2023 Philadelphia 76ers Predictions with Futures Odds and Expert NBA Picks
The Philadelphia 76ers have all the talent to compete for an NBA championship, but their toxic dressing room has gotten in the way of their success. The resolution of the drama surrounding James Harden will dictate how this season goes, as the former MVP has caused quite the commotion in the media. Can he regain his early career form, or will it be another season of ‘what ifs’ for the 76ers?
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Philadelphia 76ers Offseason Recap
The 76ers made some solid acquisitions in the offseason, bolstering their depth. Kelly Oubre Jr. is coming in from Charlotte, and Oubre Jr. will provide depth in the middle of the floor. And the versatile defender can hit 3’s and chase down boards. His addition will relieve some of the stress that forced Tobias Harris to play 32.9 minutes per game last season and will give Philadelphia a different look when he’s on the court.
The 76ers also picked up head coach Nick Nurse, after a successful career with the Raptors. Nurse brings a brand of basketball that is perfect for a rowdy 76ers crowd, but there are worries surrounding the number of minutes he gives his stars. The Raptors had 2 players in the top 5 for minutes per game, including Pascal Siakam with his league-leading 37.4 minutes. They also had 2 more players coming in the top 30, meaning almost their entire starting lineup was playing more than some team’s leading minute logger. Joel Embiid and James Harden both have injury histories, and Nurse may push the limit with his star talents and cause them to go down with an ailment.
The 76ers also picked up Patrick Beverley, who couldn’t have been a more perfect fit in Philly. He brings a tough brand of basketball with him and will certainly ignite a spark in the dressing room. He routinely gets into trouble for his off-court actions, but a 76ers squad that has lacked the grit needed to succeed may need a kick in the teeth once in a while.
Philadelphia 76ers Season Expectations
While there is a lot of talk surrounding Harden, the 76ers will need Joel Embiid to have another MVP caliber season if they are to find themselves in a top Eastern Conference seed. Embiid scored a career high 33.1 PPG en route to his first MVP award and chipped in with 10.2 Rebounds, and another career high in 4.2 Assists. While the big man’s game is often criticized for his tendency to draw fouls and get to the free throw line, opposition defenders often have no choice but to foul him to prevent easy 2-point buckets. There is no shame in getting 11.7 free throw attempts per game, as those are easy points on the board from the charity stripe.
Tyrese Maxey also had a solid season and has stamped his authority on being the third option on the team. His lightning quick ball handling abilities have allowed the 76ers to spread the floor and for Maxey to drop a career best 20.3 PPG last season. There is no shortage of talent in Philadelphia, and the expectations are understandably high for the 76ers to reach their first Eastern Conference championship series since 2001, after getting bounced in the first or second round in 6 straight seasons.
Philadelphia 76ers Schedule Breakdown
The 76ers start the season with a pair of road games in Milwaukee and Toronto, before playing 8 of their next 9 games at home, with a winnable road game in Detroit cutting up the lengthy home stand. After the All-Star break, the 76ers play 15 of their final 25 games away from home, so we could see them get off to a hot start and sputter out when the legs are tired in the latter stages of the season.
Philadelphia 76ers Odds
The 76ers have the 11th best title odds at +2200 but are projected to finish 5th in the league with a win total of 48.5 wins. There is no shortage of upside for the 76ers. And when looking to lock in an early season title bet, you can secure the best value by predicting if the 76ers odds will fall or rise in the early stages of the year. At +2200, there is no doubt this is the best price we’ll get on the 76ers for the better part of the season. And if they can take advantage of their early season home games, I wouldn’t be surprised at all to see this price drop into the +1500 range in the opening weeks. In the in-season tournament, they are favorites to win Group A, featuring the Cavaliers, Hawks, Pacers and Pistons. The Cavaliers will be the only contender, and I’m surprised to be seeing such a juicy price on their qualification.
Philadelphia 76ers 2023-24 Season Predictions
After scouring the NBA lineups, I was not a big fan of taking a shot on the 76ers. However, after seeing the +2200 price on offer, they have become a must bet in my eyes. They have the talent, depth, coaching, and drive to make a deep playoff run. And if Embiid can replicate his results from last season, they could once again find themselves near the top of the East once April rolls around.
As mentioned, this price will not be available for long, and it is critical you grab them at +2200 before the odds drop once they get off to a hot start. In the regular season, I can’t bring myself to bet the Over on 48.5 wins, despite the fact that they’ve cashed this number in 3 straight seasons. Nurse will do what he does best and test the boundaries of his athlete’s health. When one of the Big 3 in Philly inevitably gets sidelined, it will be a tall order for the 76ers to cash this total. Stick to the championship odds at +2200, and sprinkle some on them to win the in-season tournament at +1400, as it will likely take just 3 outright wins to cash the prop once they glide through their manageable group.
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