[h=1]Best 2015 NBA title value bets[/h][h=3]Chicago Bulls among teams with most value to win next year's title[/h]By Dave Tuley and Erin Rynning | ESPN Insider
The San Antonio Spurs wrapped up their fifth NBA title on Sunday night, but the state of mind for sports bettors is to always be looking ahead.
In fact, the LVH SuperBook posted its futures for next season last Monday, June 9, with the Miami Heat opening as the 2-1 favorite. The Oklahoma City Thunder were installed as the second choice at 5-1 with the Spurs at 6-1, though they've both since been bet down to 9-2 with the Heat raised to 5-2. The Los Angeles Clippers opened at 8-1 and are now 10-1 with the Chicago Bulls and Indiana Pacers both at 12-1 before a dropoff to the other hopefuls at 20-1 and above. The only other odds adjustment the past week has been the Lakers raised from 50-1 to 60-1.
Obviously, there are a lot of unknowns when trying to find value on the betting board this far in advance, including whether LeBron James will keep his talents in South Beach or go elsewhere. We haven't heard which teams are planning to re-sign which players, and which players will opt for free agency, plus we're still a week and a half from the 2014 NBA draft.
But that doesn't mean there isn't value to be had. Here are the best 2015 NBA title bets from yours truly, Dave Tuley, and handicapper Erin Rynning.
[h=3]Rynning's value bets[/h]
Chicago Bulls (12-1)
The Bulls have found it hard to catch a break, while dealing with the major knee injuries of Derrick Rose. Rose played in just 10 games last season, while already working back from ACL surgery before the dreaded torn meniscus sidelined him for the rest of the season. He's progressing from his latest surgery in hopes of at least practicing with Team USA this summer. <OFFER>Of course, it's important to keep in mind that with a healthy Rose the Bulls co-owned the best record during the lockout shortened 2011-2012 season with at 50-16. With a healthy Rose, the Bulls would be a force in the watered down Eastern Conference next season with the sum of key parts still intact.
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Head coach Tom Thibodeau remains one of the best in the business. Perhaps he learned a valuable lesson and will do a better job at not running his team into the ground next season in terms of minutes played by his key players. The good news is Joakim Noah continues his development as one of the top two-way players in the league, while taking on more of a role as a facilitator on offense. Meanwhile, the continued improvement of Taj Gibson and Jimmy Butler will pay dividends down the road. Importantly, the Bulls have room to add a key player in the offseason. There are rumors of a Kevin Love addition, while I believe Carmelo Anthony would even be a welcome piece for the Bulls. There's also the supreme long shot they could add the best player in the game, LeBron James.
Houston Rockets (20-1)
This season was going to be a learning year for the Rockets after obtaining Dwight Howard in the offseason, but they finished with the sixth-best record in the NBA before getting KO'd in the first round of the playoffs by Portland. Their inexperience showed on the sideline and on the court, but once again they can build off the 2013-14 season. A dominating center is still a very rare commodity in the NBA. Howard was still working his way back from injury last season and has room to grow in the new system as well. James Harden garnered another year carrying a large load for the Rockets, and he'll turn just 25 years old next year. This is a smart franchise with vital building blocks and it has assets and room under the cap to make a huge splash in the offseason. The Rockets are one player away from being a big-time contender next year.
[h=3]Tuley's Take[/h]
First note: I completely agree with Rynning on the Bulls being a good buy at this point. Rose is always a question mark, but the upside is there if he ever stays healthy as Thibodeau has kept the Bulls ultra-competitive even without him. And if they do grab Anthony or another star, those future-book odds will plummet quickly.
Los Angeles Clippers (10-1)
After the future of this franchise seemed to change on a daily basis (with the Donald Sterling situation), it looks like it's going to all sorted out with $2 billion purchase by former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer. He takes over a team that was playing as well as anyone at the end of the year and an argument could be made that they would have made a deeper run if not for the inescapable distraction of the whole Sterling mess right in the middle of the conference semifinals against the Thunder. They have all the pieces, and I'm assuming that any holes that need to be filled will be addressed as it appears Ballmer knows the time is now with Chris Paul, Blake Griffin & Co.
Washington Wizards (30-1)
As stated above, the Bulls would be my choice as the top value bet in the East with the most upside, but I'll also make the case for the team that defeated them in the opening round. The Wizards might find it tough to re-sign both center Marcin Gortat and Trevor Ariza, but if they find a way (or find a suitable replacement for the one they can't retain) they'll have a solid nucleus along with John Wall, Bradley Beal and Nene Hilario. Frankly, 30-1 seems a little short, but I'm counting on that being a sign that the LVH oddsmakers are seeing what we see in this up-and-coming team and hopefully we'll see a better price elsewhere as other books post odds.
Other potential value plays: Spurs at 9-2 (why can't Gregg Popovich lead them to the title again?); Mavericks at 40-1 (almost took out Spurs in first round); Cavaliers at 60-1 (but only if you think LeBron returns to Cleveland).
Who do you think will be cutting down the nets a year from now?
<!-- begin inline 1 -->[h=4]2014-2015 NBA FUTURES[/h](Courtesy LVH SuperBook)
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The San Antonio Spurs wrapped up their fifth NBA title on Sunday night, but the state of mind for sports bettors is to always be looking ahead.
