Whether you plan on making early season futures bets on the NBA or you are just looking for a basis for making your individual bets each night, you will need to have a firm understanding of where teams stand compared to last year. Take Miami, for instance. The Heat claimed the title last year, running through people en route to a difficult showdown with San Antonio at the end of it all. Can they do it again, winning the title and establishing a true dynasty?
If you are making NBA predictions, then you probably know that LeBron is the best player in the NBA. You need to know, though, that Wade has fallen off, and his health is a major concern. Players get worse with age, and even though Wade is not that old, he has a lot of mileage on his legs. This could mean much more pressure on LeBron to perform this year, as he will not have a surrounding cast that will be able to pick up as much slack. Can he handle this challenge and guide his team to the finals once again?
All signs point to LeBron having the ability to put a team right on his back. He has done so in the past, even when he has played for a rotten Cleveland squad. If Miami can make its way into the finals, then one would be hard-pressed to bet on anyone else. Miami is the reigning champ, though, and if you are a savvy NBA bettor, then you will know that the returning champion is often overvalued by the betting public. It may be difficult to get good value on Miami lines, especially early in the year when excited bettors will put money down on them.