NBA Eastern Conference Best Bet: Boston Celtics

The reigning NBA champion Boston Celtics are deservedly the early favorites to emerge from the Eastern Conference once again after winning 14 more games than the second-ranked New York Knicks in 2023-24.

The one-two punch of Jayson Tatum and Finals MVP Jaylen Brown is perhaps the most lethal combination in all of basketball, and the backcourt pairing of Jrue Holiday and Derrick White both ended up on the All-Defensive Second team. 

Kristaps Porzingis will miss an extended period of time following offseason surgery, yet Boston's depth in its star-studded starting lineup is more than enough to compensate for his absence. 

Last 10 NBA Eastern Conference Champions

NBA Eastern Conference Trends

NBA Western Conference Best Bet: Oklahoma City Thunder

The No. 1 seed in the Western Conference for the 2023-24 regular season only improved this summer with the acquisitions of both Alex Caruso and Isaiah Hartenstein. 

The Oklahoma City Thunder had Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, and James Harden leading the charge the last time they advanced to the Finals, and this is perhaps their best chance since that era with Most Valuable Player finalist Shai Gilgeous-Alexander at the forefront.

A lack of experience has been the Achilles heel of this organization for a while now, but after advancing to the second round and coming up short against the eventual finalists in the Dallas Mavericks, Oklahoma City is one step closer to achieving its ultimate goal with the added knowledge of what it takes to become a champion.

Last 10 Western Conference Champions

NBA Western Conference Trends

What Teams Comprise the NBA's Atlantic Division?

The Boston Celtics, New York Knicks, Brooklyn Nets, Toronto Raptors, and Philadelphia 76ers are all a part of the Atlantic Division. 

NBA Atlantic Division Best Bet: Boston Celtics

Boston has emerged with an Atlantic Division title each of the last three years, and just finished with the best overall record across the league by a wide margin this past season. 

While the Knicks are a formidable and worthy challenger, even they will find it difficult to knock the Celtics off their perch barring a catastrophic string of bad fortune.

Last 10 Atlantic Division Champions

NBA Atlantic Division Trends

What teams comprise the nBA's Central Division?

The Milwaukee Bucks, Cleveland Cavaliers, Indiana Pacers, Chicago Bulls, and Detroit Pistons are all a part of the Central Division. 

NBA Central Division Best Bet: Milwaukee Bucks

The Bucks are riding a six-year hot streak of winning the Central Division, although the margin for error is incredibly slim moving forward after finishing just a game ahead of the Cavaliers in 2023-24. 

Milwaukee still gets the edge in the betting odds heading into next season due to having a top-five player in Giannis Antetokounmpo while having finished with the best record in the division as often as it has. However, we may be on the verge of said streak coming to an end, as Cleveland's time may be next.

Last 10 Central Division Champions

NBA Central Division Trends

What teams comprise the NBA's Northwest Division?

The Denver Nuggets, Portland Trail Blazers, Utah Jazz, Oklahoma City Thunder, and the Minnesota Timberwolves are all a part of the Northwest Division. 

NBA Northwest Division Best Bet: Oklahoma City Thunder

The Thunder finished with the best overall record in the Western Conference last season, but did so via a tiebreaker with the Nuggets while also finishing just a game ahead of the Timberwolves. 

With the offseason additions of Alex Caruso and Isaiah Hartenstein, Oklahoma City is in prime position to repeat their success and hopefully improve upon it, but these odds are undoubtedly going to go up and down like a roller coaster as Denver and Minnesota are still in the thick of it.

Last 10 Northwest Division Champions

NBA Northwest Division Trends

What Teams comprise the NBA's Pacific Division?

The Los Angeles Lakers, Golden State Warriors, Los Angeles Clippers, Sacramento Kings, and Phoenix Suns are all a part of the Pacific Division. 

NBA Pacific Division Best Bet: Phoenix Suns

The Pacific is one of only three divisions in which the early betting favorite can be had at plus money, with the Suns currently leading the pack at this time. The Warriors have the worst odds, yet sit at a respectable +450 as of July 29, 2024.

The Lakers didn't do much to improve their roster this summer and now have a first-year head coach, while Golden State said goodbye to Klay Thompson and the Clippers bid farewell to Pau George. Phoenix is essentially the safest pick by default by keeping its core intact despite an embarrassing first-round exit in the 2024 playoffs.

Last 10 Pacific Division Champions

NBA Pacific Division Trends

What Teams Comprise The NBA's Southeast Division?

The Atlanta Hawks, Charlotte Hornets, Miami Heat, Orlando Magic, and Washington Wizard are all a part of the Southeast Division.

NBA Southeast Division Best Bet: Orlando Magic

Last season marked the first time since 2019 that the Magic finished with the best record in the Southeast Division, although it didn't lead to much postseason success after falling in seven games in the opening round to the Cleveland Cavaliers.

It will likely be a photo finish with the Heat once again next season after a single game separated the two squads. Miami may have peaked years ago while Orlando is on the up and up, which explains why the Magic are the betting favorites early on. 

Last 10 Southeast Division Champions

NBA Southeast Division Trends

What teams comprise the NBA's Southwest Division?

The Dallas Mavericks, Houston Rockets, Memphis Grizzlies, New Orleans Pelicans, and the San Antonio Spurs are all a part of the Southwest Division. 

NBA Southwest Division Betting Favorite: Dallas Mavericks

The Mavericks went all the way to the Finals last season as the fifth seed in the Western Conference, but will now have to contend with a Grizzlies team that can hopefully maintain a clean bill of health after losing a slew of bodies in 2023-24 to injury. 

Dallas has never won consecutive Southwest Division crowns in its history, and the addition of Klay Thompson in a trade with the Golden State Warriors should only aid their chances.

Last 10 Southwest Division Champions

NBA Southwest Division Trends