posted October 28, 2009 at 11:40 EST in NBA Articles
NBA Futures Betting - Spurs head up the Southwest Division
by Charles Jay
NBA Basketball Futures Betting
A quick look at the Southwest Division
I am not sure the Spurs are going to be seriously challenged for the top spot in the Southwest Division, unless they decide that it is more important to pace themselves in the regular season so that they are fresher for the playoffs. It wouldn't be the first time that happened.
To Win Southwest Division
- San Antonio Spurs -225
- Dallas Mavericks +400
- Houston Rockets +650
- New Orleans Hornets +750
- Memphis Grizzlies +8000
SAN ANTONIO SPURS (-225) -- As long as Tim Duncan's got some gas left in the tank, we kind of like the Spurs' chances. San Antonio is hoping for a healthy ankle from sixth man extraordinaire Manu Ginobili, and the Spurs have a bunch of nice role players like Antonio McDyess (who'll probably start at center), George Hill, Roger Mason, Matt Bonner, Michael Finley and Theo Ratliff.
Richard Jefferson brings something very important to the table, because he is a bona fide third scoring threat in the lineup even when Ginobili isn't on the floor. Everyone around San Antonio is talking about what a bruiser second-round pick DeJuan Blair can be. I'm figuring he's the biggest "steal" of the draft and can give Duncan the kind of "lunch pail" guy that come off the bench and kick asses, given some time, of course. The reports of this team's demise have been greatly exaggerated.
DALLAS MAVERICKS (+400) -- With Dirk Nowitzki, Jason Terry and Josh Howard, Dallas has itself a trio of reliable performers. Shawn Marion is now on board, but remembering the complaints he had in Phoenix about being the "third option," I really don't think he's ever going to be an instrumental member of a real winner. Jason Kidd can still direct an offense, but he has lost a step or two on the defensive end. The Mavericks are, in my opinion, are going to find themselves in need of some depth as the season progresses, and their steadfast refusal to upgrade the center position is kind of perplexing. Erick Dampier is old by now, and Drew Gooden is soft.
HOUSTON ROCKETS (+650) -- There will have to be a lot of patchwork here, without Yao Ming, who is injured and out for the year, the departed Ron Artest, and Tracy McGrady, who will be back at a point that is yet to be determined. The center position could be a "committee" thing, and it is hoped that David Andersen, a seven-footer from overseas, can step in and play a lot of minutes. Chuck Hayes, Carl Landry and Joey Dorsey can bang some people around up front. Reportedly they are going to pump up the pace a lot, to compensate for what they expect will be a size disadvantage most of the time, and Trevor Ariza will fit in nicely for that. This team might be better defensively than most people think. Remember, Shane Battier is still around. Adelman will piece something together with role players, and no one should sell him short, A playoff berth would not shock me.
NEW ORLEANS HORNETS (+750) -- Chris Paul is unquestionably the pre-eminent point guard around, and he can run whatever kind of set the Hornets want to use. He was +19.8 in his plus-minus rating, and is particularly good in the pick-and-roll offenses, and can he make that work with brand new big man Emeka Okafor? This team's "Big Three" thing is now a "Big Two" with Paul and David West, with Peja Stajakovic slated for less duty.
Forward Julius Wright, whose contract was just extended, will get a chance to be a starter. He averaged 4.4 points last year. James Posey is obviously a great guy to have on the bench, and the Hornets think the addition of Bobby Brown, Ike Diogu and Darius Songalia, as well as cat-quick draft pick Darren Collison, will help in that area. They're iffy, but they actually have a chance to be better, and I would give them a chance to be second to San Antonio.
MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES (+8000) -- There are some good individual players here; indeed, there is a nucleus of O.J. Mayo, Rudy Gay, Mike Conley and Marc Gasol that can take this team forward, not to mention Hasheem Thabeet, who will put some bricks up there on offense initially, but has a chance to be a strong defensive presence. Allen Iverson was added to, among other things, be a veteran leader. I wonder whether this team is going to follow him when he skips practices. As for Zach Randolph, who has he ever made better?
