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Last week we took a look at NBA Futures broken down by division (2020/21 NBA Division Futures), so this week it’s time for a look at season win totals by each team. The numbers have firmed up as the dust has settled from the NBA draft, trades, and the announcement of the season-opening games.
Opening day is Tuesday, December 22 with two matchups – Golden State Warriors vs. Brooklyn Nets followed by the LA Clippers against the Los Angeles Lakers. Wednesday will feature the Milwaukee Bucks and the Boston Celtics followed by the Dallas Mavericks taking on the Phoenix Suns.
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As per NBA Tradition, Christmas day is loaded with matchups! New Orleans Pelicans vs. Miami Heat, the Golden State Warriors, and the Milwaukee Bucks. Then it’s the Brooklyn Nets vs. Boston Celtics and Dallas Mavericks against the Los Angeles Lakers with the LA Clippers taking on the Denver Nuggets.
That’s a bunch of hoops to kick off the season, but the question is how are total team season wins being predicted due to a slightly shortened upcoming season and a shortened break between last season and the first game on the 22nd . The answer… kind of predictable!
It seems as if oddsmakers have thrown out any outliers (COVID-19) and are sticking to the formula of looking at some of the things mentioned above. Past wins last season, trades, the draft, etc. I’ve chosen a few to dive into and a complete listing of NBA Futures for wins by each team is listed below courtesy of Betonline.
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Milwaukee Bucks Regular Season Win Total
Over 50½ Wins -115
Under 50½ Wins -115
Why not jump in with the NBA team that oddsmakers are thinking will crank out the most wins during the upcoming season. The Milwaukee Bucks won 56 games last season and are coming into the 2021 year at 50.5. It looks like the Bucks took care of business in the offseason and they still have amazing depth overall. They have Jrue Holiday and Giannis Antetokounmpo along with Torrey Craig to name a few. My thinking is that 50.5 is too low and that they should be over by a handful of games. The Bucks return with a solid roster including depth with starters that can rotate and a host of bench players to rely on.
Cleveland Cavaliers Regular Season Win Total
Over 21½ Wins -130
Under 21½ Wins +100
Last season the Cleveland Cavaliers posted a 19 win season with 46 losses. This was a team that had no shooting power and seemingly an inability to play defense. They were 4 and 10 in the division and finished 33 games back. The future win number for this season is 21½ and I think they can beat that. Last season they had an early coaching change and a whole bunch of youth in what can only be considered “another” rebuilding year. This season they should be more stable with J.B Bickerstaff as the head coach. The defense will probably still be a struggle, but things are looking better with Cedi Osman, Collin Sexton, and Kevin Porter Jr. It may be rough, but the Cavs could end with a 25 game win season.
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Detroit Pistons Regular Season Win Total
Over 23½ Wins -115
Under 23½ Wins -115
The Detroit Pistons are picked to win 23.5 games that may not happen. They were banged up much of last season so there is hope there if everyone is playing healthy. The good news is that they hit the free agency market hard during the offseason, made some trades, and let several players go to other teams. I don’t know if I would take Detroit as being on the plus side of 23.5 wins when the season ends. I lean towards them being a 19-20 win team but vastly improved next year. The only outlier I see is reporting that Derrick Rose is jumping into the role of a veteran player that values mentoring younger players. If he can become a team leader and teacher to young talent then my view of the Pistons will shift dramatically.
NBA Futures for 2020/2021 Regular Season Wins
Atlanta Hawks
Over 36½ Wins -125
Under 36½ Wins -105
Boston Celtics
Under 44½ Wins -130
Over 44½ Wins +100
Brooklyn Nets
Over 44½ Wins -140
Under 44½ Wins +110
Charlotte Hornets
Under 27½ Wins -140
Over 27½ Wins +110
Chicago Bulls
Over 29½ Wins -115
Under 29½ Wins -115
Cleveland Cavaliers
Over 21½ Wins -130
Under 21½ Wins +100
Dallas Mavericks
Over 42½ Wins -115
Under 42½ Wins -115
Denver Nuggets
Over 43½ Wins -115
Under 43½ Wins -115
Detroit Pistons
Over 23½ Wins -115
Under 23½ Wins -115
Golden State Warriors
Under 37½ Wins -130
Over 37½ Wins +100
Indiana Pacers
Under 39½ Wins -130
Over 39½ Wins +100
Los Angeles Clippers
Over 46½ Wins -130
Under 46½ Wins +100
Los Angeles Lakers
Over 47½ Wins -115
Under 47½ Wins -115
Memphis Grizzlies
Over 30½ Wins -150
Under 30½ Wins +120
Miami Heat
Under 43½ Wins -130
Over 43½ Wins +100
Milwaukee Bucks
Over 50½ Wins -115
Under 50½ Wins -115
Minnesota Timberwolves
Over 29½ Wins -130
Under 29½ Wins +100
New Orleans Pelicans
Under 35½ Wins -145
Over 35½ Wins +115
New York Knicks
Over 22½ Wins -115
Under 22½ Wins -115
Oklahoma City Thunder
Under 22½ Wins -125
Over 22½ Wins -105
Orlando Magic
Over 31½ Wins -115
Under 31½ Wins -115
Philadelphia 76ers
Over 44½ Wins -115
Under 44½ Wins -115
Phoenix Suns
Over 38½ Wins -145
Under 38½ Wins +115
Portland Trail Blazers
Over 40½ Wins -130
Under 40½ Wins +100
Sacramento Kings
Over 28½ Wins -130
Under 28½ Wins +100
San Antonio Spurs
Over 29½ Wins -130
Under 29½ Wins +100
Toronto Raptors
Under 42½ Wins -130
Over 42½ Wins +100
Utah Jazz
Over 42½ Wins -115
Under 42½ Wins -115
Washington Wizards
Over 32½ Wins -145
Under 32½ Wins +115
One note when researching last stats from last season. When the season was restarted following the COVID-19 hiatus, only 13 Western Conference teams and nine NBA Eastern Conference teams hit the courts in “bubble” play. All of these clubs were within six games of a playoff spot. Oddsmakers seem to have factored this in but it is worth noting.