In fact, the LVH SuperBook posted its futures for next season last Monday, June 9, with the Miami Heat opening as the 2-1 favorite. The Oklahoma City Thunder were installed as the second choice at 5-1 with the Spurs at 6-1, though they've both since been bet down to 9-2 with the Heat raised to 5-2. The Los Angeles Clippers opened at 8-1 and are now 10-1 with the Chicago Bulls and Indiana Pacers both at 12-1 before a dropoff to the other hopefuls at 20-1 and above. The only other odds adjustment the past week has been the Lakers raised from 50-1 to 60-1.
Obviously, there are a lot of unknowns when trying to find value on the betting board this far in advance, including whether LeBron James will keep his talents in South Beach or go elsewhere. We haven't heard which teams are planning to re-sign which players, and which players will opt for free agency, plus we're still a week and a half from the 2014 NBA draft.
But that doesn't mean there isn't value to be had. Here are the best 2015 NBA title bets from yours truly, Dave Tuley, and handicapper Erin Rynning.
Chicago Bulls (12-1)
The Bulls have found it hard to catch a break, while dealing with the major knee injuries of Derrick Rose. Rose played in just 10 games last season, while already working back from ACL surgery before the dreaded torn meniscus sidelined him for the rest of the season. He's progressing from his latest surgery in hopes of at least practicing with Team USA this summer. <OFFER>Of course, it's important to keep in mind that with a healthy Rose the Bulls co-owned the best record during the lockout shortened 2011-2012 season with at 50-16. With a healthy Rose, the Bulls would be a force in the watered down Eastern Conference next season with the sum of key parts still intact.
</OFFER>
Head coach Tom Thibodeau remains one of the best in the business. Perhaps he learned a valuable lesson and will do a better job at not running his team into the ground next season in terms of minutes played by his key players. The good news is Joakim Noah continues his development as one of the top two-way players in the league, while taking on more of a role as a facilitator on offense. Meanwhile, the continued improvement of Taj Gibson and Jimmy Butler will pay dividends down the road. Importantly, the Bulls have room to add a key player in the offseason. There are rumors of a Kevin Love addition, while I believe Carmelo Anthony would even be a welcome piece for the Bulls. There's also the supreme long shot they could add the best player in the game, LeBron James.
Houston Rockets (20-1)
This season was going to be a learning year for the Rockets after obtaining Dwight Howard in the offseason, but they finished with the sixth-best record in the NBA before getting KO'd in the first round of the playoffs by Portland. Their inexperience showed on the sideline and on the court, but once again they can build off the 2013-14 season. A dominating center is still a very rare commodity in the NBA. Howard was still working his way back from injury last season and has room to grow in the new system as well. James Harden garnered another year carrying a large load for the Rockets, and he'll turn just 25 years old next year. This is a smart franchise with vital building blocks and it has assets and room under the cap to make a huge splash in the offseason. The Rockets are one player away from being a big-time contender next year.
First note: I completely agree with Rynning on the Bulls being a good buy at this point. Rose is always a question mark, but the upside is there if he ever stays healthy as Thibodeau has kept the Bulls ultra-competitive even without him. And if they do grab Anthony or another star, those future-book odds will plummet quickly.
Los Angeles Clippers (10-1)
After the future of this franchise seemed to change on a daily basis (with the Donald Sterling situation), it looks like it's going to all sorted out with $2 billion purchase by former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer. He takes over a team that was playing as well as anyone at the end of the year and an argument could be made that they would have made a deeper run if not for the inescapable distraction of the whole Sterling mess right in the middle of the conference semifinals against the Thunder. They have all the pieces, and I'm assuming that any holes that need to be filled will be addressed as it appears Ballmer knows the time is now with Chris Paul, Blake Griffin & Co.
Washington Wizards (30-1)
As stated above, the Bulls would be my choice as the top value bet in the East with the most upside, but I'll also make the case for the team that defeated them in the opening round. The Wizards might find it tough to re-sign both center Marcin Gortat and Trevor Ariza, but if they find a way (or find a suitable replacement for the one they can't retain) they'll have a solid nucleus along with John Wall, Bradley Beal and Nene Hilario. Frankly, 30-1 seems a little short, but I'm counting on that being a sign that the LVH oddsmakers are seeing what we see in this up-and-coming team and hopefully we'll see a better price elsewhere as other books post odds.
Other potential value plays: Spurs at 9-2 (why can't Gregg Popovich lead them to the title again?); Mavericks at 40-1 (almost took out Spurs in first round); Cavaliers at 60-1 (but only if you think LeBron returns to Cleveland).
Who do you think will be cutting down the nets a year from now?
<!-- begin inline 1 -->[h=4]2014-2015 NBA FUTURES[/h](Courtesy LVH SuperBook)
| Team | Odds |
|---|---|
| Heat | 5-2 |
| Thunder | 9-2 |
| Spurs | 9-2 |
| Clippers | 10-1 |
| Pacers | 12-1 |
| Bulls | 12-1 |
| Warriors | 20-1 |
| Rockets | 20-1 |
| Trail Blazers | 30-1 |
| Wizards | 30-1 |
| Nets | 40-1 |
| Grizzlies | 40-1 |
| Mavericks | 40-1 |
| Nuggets | 50-1 |
| Raptors | 50-1 |
| Knicks | 50-1 |
| Timberwolves | 50-1 |
| Pelicans | 50-1 |
| Lakers | 60-1 |
| Celtics | 60-1 |
| Cavaliers | 60-1 |
| Suns | 60-1 |
| Hornets | 60-1 |
| Hawks | 60-1 |
| Jazz | 100-1 |
| Kings | 100-1 |
| Pistons | 100-1 |
| Magic | 100-1 |
| 76ers | 200-1 |
| Bucks | 300-1 |
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