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NBA Season Win Totals Predictions: Over and Under Picks for Every Team


by - 10/6/2017

Stephen Curry Golden State Warriors

The 2017-18 NBA campaign is fast approaching after a wild offseason that saw plenty of all-stars change locations. A lot of teams appear to have gotten markedly better, just as many others seem destined to be much, much worse. How will the Cleveland-Boston trade shake out in the win-loss column? Can Oklahoma City and Houston compete with Golden State for the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference? Those questions, and more, will be discussed in the form of "over/under" win totals.

Odds provided by BetOnline Sportsbook.

Best over play

Milwaukee Bucks (36.5) - Over . The Bucks improved from 33-49 record in 2015-16 to a 42-40 record last season that put them in the Eastern Conference playoffs as the No. 6 seed. Milwaukee's roster is basically the exact same, and in this case that is not a bad thing. Almost everyone is young and improving-most importantly, of course, Giannis Antetokounmpo. The "Greek Freak" averaged 22.9 points, 8.8 rebounds, 5.4 assists, 1.9 blocks, and 1.6 steals per game in 2016-17 and he is still two months away from his 23rd birthday.

Best under play

Indiana Pacers (30.5) - Under . Even with Paul George and Jeff Teague, the Pacers barely scraped into the playoffs last season at 42-40. Now George and Teague are gone, as are Monta Ellis and Aaron Brooks. Victor Oladipo came over in the George trade with Oklahoma City, joined by Domantas Sabonis. Those additions, of course, are not enough to compensate for the losses, but the Pacers don't care about immediate dividends. Indiana is going to be terrible; and that might not be a bad thing given its desire to rebuild and perhaps get a top pick.

The rest

Golden State Warriors (67.5) - Over .The Warriors have won at least 67 games on three straight occasions, including a record 73 in 2015-16. Heading into another NBA title defense, Golden State re-signed everybody and also added Omri Casspi and Nick Young.

Houston Rockets (54.5) - Over . The Rockets now have a big two in James Harden and Chris Paul, while fellow guard Eric Gordon is not a bad third option. They have won at least 54 games in three of the past four seasons and should be better than ever in 2017-18.

Cleveland Cavaliers (54.5) - Under . Cleveland lost four straight at the end of 2016-17 to finish with 51 wins and lose the Eastern Conference No.1 seed to Boston. LeBron James and company just don't care until the playoffs. Can Isaiah Thomas adequately replace Kyrie Irving?

Boston Celtics (53.5) - Over . The Celtics will look totally different this season, but it marks the apparent completion of rebuilding that began with hiring Brad Stevens in 2013. Al Horford is still around, joined by all-stars Irving and Gordon Hayward to make for a daunting roster.

San Antonio Spurs (53.5) - Over . Every time you think the Spurs are getting older and getting worse, they don't. Gregg Popovich's team has won at least 55 games five years in a row, including 58 in four of those five. Basically the exact same squad is back from 2016-17.

Oklahoma City Thunder (52.5) - Under . The Thunder went from a Big 3 (Harden, Russell Westbrook, and Kevin Durant) down to one and now back to three (Westbrook, Carmelo Anthony, and George). How long will it take Westbrook to gel with his new mates?

Washington Wizards (48.5) - Under . Washington remains what Atlanta got fed up with being: consistently good but nowhere close to the best in the Eastern Conference. The Wizards have won between 41 and 49 games the last four seasons. Expect more of the same in 2017-18.

Toronto Raptors (47.5) - Under .Toronto's win total the last four years: 48, 49, 56, and 51. The latter total tied the Raptors for second with Cleveland in the East in 2016-17. DeMar DeRozan and Kyle Lowry are back, but some serious defenders are gone. Toronto will not be deep.

Minnesota Timberwolves (46.5) - Under . The Timberwolves have not accrued more than 44 victories in a season since 2003-04. They have reached the 40-win mark just once since 2004-05. Jimmy Butler joins Karl-Anthony Towns and Andrew Wiggins, but a 16-win jump is a big ask.

Denver Nuggets (43.5) - Over . Denver has improved from 30, to 33, to 40 wins the past three years. It finished only one game out of a playoff spot in 2016-17. The addition of Paul Millsap to an emerging backcourt should get the Nuggets over the hump-but not by a wide margin.

Miami Heat (42.5) - Over . Miami went a hard-to-believe 30-11 in the second half of last season and lost a tiebreaker to Chicago for the No. 8 seed in the East at 41-41. Basically everyone is back-including Goran Dragic and Hassan Whiteside-and Kelly Olynyk was added.

Charlotte Hornets (42.5) - Over . As the Hawks recently figured out, acquiring Dwight Howard was a good idea a decade ago-but it isn't anymore. That being said, Charlotte also added Michael Carter-Williams and has a better roster than it did when it won 48 games in 2015-16.

Los Angeles Clippers (42.5) - Under . The Clippers have won more than 50 games in five consecutive years. But Paul is no longer walkin' through that door, and neither is Jamal Crawford and J.J. Redick, among others. This is a franchise on the way down.

Portland Trail Blazers (40.5) - Under . Speaking of taking a turn for the worse, Portland just endured its worst season (41-41) since 2012-13. Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum at least managed to get the Trail Blazers to the playoffs (barely), but they don't have much help.

Philadelphia 76ers (40.5) - Over . Can the process be trusted? Well, after winning 19, 18, and 10 games in three disastrous seasons, the 76ers went a relatively mediocre 28-54 in 2016-17. Ben Simmons is presumably healthy now, and they also added No. 1 pick Markelle Fultz.

New Orleans Pelicans (40.5) - Over . The Pelicans underwhelmed after acquiring Cousins from Sacramento in the latter stages of latest season, but perhaps Cousins and Anthony Davis have managed to gel with some time under their belts. Newcomer Rajon Rondo can facilitate.

Memphis Grizzlies (38.5) - Under . Memphis reached the playoffs with three games to spare in 2016-17, going an unspectacular 43-39. There will be a step back this year; the question is to what extent. Franchise stalwarts Zach Randolph and Tony Allen have moved on.

Detroit Pistons (38.5) - Over . The Pistons have won more than 39 games only once since 2008-09, they last time they made a postseason appearance. Their total last year was 37. Something similar can be expected, but adding Avery Bradley and Luke Kennard may help.

Utah Jazz (38.5) - Over . Utah will be way worse than it was in 2016-17 (51-31) because Hayward has taken his talents to Boston. On the bright side, Ricky Rubio is a capable point guard and Thabo Sefolosha is a nice role player. They may be able to lessen the blow.

Dallas Mavericks (35.5) - Under . Dirk Nowitzki is still hanging on, but his team is not. Dallas has slumped from 50 wins three seasons ago to 42 in 2015-16 and 33 in 2016-17. The Mavericks have the exact same roster, basically, and Nowitzki (39) is one year older.

Los Angeles Lakers (32.5) - Under . The Lakers always have a lot of eyes on them, and they certainly will in 2017-18 with the arrival of Lonzo Ball and his accompanying baggage (in the form of his dad, of course). Several key pieces left, however, so another struggle is assured.

Orlando Magic (30.5) - Under . Orlando has won between 20 and 35 games the last five years, including 29 in 2016-17. The Magic's lack of talent is evident in the fact that they have not sent a player to the All-Star Game since 2011-12. They have some athletes; just not enough.

New York Knicks (30.5) - Under . The Carmelo Anthony era is over in New York, so this is Kristaps Porzingis' team. Unfortunately for the Knicks, Porzingis does not appear to be happy, and he will be even less happy because they will be even worse than their recent 31-51 effort.

Sacramento Kings (29.5) - Under . The Kings have picked up between 28 and 33 wins the last five seasons. All of those (55 games of 2016-17) were with Cousins. Now Cousins is gone, so rookies De'Aaron Fox, Harry Giles, and Justin Jackson will have to pick up the slack.

Phoenix Suns (28.5) - Over . Phoenix won 23 games in 2015-16, 24 in 2016-17, and has not advanced to the playoffs since 2009-10. The Suns certainly won't make it there this season, but they should improve with an on-the-rise backcourt led by Devin Booker and Eric Bledsoe.

Atlanta Hawks (27.5) - Under . Finally tired of being stuck in mediocrity, the Hawks are in total rebuilding mode as they hope for a better future. Millsap, Tim Hardaway Jr., Thabo Sefolosha, and Jose Calderon are all history. Basically only Dennis Schroder remains.

Brooklyn Nets (26.5) - Under . The Nets won 21 games in 2015-16 and 20 last season. They added DeMarre Carroll, D'Angelo Russell, and Timofey Mozgov but lost Brook Lopez and Randy Foye. Luckily for Brooklyn in its bid to stockpile top picks, it won't be much better.

Chicago Bulls (22.5) - Over . Who ever thought we'd be living in a world where the Chicago Bulls are expected to be the worst team in the NBA, but here we are. The franchise has completely blown it up with the departures of Butler, Dwyane Wade, and Rondo.

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