At the beginning of the new 2023-24 NBA season, gamblers must remember one thing. This is NOT your father’s NBA. The old days of two or three teams having a legitimate shot at the NBA championship are mercifully over. Instead, we have a level of NBA betting parity not seen in the modern era. So, while the Boston Celtics and Milwaukee Bucks are the preseason chalk, there are no locks that they arrive at the ultimate destination. The NBA Playoffs have come to rival the NHL for unpredictability. And the long season will brutally sideline key players.
2023-24 NBA Championship Future Odds
| Date: | NBA Season Opens on Tuesday, October 23, 2023. The 2024 NBA Playoffs start on April 20, 2024. |
|---|
2023-24 NBA Championship Odds at SBG
| Team | Odds |
|---|---|
| Boston Celtics | +400 |
| Milwaukee Bucks | +350 |
| Phoenix Suns | +600 |
| Denver Nuggets | +450 |
| Los Angeles Lakers | +1200 |
| Golden State Warriors | +1200 |
| Cleveland Cavaliers | +2800 |
| Memphis Grizzlies | +2500 |
| Dallas Mavericks | +1800 |
| Philadelphia 76ers | +2200 |
| LA Clippers | +1600 |
| Miami Heat | +2000 |
| All Other Teams | +4000 or higher |
2023-24 NBA Season SBG Odds Overview
Following trades where the Portland Trail Blazers sent Damian Lillard to the Milwaukee Bucks and Jrue Holiday to the Boston Celtics, a new look NBA tips off. One of the biggest challenges for future projections is separating the NBA’s 82-game schedule from the playoffs. Additionally, injuries to star players are becoming more common. Hence, team performance from year to year hasn’t been this inconsistent in decades. Keep that in mind when evaluating the sportsbook future market.
Gamblers See Green With The Boston Celtics
Before and after the addition of Holiday, the Celtics have the NBA’s best prospects for a second consecutive season. Last year that did not translate into the league’s best record. However, Boston was No. 1 in terms of point differential. Overall, that is normally more predictive of future results.
Milwaukee Expected to Make Plenty of Bucks This Year
Cause by Damian Lillard is forecast to play just 67 games during the regular season, the Bucks’ regular-season prospects are deceiving. In turn, it’s not an NBA betting reflection of how trading two rotation players for him could help their title odds. Last year, Milwaukee dramatically exceeded its point differential by winning a league-high 58 games. Now, the Bucks face the challenge of performing at the same level this season.
Phoenix Suns Expected to Rise
Certainly, the Suns deserve credit for building their depth with savvy signings for the veteran’s minimum. And the trade turned Deandre Ayton into three potential rotation players. Still, this top-heavy Phoenix roster almost certainly figures to be better in the playoffs than the regular season. That is based on the injury track record of stars Bradley Beal, Devin Booker, and Kevin Durant.
More Nuggets of Gold for the Defending Champs From Denver
Of course, gamblers would not be surprised if the Nuggets’ win total falls short of last year’s West-leading 53. In fact, many gamblers expect a stock market type of decline. Previously, Denver outperformed their point differential and saw opponents shoot poorly from 3-point range. Additionally, Denver doesn’t look quite as deep on paper. Also, there is the factor of defending champs not putting as much emphasis on the regular season. Still, home-court advantage has more value in the Mile High City than anywhere else.