Final 2018 NBA Season Betting Predictions

The 2018-19 regular season in the National Basketball Association got underway last night, as Philadelphia visited Boston and Golden State welcomed the Oklahoma City Thunder. The 82- game marathon to the postseason is up and running, and while many people think that Boston and Golden State will finish atop the Eastern and Western Conference, respectively, there’s a lot of hoops to happen between now and then. If you’re into NBA futures  as part of your online betting, take a look at our predictions for the way things will shake out over the course of the season.

Final 2018 NBA Season Betting Predictions

.@RealSkipBayless predicts the 2018-19 NBA Western Conference Standings:

1. Golden State Warriors 2. Utah Jazz 3. New Orleans Pelicans 4. Houston Rockets 5. Denver Nuggets 6. Oklahoma City Thunder 7. Los Angeles Lakers 8. Portland Trail Blazers pic.twitter.com/xvhyj2ttE2 — UNDISPUTED (@undisputed) October 18, 2018

MVP: Joel Embiid (Philadelphia)

Yes, Anthony Davis is the make-or-break player for the New Orleans Pelicans. LeBron James will deliver at least 10 more wins for the Los Angeles Lakers. But there is no player in the NBA with a higher ceiling than Embiid,  who can drain the mid-range shot, drive around his man to the hoop, dominate the boards, alter shots, and pour in the points, all while laughing his way back down the court. He has the leadership maturity to note that his Sixers have a long way to go before they can be considered rivals to the Celtics, because they haven’t played competitively against them in some time, and he also has the confidence to elevate Philadelphia to the top of the East.

Rookie of the Year: Luka Doncic (Dallas)

Doncic follows Dennis Smith Jr as Dallas’ second highly touted rookie draft pick in as many seasons. Doncic comes in with considerably more experience than DSJ, though, as he started playing pro ball when he was just 16. The other rookies who will be in this race, such as Deandre Ayton, Kevin Knox and Trae Young, all come from the college ranks and don’t have the exposure to elite ball that Doncic has had. Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle, typically an underpromise-and-overdeliver type of leader, is uncharacteristically enthusiastic about the improvement that Doncic is set to bring to the team.

Coach of the Year: Mike Bundenholzer (Milwaukee)

The end of the Jason Kidd era in Milwaukee means that the Bucks will have a coach that can lead a team through significant adversity. Giannis Anteookounmpo is the best player in the Central Division and, with a tactical leader behind him, should make a solid run at the MVP award. At the very least, he will lead the Bucks to a division title and at least a second-round appearance in the NBA playoffs.

Most Improved Player: Markelle Fultz (Philadelphia)

Remember, Fultz missed a good portion of the 2017-18 season because of injury. He came in with a significant amount of rust, but once he was able to knock it off in game play, he showed a terrific shot and confidence on both ends of the floor. With a full season ahead of him, and an Eastern Conference that no longer has LeBron James blocking the postseason path, Fultz has plenty of room to show how he has grown as a player and take the Sixers to the next level.

Sixth Man of the Year: Lou Williams (L.A. Clippers)

All Lou Williams has done, whether with the Lakers, Rockets or Clippers, is come in off the bench and score, pouring in points by the bucketload. He travels under the radar, and that’s just fine by him, but that is coming to an end. Some other candidates here include Carmelo Anthony, but all Anthony has ever done in the NBA is generate empty offensive numbers while failing to play defense for teams that underachieve in large part because of the big check (and the big chunk of playing time) they give him. Marcus Smart is another solid candidate here, but I like Williams to have a big season helping the Clippers get back to the postseason.