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2021 NBA Odds, All You Need To Know

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Get ready to bet on the 2021 NBA season. Open an account at BetPhoenix Sportsbook and get access to the best NBA betting odds and bonuses.

A new season of the NBA is coming, and after what was a successful 2020 campaign, where the NBA not only overcame but completed what was an incredible year, it's time to look at what the 2021 season will offer.

Dialogues have been opened between the NBA and the NBPA (players association) regarding the start of the season and how it will pan out. Covid is still out there, few rest months can affect fatigue, but the bottom line is: the NBA will be back sooner rather than later, and this is all you need to know about the upcoming basketball season!

When will the NBA 2021 season start?

The new NBA season is set to start on December 22, just before Christmas. This will mark the shortest offseason in NBA history, with only 71 days between seasons.

However, the teams that didn't participate in the NBA Bubble in Orlando would have nine months and a half from their last NBA game to the new season.

What happens with the offseason calendar?

The offseason may not have NBA action, but it has basketball implications as there is Free Agency, contract extensions, training camp, and the NBA Draft.

So, while the Draft is already scheduled to occur on November 18, the training camps are on December 1. This means Free agency would almost be forced to happen between the Draft and the start of the camps. 

Then, the league year would have to open, so trades would have to become allowable again, and the players would need to be presented with deadlines to either accept or decline options for this coming season.

Will the season be back to 82 regular-season games?

No, the NBA Season will have 72 regular-season games as opposed to the usual 82. This way, the schedule will be long enough to have a proper regular-season and finish before the Summer Olympics.

Why is December 22 the date stipulated for the NBA Tip-off? 

There are a few factors to make the December 22 dateline the one with the most upside. As mentioned before, this date provides the possibility to make it a 72-game season. This would allow getting approximately $500 million more in revenue than a season of no more than 60 games -which would happen if the season started in mid-January.

Who are the Western Conference favorites?

The reigning champions are still the favorites in the Old West. The Lakers (+175) are frontrunners to get into the NBA Finals once more. Their biggest threat, according to the odds, is the LA Clippers (+275). 

Apart from the Battle of LA, the Golden State Warriors (+300) will come back fully healthy and with the second overall pick in the Draft. With the backcourt of Steph Curry and Klay Thompson back in action, the Warriors are fully committed to proving their dynasty is still alive.

Denver (+1000) comes off an impressive playoff display in the bubble, and the WCF runner-ups are a mid-to-long candidate to repeat their contender status. Houston (+1000) is also tied for the fifth spot, as their duo of Russell Westbrook and James Harden will have a new head coach.

What's the scenario for the Eastern Conference?

After an unpredictable turn of events last year, the Eastern Conference has shaped up to be absolute warfare between many equally-leveled franchises. 

The Milwaukee Bucks (+325) start as slight favorites. The Bucks have been regular-season juggernauts for two years now but have fallen short of an NBA Finals appearance. With Giannis Antetokounmpo still on their roster per the time of writing, the Bucks look solid for this season.

Following very closely, the Boston Celtics (+400) came off the ECF Finals appearance, where they lost vs. Miami. Jayson Tatum leaped into all-star status last season, and with Gordon Hayward healthy and a solid backcourt of Kemba Walker and Jaylen Brown, the Celtics are stacked.

The Brooklyn Nets +400. After landing Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving in last year's Free Agency, the Nets had to wait for a year to have them healthy and ready to go. With Steve Nash as the head coach, the Nets should be a force to be reckoned with.

The last season representatives of the East in the Finals, the Miami Heat, are also on a +400 status. Miami was as impressive as any team last season and even won a game in the Finals. Year two of this project should only make them stronger.

Finally, the Toronto Raptors (+650) will have to deal with their Free Agency issues first, but are still a strong side and have the best GM in the business.

Who are the longshots?

Of course, bettors always look for those underdogs who can make us strike a buck or two at the end of the season. But this doesn't mean they just take a team with huge odds and hope for the best; that'd be losing money. There is a value in choosing, but let's see which teams have the best shot of pulling upsets in each conference.

For the Western side, the Dallas Mavericks (+1200) are the choice if you want that high-risk, high-reward. They have an MVP candidate in Luka Doncic, with Kristapz Porzingis and a very good perimeter offense.

The East is tougher since it's very equally matched all-around. The Philadelphia 76ers have the roster to compete, but not the coaching. Shall they do something to integrate their talent in the court properly, they could be a serious team.

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