Steve Starr
- BetOnline favors the Nets (+110) to win the East but is Brooklyn bankable given Durant and Harden’s injury history and the mental status of Kyrie Irving?
- The Milwaukee Bucks (+425) could ride reigning NBA Finals MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo to another championship
- Miami (+1200) and Atlanta (+1800) are strong longshots in the Eastern Conference
The Brooklyn Nets are favored to make a trip to the NBA Finals despite the drama surrounding Kyrie Irving and his continued resistance to vaccination that could cause him to miss home practices and games all year. Meanwhile, the feud between the Philadelphia 76ers and Ben Simmons seems to be only getting worse with no trade insight.
With the NBA’s Eastern Conference in complete disarray with just over a week until the start of the 2021-22 season, let’s look at the latest odds and be sure to check out our tips and advice for betting on basketball.
2022 Eastern Conference Odds
 |
|
| Brooklyn Nets | +110 |
| Milwaukee Bucks | +425 |
| Philadelphia 76ers | +850 |
| Miami Heat | +1200 |
| Boston Celtics | +1600 |
| Atlanta Hawks | +1800 |
| Chicago Bulls | +2000 |
| New York Knicks | +2800 |
| Charlotte Hornets | +4000 |
| Indiana Pacers | +4000 |
| Toronto Raptors | +4000 |
| Washington Wizards | +5000 |
| Cleveland Cavaliers | +15000 |
| Detroit Pistons | +15000 |
| Orlando Magic | +15000 |
Nets remain big favorites
Given the talent on Brooklyn’s roster, it’s mighty tempting to bet the Nets at almost even odds (+110) to make the 2022 NBA Finals. But keep last year at the top of your mind before pulling the trigger. Even if the vaccination issues surrounding Kyrie Irving somehow magically go away, the seven-time All-Star has repeatedly demonstrated that he can’t be trusted.
This is even more troubling when you take Kevin Durant and James Harden’s recent injury histories into account. At 33 and 32 respectively, you simply can’t bank on the tandem being healthy next spring. So, why take on all that risk in October? Wait for the regular season to play out before placing your bets as there’s no upside at the Nets’ current odds.
One of the greatest scorers & most skilled NBA players ever 🔥
HBD Kevin Durant pic.twitter.com/qksHklmhBo
— Ballislife.com (@Ballislife) September 29, 2021
Betting on the Bucks (+425) to repeat as Eastern Conference champions at better than 4-to-1 odds doesn’t seem like the worst idea considering Kyrie’s questionable mental status and the potential that the Philadelphia 76ers (+850) may not get the return they want for Ben Simmons.
While Milwaukee did little to improve this offseason, reigning NBA Finals MVP and two-time league MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo is only 26 and still getting better – a scary thought for a veteran Nets club that’s aging fast.
Heat and Hawks are the best longshot bets
The Heat (+1200) are a tough veteran team that is going to be hard to beat after signing point guard Kyle Lowry to a three-year $85 million pact this offseason.
The 35-year-old should take some of the ball-handling pressure off Jimmy Butler and find Duncan Robinson for a bunch of open threes. Bam Adebayo also gives Miami the rare player capable of guarding both Giannis and KD in a playoff series. Just one year removed from their trip to the NBA Finals, Pat Riley’s club has potential.
2021–22 NBA Preview: The Future Is Now@TheTraeYoung and @luka7doncic were traded for each other on draft night, and now they have another link—leading a generation of young stars taking their teams to new heights: https://t.co/AlsCjAxzqm pic.twitter.com/cZhG5K4g4B
— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) October 6, 2021
Atlanta (+1800) has long odds for a team that came two wins away from a NBA Finals appearance last season. The Hawks signed 23-year-old superstar Trae Young and center John Collins to long-term deals over the summer and can expect growth from forwards Cam Reddish and De’Andre Hunter, as well as sharpshooting guard Kevin Huerter.
Those three ascending talents may also be able to be packaged for a star like Bradley Beal if negotiations take a turn for the worse in Washington.
See below the top sportsbooks where you can wager online and choose the best one for you:
