The NBA 2021-22 season started on Tuesday, October 19 as Association experiences its first “typical” campaign in three years. After two pandemic hit seasons, the NBA is set to return to the way fans know and love it.
With the NBA getting ready to tip-off, let’s look at some key dates, the odds on favorite to win the NBA title, and some news ahead of Tuesday night’s start.
NBA Key Dates
2021
- Oct. 19: Regular season begins
2022
- Feb. 18-20: NBA All-Star 2022 (Cleveland, OH)
- April 10: Regular season concludes
- April 12-15: Play-In Tournament
- April 16: Playoffs begin
- June 2: NBA Finals begin
- June 19: Game 7 of NBA Finals (if necessary)
- June 23: NBA Draft
One important note for the new NBA season is the playoff play-in tournament will continue. The added playoff games and teams have been a success thus far for the NBA and the league will continue it in 2021-22.
NBA 2021-22 Important News
Some important news heading into the season surrounds the Brooklyn Nets. The Nets are one of the “super teams” of the NBA but will be without one of their stars. Kyrie Irving will not play due to not being vaccinated.
Even without Irving, the Nets are favorites to reach the NBA Finals. The LA Lakers are also favorites to reach the NBA Finals. Although the Milwaukee Bucks won the finals last season and have strengthened the team for the new season, the Nets are considered the best in the Eastern Conference. Why?
The Nets have Kevin Durante and James Harden, and NBA pundits believe Brooklyn should win the NBA title with or without Irving. With Steve Nash as coach, anything could happen.
NBA 2021-22 Championship Betting odds
Going into the NBA 2021-22 season, the favorites to win the championship are the Nets, Lakers, and Bucks. All three teams are stacked and two of the three have won the last two NBA Championships.
Compared to the last 10 years of the NBA in which three teams (Lakers, Warriors, Heat) mostly dominated the Association, it feels like this season could be a bit more wide open. The emphasis is on a bit more as the Lakers or Bucks could once again lift the NBA Finals Trophy.
According to Bovada, the early odds as of October 19 to win the NBA Championship looks like this:
| Team | Current Odds |
|---|---|
| Brooklyn Nets | +250 |
| Los Angeles Lakers | +375 |
| Milwaukee Bucks | +900 |
| Golden State Warriors | +1000 |
| Phoenix Suns | +1500 |
| Utah Jazz | +1600 |
| Los Angeles Clippers | +1600 |
| Philadelphia 76ers | +1600 |
| Denver Nuggets | +2000 |
| Miami Heat | +2500 |
| Dallas Mavericks | +3000 |
| Atlanta Hawks | +3500 |
| Boston Celtics | +4000 |
| Chicago Bulls | +5000 |
| Portland Trail Blazers | +6600 |
| New York Knicks | +8000 |
| New Orleans Pelicans | +10000 |
| Indiana Pacers | +10000 |
| Memphis Grizzlies | +10000 |
| Charlotte Hornets | +10000 |
| Toronto Raptors | +15000 |
| Washington Wizards | +15000 |
| Sacramento Kings | +25000 |
| San Antonio Spurs | +30000 |
| Minnesota Timberwolves | +30000 |
| Cleveland Cavaliers | +50000 |
| Detroit Pistons | +50000 |
| Orlando Magic | +50000 |
| Houston Rockets | +50000 |
| Oklahoma City Thunder | +50000 |
The Phoenix Suns reached the final last season and are one of the Western Conference’s top teams. Chris Paul will pull the strings, but will it be enough to out dual the Lakers this season?
Who are the dark horses to win the NBA Championship? The Atlanta Hawks surprised many last season by reaching the Eastern Conference Finals. They are at the best betting odds of +3500. The Miami Heat did some good offseason work and are at odds of +2500 to win the finals.
NBA Picks for Wednesday, October 20
The NBA season’s second night is Wednesday, October 20. There is a laundry list of games on night No. 2, giving punters plenty of betting chances.
Boston Celtics vs. New York Knicks
The Boston Celtics have seen plenty of change this offseason as Brad Stevens took over the GM role. This isn’t a very strong roster and making the playoffs could be the biggest hope for the Celtics this season.
The New York Knicks are, well, the New York Knicks. Hopes will be high as always in the Big Apple, but the team may not be able to produce. The good news for coach Tom Thibodeau is the team went 4-0 in preseason. Three of those games were at Madison Square Guardian, the site of Wednesday’s game with the Celtics.
The Celtics were 2-2 in preseason, losing both away games. New York won two of three games against the Celtics last season, including their only game at Madison Square Garden. The Knicks should win once more and start the new campaign on the right foot.
Denver Nuggets vs. Phoenix Suns
The Denver Nuggets visit the Phoenix Suns to start the new season. The Suns swept the Nuggets in four games in last season’s Western Conference Semifinals. The Suns scored 116 points or more in all four games.
Phoenix was 3-1 in preseason with each of its last three games finishing in wins. The Nuggets, on the other hand, went 1-4. Their only was against the Oklahoma City Thunder to finish preseason. Based on last season’s sweep in the playoffs and a stronger preseason, the Phoenix Suns should win on Wednesday night at home.
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