Best 2021-2022 NBA Division Winner Value Bets (Live Odds)

• Due to their defensive versatility and star power with Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown leading the way, the Boston Celtics (+1400, BetMGM) are the best bet to win the Atlantic Division due to their long odds.

• The additions of DeMar DeRozan and Lonzo Ball to Nikola Vucevic and Zach LaVine make the Chicago Bulls (+700) a dangerous team in the Central Division.

• Damian Lillard, CJ McCollum and the Portland Trail Blazers (+850) are the best bet in the Northwest Division due to their long odds and offseason additions in the frontcourt.

• Steph Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green will be reunited and the Golden State Warriors (+220) have other talented role players to guide them to a Pacific Division title.

• The offseason addition of Kyle Lowry and re-signing of Victor Oladipo make the Miami Heat (-100) the clear best bet in the Southeast Division. 

• This can be the year that Brandon Ingram, Zion Williamson and the New Orleans Pelicans (+1000) break through with a Southwest Division win. 

• Let’s go through and explore each best bet below.

Atlantic Division: Boston Celtics (+1400)

Other Teams: Brooklyn Nets (-250), Philadelphia 76ers (+375), New York Knicks (+1000), Toronto Raptors (+4000)

The Celtics can trot out a defensive-oriented lineup that includes Marcus Smart, Josh Richardson, Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum and Al Horford. That will make life very difficult for their opponents.

With the re-signing of Robert Williams III, offseason acquisitions of Dennis Schroder and Richardson and presumed development of youngsters Payton Prichard, Romeo Langford and Aaron Nesmith, this is a deep team that can match up well against anyone in the NBA.

Since the Nets are essentially a ticking time bomb and will probably be missing one of James Harden, Kevin Durant or Kyrie Irving here and there throughout the season, it’s hard to back them at -250.

Similarly, since the 76ers will most likely deal Ben Simmons, the Knicks have to prove themselves again and the Raptors are rebuilding, Boston is even more appealing. 

Central Division: Chicago Bulls (+700)

Other Teams: Milwaukee Bucks (-750), Indiana Pacers (+1200), Cleveland Cavaliers (+15000), Detroit Pistons (+15000)

The defending champion Bucks are the favorites for a reason, but this Bulls team is going to be very dangerous. Nikola Vucevic and Zach LaVine will both be back. DeMar DeRozan and Lonzo Ball joined the team in the summer. Role players Alex Caruso and Derrick Jones Jr. were also quietly added. Youngsters Coby White and Patrick Williams should both continue to develop.

Billy Donovan should guide this team to a very solid year and they’re arguably deeper than Milwaukee, who has some major question marks off the bench. Right now, it’ll be easy to write off the Pacers, Cavs and Pistons, all of whom don’t have the talent to match the Bucks or Bulls at the top of the division.

Northwest Division: Portland Trail Blazers (+850)

Other Teams: Utah Jazz (-350), Denver Nuggets (+425), Minnesota Timberwolves (+4000), Oklahoma City Thunder (+25000)

Remember that the Blazers are just a couple years removed from a Western Conference Finals appearance. A key to their success is the health of center Jusuf Nurkic, who is a beast on both ends of the court. When he’s 100%, the combination of him, Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum are a legitimate Big Three.

New head coach Chauncey Billups should also be able to maximize the effectiveness of both Lillard and McCollum. His fresh perspective might be just what this team needs to take the next level.

Norman Powell should provide another source of scoring and newcomers Cody Zeller and Larry Nance Jr. should all play major roles as well while Robert Covington plays heavy minutes in a defensive-oriented mindset. This division could end up being very tight and Portland’s star power is more impressive than both Utah and Denver.

Pacific Division: Golden State Warriors (+220)

Other Teams: Los Angeles Lakers (+220), Phoenix Suns (+160), Los Angeles Clippers (+1200), Sacramento Kings (+6600)

Think back to the former Golden State Warriors championship teams. Did Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green have a supporting cast of players like Andrew Wiggins, James Wiseman, Jordan Poole, Damion Lee, Otto Porter Jr., Nemanja Bjelica and rookies Jonathan Kuminga and Moses Moody?

The answer is no.

Andre Iguodala and Kevon Looney will also be back. The Lakers will need to adjust to the addition of Russell Westbrook (especially defensively) and most likely deal with an injury or two to Anthony Davis while the Suns aren’t the best bet to win at +160. The Clippers are intriguing at +1200 and the Kings are an afterthought, but expect a major bounce back from Steve Kerr’s team in 2021-2022.

Southeast Division: Miami Heat (-110)

Other Teams: Atlanta Hawks (+130), Charlotte Hornets (+1200), Washington Wizards (+1400), Orlando Magic (+15000)

By acquiring Kyle Lowry and veteran P.J. Tucker and re-signing Victor Oladpio to a veteran’s minimum this summer, the Heat are well-positioned to make a run this season. Lowry, Oladipo, Jimmy Butler, Duncan Robinson and Bam Adebayo will likely receive the bulk of the playing time, but Tyler Herro, Tucker, Dewayne Dedmon and Markieff Morris should also make an impact off the bench.

The Hawks are talented and deep as well and LaMelo Ball should take a step forward and make the Hornets dangerous, but this is Miami’s division to lose. The Wizards and Magic will be rebuilding.

Southwest Division: New Orleans Pelicans (+1000)

Other Teams: Dallas Mavericks (-175), Memphis Grizzlies (+225), San Antonio Spurs (+1600), Houston Rockets (+10000)

The Mavericks didn’t do anything to improve this offseason, while the Grizzlies have a jumbled assortment of young talent surrounding Ja Morant. The Pelicans might be the best divisional bet on the board at +1000, as they will not only bring back both Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram, but also acquired veterans Jonas Valanciunas, Devonte’ Graham, Tomas Satoransky, Garrett Temple.

Between J-Val and Zion (once he returns), this might be the most physically-intimidating frontcourt in recent NBA history.

Further, they re-signed Josh Hart and will be counting on the development of Kira Lewis Jr. and Nickeil Alexander-Walker. In all, they will be a very deep team that, in my eyes, has a distinct edge over every other team in the division. The Spurs and Rockets are both lacking from a talent standpoint. 

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