Oddsmaker: Biggest NBA Title Liabilities are the Brooklyn Nets and Denver Nuggets

With about a month left in the NBA regular season, we checked in with Jay Croucher, Pointsbet USA’s Head of Trading, to chat about the book’s biggest futures liabilities.

“PointsBet’s two biggest liabilities in the outright book are two teams that have remade themselves in-season -- the Brooklyn Nets, and our hometown Denver Nuggets,” Croucher said. “The Nets, predictably, took a tidal wave of money following the Harden trade, and similarly, bettors are believing in the Nuggets, who are undefeated since acquiring Aaron Gordon."

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Currently at PointsBet, The Nets are the favorites to win the title at +250. Brooklyn has the second best record in the league, despite the fact that we’ve barely seen their triumvirate of stars on the court together at the same time. Understandably there are some that bring up the question of whether Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, and James Harden can all function together. I’m on the opposite end of the spectrum when it comes to that discussion. These three stars are good enough to co-exist and carry Brooklyn to the Finals, regardless of chemistry or opponent.

The Nuggets come in with longer odds, +1400, to win it all. I loved the acquisition of Gordon, and can see this team making a Finals run. They have two stars in MVP favorite Nikola Jokic, and Jamal Murray, who showed us what he’s capable of offensively in the bubble last season. Denver also has playoff experience, depth, and two high level players in Michael Porter Jr. and Gordon who will help tremendously come playoff time.

Speaking of the MVP, that race has been fun to track this season, especially from a betting perspective. The favorites have bounced all over the place, as we’ve seen LeBron James and Joel Embiid up there, before they went down with injuries. Jokic is now the overwhelming favorite (-134) at most books, including PointsBet.

"The MVP story also stays with these two teams, with Jokic the clear favorite and Harden currently representing PointsBet’s biggest liability,” the oddsmaker said. “Bettors believe in Harden making history -- he would be the first MVP to be traded during the season -- and don’t believe voters will hold his lackluster start to the season in Houston against him.”

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The Joker is averaging 26.3 points, 10.9 rebounds, 8.7 assists. The Denver big man is also ranked 1st in PER, making his case for the award even stronger.

The Beard’s numbers aren’t too shabby either, as he’s putting up 25.2 points, 8 rebounds, and 10.9 assists per game. Harden had been carrying Brooklyn since coming over until he recently went down with a hamstring injury.

We’re down to the final stretch of the season, so it will be fun to watch how these bets play out. Health is the obvious key for both Brooklyn and Denver if they want to contend for the title, so that will be something to keep an eye on. As for the MVP award, it looks like it’s Jokic’s to lose, especially after Harden going down this week. The NBA Playoffs can't get here fast enough.