When it comes to a team winning the conference in the NBA, the best team usually comes out on top. For the past eight years, this trend has held true in the Eastern Conference – all eight teams were led by none other than LeBron James. While I still believe that the Cleveland Cavaliers will likely win the Eastern Conference this season, all it takes is an injury to James and the field becomes wide open for several teams. Vegas oddsmakers are also siding with James to make it to the NBA Finals for the ninth consecutive year, favoring the Cavaliers to win the Eastern Conference at -180 odds. However, let’s look at four sleeper bets to win the Eastern Conference. That means we’re looking at any team not named the Cavaliers or the Boston Celtics. Let’s see who actually might have (an outside) shot to pull it off.
Washington Wizards
The Washington Wizards possess a dynamic back court in John Wall and Bradley Beal. After finishing fourth in the Eastern Conference last season and getting bounced in the second round by the Celtics in a tightly contested series, the Wizards are in the right direction for another solid season. While they were toiling a bit under Randy Wittman, it looks like Scott Brooks is getting more out of this roster.
While they’ll likely need some good fortunes along the way, the Wizards proved last year that they’re capable of stepping up in the spotlight – especially Wall. The Wizards’ starting five last year remains intact but let’s hope for a much stronger performance from their bench players compared to last season. Wall and Beal are certainly capable of carrying the Wizards offensively and it’ll be interesting to see how far this team can go if they can get a couple of lucky bounces to go their way. And remember, it’s possible they make a move at the trade deadline. They’re one good starter away from being in a serious conversation. At +1400 to win the Eastern Conference, it’s not too bad of a bet.
Toronto Raptors
After finishing third in the Eastern Conference and losing to the Cavaliers in the second round, the Toronto Raptors have a knack for underperforming in the playoffs or making things seem harder than they should be. Additionally, their backcourt duo of Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan have a record of losing their consistencies in the playoffs. However, the Raptors’ two best players have been playing together for quite some time and they will definitely feel a sense of urgency to win now heading into the 2017-2018 season. With a load of playoff experience under their belt, the Raptors may be in a great position to take advantage of anything that goes drastically wrong for the Cavaliers. At +1800 to win the East, there’s surely value in this bet.
Milwaukee Bucks
The Eastern Conference’s lack of superstars may mean that aside from LeBron James, Giannis Antetokounmpo could emerge as the second-best player this upcoming season. The Greek Freak’s potential is frightening and at 22 years old, the sky’s the limit. The Bucks are a scrappy and long team, capable of disrupting any team’s offensive flow. Additionally, head coach Jason Kidd has shown that he’s able to push the right buttons and motivate his players. The Bucks are an up-and-rising young team but if luck (and a lot of it) ends up going their way this season, they could be a major surprise to win the East at +1800.
Charlotte Hornets
There are a number of other teams that you could throw in the conversation of longshot. The Detroit Pistons might be on the right track as they added some more young talent, including Avery Bradley. Some are hyping the Miami Heat but they don’t seem to have enough proven talent or All-Stars to get the job done. We’ll go with the Charlotte Hornets, admitting that it is a dart throw. After adding Malik Monk and Dwight Howard, the Hornets addressed two possible big needs. Many feel that Monk could be a star and the Hornets need an explosive option on the wing. As for Howard, he might solve their woes at center. While he’s not an All-Star any longer, he is steadier than what the Hornets had. This could work out well for them. Can they win the East? Maybe if other teams have injuries and if things really go their way, but they look like a team on the rise.
The 2017 NBA futures are out. It’s been a wild offseason already, but keep an eye on the betting lines as they move around at Diamond Sportsbook! Get the latest NBA betting lines right here.
