Media by Associated Press – Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic against the Golden State Warriors during an NBA preseason basketball game in San Francisco, Friday, Oct. 14, 2022. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
Last season was the first in a few years where the NBA champion seemed like more of a surprise. After two years outside the playoffs, the Golden State Warriors willed themselves to a title to prove to everyone that their success wasn’t reliant on having a megastar like Kevin Durant. Now, the Warriors will try to repeat the feat despite having to fend off some internal issues of their own.
However, at Golden State’s current +600 number, it is not especially good value to bet on the Warriors. Here are three other teams worth looking at.
Philadelphia 76ers, +1300
It’s easy to see why it may be easy to be pessimistic bout the 76ers. Trading for James Harden didn’t prove to be the boost Philadelphia hoped for, and the team failed to reach the Eastern Conference Final last season. The 76ers didn’t make any moves in free agency but decided to add Danuel House, Montrezl Harrell, and P.J. Tucker.
There is some uncertainty at the top of the Eastern Conference. While Boston will likely be very good, the Celtics are dealing with the aftermath of having their coach suspended for the season following a few off-the-court incidents. If Embiid can stay healthy, Philadelphia will be formidable again and may be able to find some good matchups out East against teams that also have obvious flaws.
Denver Nuggets, +2000
The Nuggets will always be competitive thanks to the excellence of two-time NBA MVP award winner Nikola Jovic. Denver’s biggest question is will the Nuggets be able to surround him with a core of component, healthy teammates. Jamal Murray sat out all of last season, but if he can rebound to his previous form, that will make Denver a highly competitive bunch.
The Nuggets are hoping adding center DeAndre Jordan will help Denver add some toughness underneath. The Nuggets also brought in Kentavious Caldwell-Pope to help stretch the court. The top of the Western Conference picture isn’t so clear, so a shot on the Nuggets at 20 to 1 is a solid return on a longshot.
Brooklyn Nets, +800
The Nets are an enigma in many ways. Brooklyn had so much off-season drama it’s hard to sum it up in a couple of sentences that sound sane. What is true about the Nets is they are a superstar-driven team that will need Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, and Ben Simmons to be healthy and on the floor.
Simmons, who was acquired in the Harden trade last season, sat out last season rehabbing a back injury. What the Nets hope is that Simmons will bring stability at the point.
Brooklyn coach Steve Nash will likely be a short least as the Nets hope to salvage the last part of this “Big Three” era and try to get back to the NBA Finals for the first time in nearly 20 years and the first time since they left New Jersey.
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