nine games into the NBA regular season, so it’s obviously the perfect time to put up our Western Conference preview. I promise these are the original predictions. Look for semi-regular installments where BDL’s gambling guru checks in on our wagers.
Remember, the line is how many games Vegas thought these teams could win during the regular season, such that an equal number of people bet on the Over (more wins) or Under (less wins). The lines aren't perfect, that's for sure (see: Suns, Nuggets).
Our gambling guru, Juice, put real money down on the bets with $$$ beside them.
Phoenix Suns
Line: 20 ½
Chuck: Under
Juice: Under $$$
Chuck
Says: Any team that starts Miles Plumlee
is headed straight for a top 3 pick.
Eric Bledsoe is legit though.
Utah Jazz
Line: 25 ½
Chuck: Under
Juice: Push (24-27 wins) (Editor’s Note: Choosing a Push is still a cop out.)
Juice Says: Ouch, I'm guessing they don't full on
tank, but I don't feel good.
Sacramento
Kings
Line: 31 ½
Chuck: Over
Juice: Under
Chuck
Says: I love Boogie Cousins. I suspect he will surprise some people. Plus, I’m a huge fan of Ben McLemore.
Los Angeles
Lakers
Line: 36 ½
Chuck: Over
Juice: Over
Juice Says: 16 wins against the East, plus 9 wins in division =
25, meaning 14-22 against the rest of the west. Over, but I don't feel good. Then again, Kobe will probably rush his
return and start dropping 30 points a game.
Portland
Trailblazers
Line: 38 ½
Chuck: Over
Juice: Over $$$
Chuck
Says: LaMarcus Aldridge plus Nicolas
Batum equals many wins. Also, this line
just seems a little low.
New Orleans
Pelicans
Line: 39 ½
Chuck: Under
Juice: Under
Juice Says: Stay away for me. Very young, lots of
potential, but a rough schedule and very green team.
Minnesota
Timberwolves
Line: 41 ½
Chuck: Over
Juice: Over $$$
Chuck
Says: Kevin Love needs to make the
playoffs and they get to play a ton of games against the Nuggets and Jazz who I
think will be pretty bad. I am very
excited to see what Ricky Rubio can do this year.
Dallas
Mavericks
Line: 43 ½
Chuck: Over
Juice: Under
Juice Says: I love Dirk, but I think this may be the
year to sell his stock. Look at their division! (I'd rather run backwards
through a cornfield than face that).
Denver Nuggets
Line: 45 ½
Chuck: Under
Juice: Under
Chuck
Says: No Iggy, no George Karl and way
too much Javale McGee. Ty Lawson is one
of my favorite Tar Heels of all time, but I’m not sure he’s ready to be the
leader of a playoff team.
Memphis
Grizzlies
Line: 50 ½
Chuck: Over
Juice: Push (49-52 wins)
Juice Says: The rich man's Pistons. But they are stuck
in the group of death. I like them, but can I get a shooter to slow down double
teams?!
Golden State
Warriors
Line: 50 ½
Chuck: Under
Juice: Under
Chuck
Says: I am not a fan of the Iguodala
trade. The Dubs played so well in the
playoffs with Harrison Barnes as a stretch-4.
This is also a bet against Steph Curry staying healthy all season. I feel pretty good about this one.
Oklahoma City
Thunder
Line: 52 ½
Chuck: Over
Juice: Over $$$
Juice Says: Will have to play for seeding till the
end, especially if Westbrook's leg slows them early, very soft March/April
schedule.
Houston Rockets
Line: 54 ½
Chuck: Under
Juice: Push (53-55 wins)
Chuck
Says: Mark me down as someone who is not
a believer in Dwight Howard. He is not
the guy who will anchor the middle of a championship team. Just doesn’t have the heart. I’m also very skeptical of their point guard
situation.
San Antonio
Spurs
Line: 55 ½
Chuck: Over
Juice: Over
Juice Says: They play
in the division from hell. The new
guard is really starting to fill in for the old…so much for the dynasty being
over in 2010.
Los Angeles
Clippers
Line: 56 ½
Chuck: Over
Juice: Under
Juice Says: Oh, they are going to score, but their defense might be really bad. Can Doc work his magic?
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