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November 2006
NBA betting is a lot like baseball betting; a player needs discipline and stamina to deal with the daily drain of a long and debilitating six-month season. And while considering factors that are unique to NBA betting such as the impact of travel, bettors also should never lose sight of the fact that it is talent, melded into a cohesive team concept, which wins most games.
Or as Damon Runyon once offered, "The race isn't always to the swift or the fight to the strong. But that's the way to bet."
Heeding that advice, let's evaluate the teams in the NBA's Eastern Conference.
Legend: SU = Straight Up; ATS = Against the Spread; O/U = Over/Under. (Because we don't expect you to stop NBA betting once the regular season ends, all records include post-season play.)
ATLANTIC DIVISION
New Jersey Nets: Jason Kidd, Vince Carter and a healthy Richard Jefferson give the Nets three all-star caliber players. Given the weakness of the division, New Jersey should finish with the second or third best record in the conference.
Last Season: SU: 54-39, ATS: 44-48-1, O/U: 42-50-1
Toronto Raptors: The Raptors have a real stud in Chris Bosh (22.5 PPG, 9.2 RPG) and hopes that the addition of speedy T.J. Ford at the point will open up the offense. But the defense was awful last season, allowing a league worst 49.1 percent accuracy by opponents. On the plus side, Toronto had the best ATS record in the league last season.
Last Season: SU: 27-55, ATS: 46-34-2, O/U: 43-39
Boston Celtics: Sebastian Telfair was brought in from Portland to transform the Celtics into a running team. Another newcomer, Theo Ratliff will be asked to rebound. Paul Pierce (26.8 PPG) will do the rest but like everyone else in this division not named the Nets, the playoffs are a longshot.
Last Season: SU: 33-49, ATS: 39-42-1, O/U: 41-37-4
Philadelphia 76ers: In the end, the Sixers decided not to move Allen Iverson (33.0 PPG), one of the most exciting players in the game. Chris Webber (20.2 PPG, 9.9 RPG) also returns but while Philadelphia has talent, Coach Maurice Cheeks has yet to mold it into a cohesive unit.
Last Season: SU: 38-44; ATS: 37-44-1, O/U: 42-39-1
New York Knicks: GM Isiah Thomas moves to the bench where he gets to mix the ingredients of his own concoction, including the malcontent backcourt of Steve Francis and Stephon Marbury. The Knicks will run more than they did under Larry Brown but will it matter?
Last Season: SU: 23-59, ATS: 37-44-1, O/U: 44-39-1
CENTRAL DIVISION
Chicago Bulls: The addition of Ben Wallace (11.3 RPG) and P.J. Brown make a team that led the NBA in field goal defense (42.6 percent) even tougher. The backcourt of Ben Gordon and Kirk Heinrich is excellent. In a very contentious division, the Bulls could be the team to beat.
Last Season: SU: 43-45, ATS: 44-43-1, O/U: 48-39-1
Cleveland Cavaliers: The Cavaliers have one of the game's best players in LeBron James (31.4 PPG) and a solid supporting cast, save for point guard (Eric Snow). That could be their downfall.
Last Season: SU: 57-38, ATS: 53-41-1, O/U: 41-54
Detroit Pistons: You can't lose a player like defensive stalwart Ben Wallace and not be impacted. Foul-prone Nazr Mohammed is the new man in the paint (Antonio McDyess will play some there too) but the Pistons will miss Wallace.
Last Season: SU: 74-26, ATS: 44-55-1, O/U: 43-50-2
Milwaukee Bucks: The Bucks took a chance dealing point guard T.J. Ford to Toronto for power forward Charlie Villanueva, who excelled as a rookie (13.0 PPG, 6.4 RPG) but will be fine if Mo Williams is able to fill the bill at the point. Michael Redd (25.4 PPG) is a superb off-guard.
Last Season: SU: 41-46, ATS: 43-44, O/U: 45-40-2
Indiana Pacers: Jermaine O'Neal (20.1 PPG, 9.3 RPG) is a stud in the post but the Pacers could be without guard Stephen Jackson, who faces gun possession charges in a nightclub fracas. Coach Rick Carlisle will have his hands full.
Last Season: SU: 43-45, ATS: 43-44-1, O/U: 37-50-1
SOUTHEAST DIVISION
Miami Heat: The Heat made no changes in the off-season but why would they? The defending NBA champs have the players - Dwayne Wade, Shaquille O'Neal, Antoine Walker, et al - but will the Heat be hungry enough to get it done? Pat Riley knows how to motivate.
Last Season: SU: 68-37, ATS: 48-55-2, O/U: 49-55-1
Washington Wizards: Led by Gilbert Arenas (29.3 PPG), the Wizards can score (third best in the NBA) but a porous defense could be their Achilles heel in this tough division.
Last Season: SU: 44-44, ATS: 45-42-1, O/U: 46-42
Orlando Magic: A 16-6 run to end the season has fostered optimism in Orlando. It's up to Dwight Howard, Jameer Nelson and Grant Hill to turn that into reality.
Last Season: SU: 36-46, ATS: 43-37-2, O/U: 45-37
Charlotte Bobcats: Look for this expansion team to expand its victory total behind young players such as Emaka Okafor, Raymond Felton, Sean May, Gerald Wallace and top draft choice Adam Morrison. The future is bright in Charlotte.
Last Season: SU: 26-56, ATS: 45-35-2, O/U: 45-36-1
Atlanta Hawks: Joe Johnson and Josh Smith are adequate but the Hawks just don't have enough talent to compete.
Last Season: SU: 26-56, ATS: 41-41, O/U: 46-36
NEXT: NBA BETTING: WESTERN CONFERENCE PREVIEW
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