It’s the first weekend of the NBA season and there are so many stories to unfold and heroes to be made over the next few months. The premier basketball tournament in the world is the center of attention for many sports bettors, and I’ve taken a look at some of the key games this weekend to help you get your NBA betting season off to a good start. Let’s have a look at our free betting picks.
| NBA Weekend Picks |  |  |  |
|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia v Brooklyn | |||
| Philadelphia | TBC | TBC | TBC |
| Brooklyn | TBC | TBC | TBC |
| LA Lakers v Phoenix | |||
| Lakers | TBC | TBC | TBC |
| Phoenix | TBC | TBC | TBC |
| Orlando v NY Knicks | |||
| Orlando | TBC | TBC | TBC |
| NY Knicks | TBC | TBC | TBC |
| Toronto v Boston | |||
| Toronto | TBC | TBC | TBC |
| Boston | TBC | TBC | TBC |
This year’s off-season has been as full of speculation and drama as we expect and much of it has focused around these two Eastern Conference contenders.
Brooklyn are starting the season without one of their big three, Kyrie Irving, due to his approach to vaccinations, while Ben Simmons’ reluctance to even be with the 76ers in practice led to his being suspended from their opening game in New Orleans.
Of the two, it is Simmons whose absence will have the biggest impact. A Nets line-up without Kyrie can still boast two MVPs and a cast of useful support characters, while the 76ers will, once again, be depending on Joel Embiid. Both the Simmons and Irving sagas have a way to run yet, but it is Philly who are hurting more in the short term and the Nets look good for the win here.
While the drama was playing out in the East, the Lakers were busy assembling an awe-inspiring line-up. With the energy and drive of Russell Westbrook, the backup skillset of Carmelo Anthony, and the return of play-off Rondo, a team that last season depended almost entirely on the fitness of LeBron James and Anthony Davis suddenly looks like the most stacked outfit in the West.
But the Western Conference is no respecter of reputations or predictions. On Tuesday night, the Golden State Warriors reminded LeBron and co that when fully fit, they are Championship contenders, and now the Lakers will take on last season’s beaten finalists. And they’ll be doing so without some of that supporting cast, including Trevor Ariza, Wayne Ellington, and Kendrick Nunn.
Phoenix meanwhile are pretty much at full strength and fully motivated to prove that last season was no fluke. The Chris Paul and Devin Booker partnership is one of the best backcourt pairings around and I think they look a good bet to make an early point against the favorites in the West.
Knicks fans have been waiting a long, long time for a team that can give them something, anything, to shout about and last season they finally got their wish. Built on Tom Thibodeau’s fourth-ranked defense, the Knicks finished fourth in the East, breaking their playoff drought, and were rated the most improved team in the NBA, thanks in part to the efforts of the league’s Most Improved player, Julius Randle. With Kemba Walker, Evan Fournier and the improving R J Barrett boosting their offense, the Knicks have every chance of backing up last season’s performance.
Orlando shifted gears in the middle of last season and are building their hopes on youth, with the arrival of Jalen Suggs something of a bonus. They could also benefit from two players out to rebuild after significant injuries in Markelle Fultz and Jonathan Isaac, and they seem to be well-stocked with guards, though are some way short of knowing their optimum line-up.
Still, putting your faith in young players requires a lot of patience and in addition, Orlando are starting the season with injury question marks over Suggs, Chuma Okeke, and Michael Carter-Williams. The full-strength Knicks are a season further on in their rebuild than the Magic and that makes them a more solid proposition than Orlando in the short and medium terms.
Last season was a write-off for the Raptors, as they were forced to play their home games in Florida, while their starters missed a chunk of games, and as a result, they were able to land the fourth pick in the draft in Scottie Barnes. But that gain was more than offset by the loss of Kyle Lowry in free agency, which means that Toronto will depend even more on their core of Fred VanVleet, OG Anunoby, and Pascal Siakam, and to make significant progress, they are going to need their young players to step up.
Boston will also be depending on a core of key stars in Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum, and after the massive rebuilding job Brad Stevens has undertaken this summer in his new role as President of Basketball Operations, it will be fascinating to see which way this group will go. Improving on last season’s seventh spot will be considered the minimum by Celtics fans, and while there remains the potential for this project to go wrong, they have the strength in depth to brush aside teams like Toronto, for whom Siakam may be missing this weekend.
Check out the top betting sites below. You can get all the latest odds and the best value when you bet on the NBA through these betting partners.
About the Author
Noelle Matthews is a highly experienced professional in the betting industry, with over 15 years of expertise. She has made significant contributions to leading organizations in the field, including Betfair, ESPN, and Sporting Life. With her deep understanding of sports betting, you can find her insightful and informative reviews, articles, and previews on this platform. Pandora's extensive knowledge and years of experience make her a valuable resource for anyone interested in sports betting.
Read Noelle's ProfileAsk Noelle about this guide:
