2021-22 NBA Consensus Season Predictions & Best Bets

VegasInsider Staff Sports Betting Expert

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• Eastern Conference Best Bets
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The 2021-22 NBA regular season tips off this week on Tuesday Oct. 19 as 30 teams will compete for a chance to win the NBA Finals next June.

Prior to every season, we poll our stable of NBA Experts on VegasInsider with their predictions on the upcoming season.

For this consensus predictions piece, we focused on the five most popular betting markets in the NBA and received picks from 18 VI Experts.

• NBA Finals Winner
• NBA Eastern Conference Winner
• NBA Western Conference Winner
• NBA Most Valuable Player
• NBA Win Totals (Over-Under)

Let’s take a closer look at the NBA Predictions for the 2022 regular season.

Kevin Durant and the Brooklyn Nets are expected to be serious contenders come June 2022. (AP)

NBA Finals

Consensus (Odds per BetMGM)

• 4 - Brooklyn (+240)
• 3 - L.A. Lakers (+400)
• 3 - Utah (+1600)
• 2 - Phoenix (+1500)
• 2 - Milwaukee (+900)
• 2 - Golden State (+900)
• 1 - Denver (+2200)

We know the Milwaukee Bucks will be the defending champions but can Giannis Antetokounmpo repeat?

Two of our individuals are buying the Bucks but the favorite among our stable of 18 handicappers is Brooklyn, who comes in with four picks. The Nets are currently +240 to win the NBA Finals at BetMGM Sportsbook.

Closely behind the Nets are three teams from the Western Conference with the Lakers, Suns and Jazz all receiving attention from three experts.

The L.A. Lakers are the second choice at 4/1 odds to win the title at BetMGM and right behind them are the Golden State Warriors, who were picked by two individuals in our stable.

One of those experts is Jonathan Jorcin and he explained his position on Golden State. Jorcin said, “This team is valued at an extremely healthy +900. Lets not forget that Stephen Curry almost single handedly got them past the play-in game and to the playoffs without Klay Thompson. James Wiseman will be in his second year and I expect some good strides, and getting back Klay should also help Draymond Green. He isn't good enough to be the 2, but as the 4th option this team should be lighting up the scoreboards once again. Remember this team did not need KD to win one, and getting back to those roots could be recipe for another championship run”

NBA Eastern Conference

Consensus (Odds per BetMGM)

• 7 - Brooklyn (-125)
• 6 - Milwaukee (+425)
• 1 - Atlanta (+1600)
• 1 - Boston (+2000)
• 1 - Miami (+1200)
• 1 - New York (+4000)
• 1 - Philadelphia (+750)

To no surprise, our experts believe the NBA East will be a two horse race between Brooklyn (-125) and Milwaukee (+425).

While 13 of 18 experts believe the top two choices will capture the East, we do have five other teams to keep in mind when playing futures to win the East.

One of the clubs is Philadelphia and Jorcin is buying the team. He explained, “This may be more about the price, but withEmbiid healthy, and the emergence of Maxey, Milton, Seth Curry, and the defense of Green and Harris, this team is very good. I also assume that the outside shot of them getting Ben Simmons aboard for the remainder of ‘The Process’ and I think that bodes well for their chances. He may not be the offensive threat he needs to be, but provides plenty enough for this team to make it to the NBA Finals.”

NBA Western Conference

Consensus (Odds per BetMGM)

• 6 - Utah (+750)
• 5 - L.A. Lakers (+170)
• 3 - Golden State (+425)
• 3 - Phoenix (+700)
• 1 - Denver (+1100)

Joel Embiid looks to stay healthy this season and win his first NBA MVP Award with odds to do so at +700 with BetMGM. (AP)

NBA Most Valuable Player

Consensus (Odds per BetMGM)

• 4 - Kevin Durant (+700)
• 4 - Joel Embiid (+700)
• 2 - Donovan Mitchell (+3000)
• 2 - Stephen Curry (+900)
• 1 - Luka Doncic (+400)
• 1 - Nikolaj Jokic (+1600)
• 1 - Giannis Antetokounmpo (+800)
• 1 - James Harden (+2500)
• 1 - Anthony Davis (+2500)
• 1 - Devin Booker (+2000)

Luka Doncic was listed as the preseason betting favorite to win the NBA Most Valuable Player award last season and he’s once again the top choice at BetMGM Sportsbook.

He’s got odds of 4/1 and VI NBA Expert Joe Nelson believes he’ll connect this season. Nelson said, “The NBA MVP remains a voting award and not a true performance award. There is a history of some bias towards newcomers rather than repeat winners and Luke Doncic seems like a serious threat to be the scoring leader this season, after finishing sixth last season in the abbreviated season while his supporting cast revolved through numerous injuries. Doncic improved his 3-point shooting significantly from 2019-20 to 2020-21 and he seems likely to have the volume required for the award with much less load management than some of the veterans in this conversation.”

There a few VI Experts that expect the Toronto Raptors to go 'over' their NBA Win Total this season. (AP)

NBA Win Totals (Over-Under)

Top Over Consensus (Odds per BetMGM)

• 3 - Over Toronto Raptors (35.5)
• 2 - Over Golden State Warriors (48.5)
• 2 - Over San Antonio Spurs (28.5)
• 2 - Over Memphis Grizzlies (41.5)
• 1 - Nine Teams

Top Under Consensus (Odds per BetMGM)

• 3 - Under Brooklyn Nets (56.5)
• 2 - Under Boston Celtics (45.5)
• 2 - Under L.A. Clippers (45.5)
• 2 - Under Houston Rockets (27.5)
• 2 - Under Golden State Warriors (48.5)
• 1 - Seven Teams

Waiting seven months for a betting ticket to cash isn’t easy for most bettors but the great thing about the Win Totals is that many of these outcomes are decided before the season ends.

Of our 18 handicappers, the Raptors (35.5) is the top ‘over’ pick while the Nets (56.5) was the most selected ‘under’ choice.

Nelson was one of three VI NBA Experts to buy Toronto and he backs up his pick with solid analysis. He made his case, “The Raptors crashed to 27-45 last season, but they were barely negative in scoring differential and went just 16-20 in ‘home’ games, played in Florida as the Raptors had a significant disadvantage all season. Nick Nurse is still regarded as one of the best coaches in the league and the Raptors were 53-19 in 2019-20 with one of the tougher home courts in the league. Pascal Siakam may miss the first month of so but adding Goran Dragic gives this team a solid backcourt while they’ll have midseason acquisition Gary Trent for the full season. OG Anunoby took a big leap last season while Malachi Flynn offered some promise in his rookie season while other than the top two teams, the Eastern Conference field does not look all that demanding as this group could move up significantly.”

Listed below are a complete breakdown of all our NBA Experts that participated in this year’s Consensus Predictions.

2021-22 NBA Finals & Conference Consensus Predictions

2021-22 NBA Win Total Consensus Predictions

2021-22 MVP Consensus Predictions

VegasInsider Staff

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