With the start of
the NBA betting season, just a day away, it’s
time to take a look at the candidates to win
the 2007-08 eastern conference championship.
This article will
separate the pretenders from the contenders
and those teams that have no realistic chance
at all. With that said, let’s get
busy, the regular season tip-off is just around
the corner.
The Contenders
Boston Celtics +225
The Celtics have vaulted
themselves to the top of the eastern conference
in the eyes of the oddsmakers by acquiring
veteran all-stars, Kevin Arnett and Ray Allen.
Now, all the team needs is to, ‘just do it’.
Cleveland Cavaliers +400
Although the Cavaliers
won the eastern conference last season, they
will have their work more than cut out for
them this season as the target of every team’s
eastern conference title hopes. Still, any
team with LeBron James, is a contender.
Detroit Pistons +325
I don’t know if most people are forgetting
about the Pistons or what, but I’m not.
Lest we not forget, despite the past two postseason
failures under head coach Flip Saunders, Detroit
is an experienced, well-balanced team that still
has several dangerous players – and now – an
infusion of youth.
Chicago Bulls +400
With a roster full
of young talent at nearly every position all
the Bulls need now is more experience – and some consistent low-post
scoring. Still, this team is a definite threat – unless
they blow up the roster for Kobe Bryant that
is.
Miami Heat +400
While I think the
Heat will have a tough way to go to win the
eastern conference, I can’t
put anything past a franchise that has Pat Riley,
Shaquille O’Neal and Dwyane Wade on its
payroll.
The Pretenders
Toronto Raptors +1200
While the Raptors
are most definitely headed in the right direction – and have an ‘old
school’ head coach I absolutely love in
Sam Mitchell, this team needs more time to grow
and learn. Still, Toronto may be only a year
or two away from winning the east altogether.
New Jersey Nets +1200
While this team will
win its share of games because of the trio
of Jason Kidd, Richard Jefferson and Vince
Carter, I say any team with Carter on its roster
is an instant pretender. Despite the fact that
he jumps really, really high, that’s
the only thing this former Tar Heel has in common
with the legendary Michael Jordan.
Orlando Magic +1200
Even though the Orlando Magic went out and acquired
high-scoring forward Rashard Lewis, this team
is at least two or three players away from really
contending.
Washington Wizards +2000
Gilbert Arenas, Antwan
Jamison and Caron Butler provide plenty of
offense for the Washington Wizards. I just
have one question for each star player and
head coach Eddie Jordan. Where’s
the defense? Until the Wizards realize they have
to defend, they’ll keep scoring plenty
of points while losing the meaningful games.
Milwaukee Bucks +3500
The Bucks are headed
in the right direction and have plenty of young
talent, however, with a first-year head coach
in Larry Krystowiak – and
young players who need more time to learn the
NBA game, Milwaukee is a team to watch out for
in the next few seasons – just not right
now.
Get Real
Atlanta Hawks +3500
The Hawks are in the ‘get real’ category
for now, but that may not last much longer as
this franchise could be headed back to respectability
before anyone ever suspects it.
Charlotte Bobcats +3500
I’m giving Michael
Jordan and new head coach Sam Vincent a few
years to build a winner in Charlotte. After
that, all bets are off for this franchise.
New York Knicks +2000
ABC television needs
to cancel their television show ‘Lost’ and just follow the Knicks
around to get the real definition for the word, ‘lost.’
Indiana Pacers +5000
Was it that long ago
that the Pacers were a perennial contender
in the eastern conference? Well, times have
changed apparently. If the Pacers see 40 wins
this season, I’ll be shocked.
Philadelphia 76ers +5000
Out with the old A.I. and in with the new. Led
by talented small forward, Andre Iguoadala, the
Sixers are now a very young team that will need
at least two or three seasons to get back on
track. Either that or speed up the process by
firing GM Billy King.
And the winner is… Being
the lifelong Boston Celtics fan that I am,
it certainly would be easy for me to pick my
beloved Celtics to win the eastern conference.
However, I can’t, in good conscious, pick
the C’s to beat the team that I really
believe will come out of the eastern conference
this season – the Detroit Pistons.
If Pistons head coach
Flip Saunders can find a way to mix the youthful
talent the team has acquired – with the
veteran stars already on the roster - the Pistons
could not only win the east, but the entire
NBA championship as well.
Of course, this would
depend on enigmatic, but gifted, forward Rasheed
Wallace finally maturing, but knowing the down-to-earth
Wallace, who played for my Godfather, the legendary
Bill Ellerbee at Simon Gratz high school in
Philadelphia, I already know the bad taste
left in his mouth from last year’s playoff exit at the hands
of the Cleveland Cavaliers will have ‘Sheed
more than ready for the start of the 2007-08
season.
If Saunders can help
the Pistons get back to playing the stellar
defense that led them to the championship title
three years ago, under former head coach Larry
Brown, Detroit could once again, become the ‘Beast
of the East.’
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Posted on 10/30/2007 1:20:06 AM
2007-08 NBA Odds To Win Eastern Conference
By Eric Williams
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