The long four-month way is over. The NBA returns on Tuesday, with season openers featuring the Houston Rockets against the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder and the nightcap showing the Golden State Warriors and the Los Angeles Lakers.
One of the fun things NBA gamblers enjoy doing is placing over/under bets on wins totals for teams during the 82-game regular season. Here's the latest on those numbers, courtesy of Fanduel.com
Atlanta Hawks — 47.5
Boston Celtics — 41.5
Brooklyn Nets — 19.5
Charlotte Hornets — 27.5
Chicago Bulls — 33.5
Cleveland Cavaliers — 56.5
Dallas Mavericks — 41.5
Denver Nuggets — 53.5
Detroit Pistons — 46.5
Golden State Warriors — 47.5
Houston Rockets — 52.5
Indiana Pacers — 36.5
Los Angeles Clippers — 49.5
Los Angeles Lakers — 46.5
Memphis Grizzlies — 39.5
Miami Heat — 37.5
Milwaukee Bucks — 43.5
Minnesota Timberwolves — 47.5
New Orleans Pelicans — 30.5
New York Knicks — 53.5
Oklahoma City Thunder — 62.5
Orlando Magic — 50.5
Philadelphia 76ers — 42.5
Phoenix Suns — 30.5
Portland Trail Blazers —35.5
Sacramento Kings — 32.5
San Antonio Spurs — 44.5
Toronto Raptors — 39.5
Utah Jazz — 19.5
Washington Wizards — 20.5
One of the things I like to do every year is pick three teams to go over the total, and three to go under.
Here are my picks this year. Please give me your thoughts in the comments.
3 NBA teams over the total
1. San Antonio Spurs: I think 44.5 is way too low, even in the competitive Western Conference. Victor Wembanyama, if he stays healthy all year, is ready to join the MVP discussion and I like the team they've put around him. I won't be surprised if they threaten 50 wins.
2. Dallas Mavericks: I know the Mavericks have some injury concerns early in the season, especially with All-Star Kyrie Irving still out after last season's ACL injury. But they got lucky enough to get the first overall pick in the draft after going 39-43 a year ago, taking legend in the making Cooper Flagg. He's the real deal, folks, and Anthony Davis will have some big games early. D'Angelo Russell is a suitable place-holder for Irving, and they'll be fun to watch. Going over 41.5 is going to happen
3. Philadelphia 76ers: This might be a bit of a reach, but I just don't think they can be this bad two years in a row. The injury-prone Sixers went 24-58 last year, but this roster led by Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey can do some damage in an Eastern Conference that's filled with a ton of terrible teams. I think they can go over 42.5.
Other teams I considered: Miami Heat over 37.5, Milwaukee Bucks 43.5, Los Angeles Lakers 46.5.
3 NBA teams under the total
1. Memphis Grizzlies: Part of what makes me pick the Grizzlies to go under their 39.5 totals is that the West is loaded and they may not have the depth to keep up. Starting center Zach Edey is out for two months, and Ja Morant, Scottie Pippen Jr. and Ty Jerome have all been dealing with health issues. I can see this team struggling.
2. Chicago Bulls: This was will be close, but the Bulls traded away a lot of firepower and now they're dealing with a ton of injuries. The number is just 33.5, but this could be a long season in Chicago.
3. Oklahoma City Thunder: The defending champs on my list? Yeah, I love this team by 62.5 wins is just too high. I learned my lesson during this baseball season when I thought the Los Angeles Dodgers could win more than 105 games. Didn't come close. I seem them more in the 58-60 range, because they'll lose some on the road out west.
Tom Brew is the National Editor-in-Chief at Roundtable Sports. You can follow him in Twitter (X) @tombrewsports
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