NBA: Bucks and Celtics favoured to finish with the best record

Betting favourites to win the most games

The Milwaukee Bucks and Boston Celtics are tied with the best odds to win the most games this season. They have +300 odds on Sports Interaction right now. Understanding why these teams have the best odds is not hard. The Milwaukee Bucks had the best record last season despite losing in the first round to the Eastern Conference champions Miami Heat. The Bucks added star point guard Damian Lillard to the roster via a three-team trade with the Portland Trail Blazers and Phoenix Suns. With arguably the best player in the league on their roster in Giannis Antetokounmpo to go along with Lillard, the Bucks should have one of the three or four best records when the season ends. The biggest concerns here are chemistry problems at the start of the season and a new head coach in Adrian Griffin, former assistant coach with the Toronto Raptors.

The Celtics are tied with the Bucks in large part because they added center Kristaps Porzingis to a roster that reached the Eastern Conference Finals last season. The Celtics were one win short of 58 wins last year which would have tied them with the Bucks. Although the Celtics also added a 20 ppg scorer to their team like the Bucks, their top two players are still Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. So it seems like an easier transition for the Celtics than the Bucks, even though the Bucks could have a higher ceiling. The Bucks and Celtics are in the east, and the east is weaker than the west on paper. Both teams should have a better shot than any of the west teams because of this.

The Nuggets and Suns

The Denver Nuggets are just behind the top two teams at +325 on Sports Interaction and among the favourites on NBA betting sites. The Nuggets have not been close over the last few years when it comes to having the best record in the league despite being among the top seeds in the west consistently. With 53 wins, the Nuggets finished with the best record in the west last year and were five short of the Bucks. This roster is similar to their championship team from last year, so they should have a shot because they know how to play together and win. A bunch of other teams will start the season with new core players.

The Phoenix Suns added All-Star guard Bradley Beal in the offseason. They also traded center Deandre Ayton and brought in depth. With stars Kevin Durant and Devin Booker in the lineup, this team can finish with the best record if things start clicking early. Defense and chemistry are two of the biggest concerns. This team should be one of the best offensive teams in the league, but will their defense be good enough to help them secure the best record? That question likely will not be answered until a few games have been played. They have +700 odds.

A small chance

After the top four, the odds are suggesting that no other team has a great shot. The Los Angeles Lakers and Philadelphia 76ers have +1400 odds. The Golden State Warriors have +1600 odds. The Cleveland Cavaliers have +2000 odds. Of these teams, the Warriors at +1600 are probably worth considering more than the other teams. The Lakers will not have the best record if James or Davis miss a lot of time, the 76ers could trade All-Star guard James Harden, and the Cavaliers are probably not ready. The Warriors are aging, but they have a team that has experience winning a championship together and they added All-Star point guard Chris Paul. There is no reason this team can not compete for the top spot if injuries do not come into play......