NBA Atlantic Division Season Preview, Odds & Rankings

ATLANTIC DIVISION

Sports bettingTitle oddsO/U wins
Celtics5-159.5
Sixers15-153.5
Raptors15-155.5
Knicks400-13o.5
Nets450-132.5

 

Brooklyn Nets

SportsBet Magazine 2018/19 Ranking – 27

Scorecast Win Prediction – 30

The Year That Was: 28-54.

Worth Noting: The Nets were the second worst shooting team in the NBA last season and have done absolutely nothing about it to change it. I dont see them being able to score enough points to contend and its another long season in Brooklyn.

Key Stat: 29. The Nets ranking for shooting % in 2017/18

Roster In’s & Out’s

STAY: Jarrett Allen, DeMarre Carroll, Allen Crabbe, Spencer Dinwiddie, Joe Harris, Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, Caris LeVert, D’Angelo Russell.

IN: Ed Davis (POR), Jared Dudley (PHX), Kenneth Faried (DEN), Treveon Graham (CHA), Rodions Kurucs (R), Dzanan Musa (R), Shabazz Napier (POR), Theo Pinson (R), Alan Williams (PHX).

OUT: Quincy Acy, Dante Cunningham (SAS), Milton Doyle, Jeremy Lin (ATL), Timofey Mozgov (ORL), Jahlil Okafor (NOP), Nik Stauskas (POR), James Webb, Isaiah Whitehead.

New York Knicks

SportsBet Magazine 2018/19 Ranking – 23

Scorecast Win Prediction – 34

The Year That Was: 29-53.

Worth Noting: Kristaps Porzingis, who tore his ACL in February, remains in limbo and that maybe a reason the Knicks didnt sign him to a max extension. Knicks fans have another long year ahead as the New York back office continues to keep hyping false trades and off season moves in the hope of signing a superstar next year. They have the cap space but does anyone want to be at Madison Square?

Key Stat: 5. Number of times the Knicks have made the playoffs this millennium.

Roster In’s & Out’s

STAY: Ron Baker, Damyean Dotson, Tim Hardaway Jr., Enes Kanter, Luke Kornet, Courtney Lee, Emmanuel Mudiay, Frank Ntilikina, Kristaps Porzingis, Lance Thomas, Trey Burke (NG).

IN: Mario Hezonja (ORL), Kevin Knox (R), Mitchell Robinson (R), Allonzo Trier (R), Noah Vonleh (CHI).

OUT: Michael Beasley (LAL), Jarrett Jack, Joakim Noah, Kyle O’Quinn (IND), Troy Williams (NOP).

Toronto Raptors

SportsBet Magazine 2018/19 Ranking – 4

Scorecast Win Prediction – 55

The Year That Was: 59-23, won division; swept by Cleveland in second round again

Worth Noting: Kawhi Leonard and Danny Green from San Antonio are two key components for this franchise to take the next step. They bring championship quality and experience in which this identity lacked before there arrival. Leonard, a two-time defensive player of the year under new head coach Nick Nurse could bring the Toronto Raptors into the finals. Which Kawhi shows up? An MVP Kawhi, Book it!

Key Stat: 1993. The last time a Canadian team won a major championship.

Roster In’s & Out’s

STAY: OG Anunoby, Serge Ibaka, Kyle Lowry, C.J. Miles, Norman Powell, Malachi Richardson, Pascal Siakam, Jonas Valanciunas, Fred VanVleet, Delon Wright, Lorenzo Brown (NG).

IN: Chris Boucher (GSW), Danny Green (SAS), Kawhi Leonard (SAS), Jordan Loyd (R), Greg Monroe (BOS).

OUT: DeMar DeRozan (SAS), Alfonzo McKinnie (GSW), Malcolm Miller, Lucas Nogueira, Jakob Pöltl (SAS).

76ers

SportsBet Magazine 2018/19 Ranking – 6

Scorecast Win Prediction – 50

The Year That Was: 52-30, lost to Boston in five games in second round.

Worth Noting: If guards Markelle Fultz and Ben Simmons can make jump shots, this team is potent! Fultz continues to struggle shooting the ball, leaving Simmons having to drive to the bucket with Embild and JJ Reddick the lone shooter. To compete with the top 4 at this stage they are a shooter short. Ben Simmons could be a top 5 player on the planet come the end of the regular season.

Key Stat: 16.5. The Number of turnovers the 76ers averaged per game last season. They are young, expect that to drop in 2018/19

Roster In’s & Out’s

STAY: Jerryd Bayless, Robert Covington, Joel Embiid, Markelle Fultz, Amir Johnson, Furkan Korkmaz, J.J. Redick, Dario Saric, Ben Simmons, T.J. McConnell (NG).

IN: Jonah Bolden (R), Wilson Chandler (DEN), Shake Milton (R), Mike Muscala (ATL), Landry Shamet (R), Zhaire Smith (R).

OUT: Justin Anderson (ATL), Marco Belinelli (SAS), Richaun Holmes (PHX), Ersan Ilyasova (MIL), Timothe Luwawu (OKC).

Boston Celtics

SportsBet Magazine 2018/19 Ranking – 2

Scorecast Win Prediction – 58

The Year That Was:55-27, lost to Cleveland in seven games in conference finals.

Worth Noting: Lebron James has left the Eastern Conference and the return of Gordon Hayward from a gruesome leg injury and a healthy Kyrie has the Celtics thinking Finals. The Celts won 55 games and reached Game 7 of the Eastern finals without either of them and last year Rookie Jayson Tatum looks set to expode onto the big stage. They win the East and are the best shot bar a natural disaster to beat the Warriors.

Key Stat: 21.9. Points per game Gordon Hayward averaged in 2016-17 for Utah.

Roster In’s & Out’s

STAY: Aron Baynes, Jabari Bird, Jaylen Brown, Gordon Hayward, Al Horford, Kyrie Irving, Marcus Morris, Semi Ojeleye, Terry Rozier, Marcus Smart, Jayson Tatum, Daniel Theis, Guerschon Yabusele.

IN: P.J. Dozier (OKC), Walter Lemon Jr., Brad Wanamaker (R), Robert Williams (R).

OUT: Kadeem Allen, Jonathan Gibson, Shane Larkin, Greg Monroe (TOR), Abdel Nader (OKC).

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