Trent Reinsmith
- BetOnline favors the Nets (+125) to win the East as questions remain about the status of Kyrie Irving?
- The Milwaukee Bucks (+375) and reigning NBA Finals MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo picked up ground from preseason rankings
- Miami (+750) and Atlanta (+1200) have also improved their odds in the Eastern Conference
The Brooklyn Nets were the pre-season favorites to earn the Eastern Conference title for the 2021-22 season. As the calendar turns from October to November, the Brooklyn squad remains the favorite, but they have slipped a bit, while the Milwaukee Bucks, Miami Heat and Atlanta Hawks have made positive moves. The Philadelphia 76ers and Boston Celtics, like the Nets, have lost some ground in the early stages of the 2021-22 NBA season.
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2022 Eastern Conference Odds
Nets are favorites but they have slipped
The Brooklyn Nets were the preseason favorites in the Eastern Conference. The club remains in that position, but they have lost some ground. I expect the team will slip further the longer Kyrie Irving remains unvaccinated for COVID-19 and prevented from playing. Nets owner Joe Tsai told ESPN Irving, “has to be vaccinated in order to come back if the New York mandate is still in place. And don’t ask me when they may or may not change the New York mandate.”
Even if the Nets can stay healthy this season, there will be question as to how far the club can advance without Irving on the court.
Brooklyn Nets to win the Eastern Conference +125 via Sportsbetting.
Bucks move up
The Milwaukee Bucks, who won the NBA title last year with a 4-2 series win over the Phoenix Suns, opened the season at +425. They have since cut those odds to +375 and if the Nets can’t get Irving back, it won’t be a surprise to see the Bucks odds get slimmer in December. The Bucks might be a team to get some money on now while they are still close to 4-1.
Milwaukee Bucks to win the Eastern Conference +375 via Betonline.
76ers concerns
Philadelphia was in the mix in the preseason, but the team has moved from +850 to +1100 and a lot of that has to do with Ben Simmons not playing. The longer Simmons is off the court, the more likely it is the 76ers will not compete for the Eastern conference crown. If the team is able to move Simmons, the chances of Philadelphia winning the East depends on who player(s) they get in return. There are also worries around the team that Joel Embiid‘s right knee, which he injured during the playoffs last year, could be an issue this season.
Philadelphia 76ers to win the Eastern Conference +1100 via GTBets.
Heat and Hawks remain solid longshot bets
Miami, who added Kyle Lowry in the off-season and re-signed Max Strus, Gabe Vincent, Dewayne Dedmon and Duncan Robinson are a team who could give the Nets and Bucks a tough run down the stretch. Miami opened the season at +1200, but have dropped to +750 to win the East.
Miami Heat to win the Eastern Conference +750 via Sportsbetting.
The Hawks made it to the conference finals last season where they fell to the Bucks in six games. The team signed Trae Young and John Collins over the summer and landed Jalen Johnson and Sharife Cooper during the draft. They’ve dropped from +1800 to +1200 in the early stages of the 2022 NBA season.
Atlanta Hawks to win the Eastern Conference +1200 via Betonline.
The Eastern Conference is still wide open in the early days of the 2022 season and the most important players who might determine how things shake out are the big names who aren’t on the court — Irving and Simmons. Things are going to get more interesting the longer the Nets and 76ers are without those big-name players.
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