OK. Don’t freak out. It’s only been a few weeks. No title is won in October.

Although. I suppose it’s possible to LOSE title.

Sorry, Los Angeles Lakers. Apologies, Houston Rockets. Additional-though-insincere sympathetic comment, the rest of the Western Conference and entire NBA outside of the Golden State Warriors.

Behold, the NBA has returned. Well, not so much “season” as “countdown to Golden State’s championship.”

Entering the season, Golden State held -200 odds to win its third straight NBA title and fourth in five years. Per sportsoddshistory.com, no other team in the last 30 years has been such a heavy favorite, let alone the odds-on favorite — that is, until the Warriors earned that recognition two years ago… and then last year… and this year…

So basically, Obi-Wan Kenobi, not even you can provide hope. But hey, you can cash in on the Warriors, or on a darkhorse. Sports betting is in full swing in several states, especially in New Jersey. After each month of the NBA season, we’ll check in with NJ sports betting operations and update some preseason projections via the league’s $1 million over/under contest.

So let’s begin.

A quick recap of NJ sports betting

FanDuel Sportsbook opened the season by offering a promotion wherein bettors received a $3 bonus for every point LeBron James scored when they wagered a minimum $50 on the Lakers’ moneyline. As a result, the sportsbook doled out more than $250,000 in credit.

Another promotion that paid off was a local lock. When wagering on the New York Knicks or Brooklyn Nets to win (yeah, right), bettors could receive their money back (up to $100) should they lose in their respective games (Knicks vs. Hawks, Nets vs. Pistons). With the Nets losing, FanDuel reported, Brooklyn bettors got back more than $100,000 in credit.

The highlight of the early NBA betting season came Oct. 24, when “one brilliant mind,” as FanDuel described it, wagered $200 on the ENTIRE NBA BOARD! Victory came. And that 11-leg parlay, with winning odds of 1 in 650, paid out over $86,000.

Over/Under Challenge: Eastern Conference

The NBA, in its over/under contest presented by MGM, feeds hubris. It fuels the ego. No better feeling exists in life than throwing a parade, ribbon dancers abounding, with a sing-song “Told ya! Called it!” providing the soundtrack.

In an attempt to land a cool $1 million, participants examined the projected win totals for each NBA team. Correctly predicting the over/under for all 30 teams earns a seven-figure payday. (As a consolation prize, nailing 25 picks gets a gift card to the NBA Store. I’ll take the mil, thanks. And also the mil promised by a coworker, and another couple grand by another coworker. Naturally, I’ll be keeping tabs throughout the season.)

With help from FiveThirtyEight and its NBA predictions based on Elo ratings, we can not only look at current records but see a projected final record. Let’s start with the Eastern Conference.

Eastern Conference	Preseason Over/Under	Pick	Record*	Pace
*(Through Oct. 31)
Atlanta Hawks	26.5	Under	2-5	28-54
Boston Celtics	58.5	Over	5-2	51-31
Brooklyn Nets	29.5	Over	3-5	34-48
Charlotte Hornets	35.5	Over	4-4	43-39
Chicago Bulls	28.5	Over	2-6	27-55
Cleveland Cavaliers	30.5	Over	1-6	35-47
Detroit Pistons	40.5	Over	4-3	40-42
Indiana Pacers	46.5	Over	5-3	49-33
Miami Heat	41.5	Over	3-4	39-43
Milwaukee Bucks	46.5	Under	7-0	53-29
New York Knicks	31.5	Under	2-6	29-53
Orlando Magic	30.5	Over	2-5	26-56
Philadelphia 76ers	54.5	Under	4-4	49-33
Toronto Raptors	54.5	Under	7-1	54-28
Washington Wizards	44.5	Over	1-6	36-46

Right on track

• Charlotte Hornets: The Hornets went just .500 over their first eight games. Already that seemed like overachieving. This is a franchise that won 48 games three years ago, but has consistently finished below 37 victories and out of the playoffs since its 1990s heyday. Even so, Kemba Walker, the newly crowned franchise leading scorer, has Charlotte out of the gates with confidence. Granted, the Hornets’ opponents so far wouldn’t scare a goat into a frozen fright. Yet Charlotte had three losses decided by two points or less, including against playoff contenders Milwaukee and Philadelphia.
• Cleveland Cavaliers: Going 1-6 in the first month is nothing to write home about. Though it will earn a pass to the front of the unemployment line, which coach Tyronn Lue indeed received. The MGM-fueled contest pegged Cleveland to still win over 30 games, which seemed rather lofty. The last time James left, the Cavs plummeted from 61 wins to just 19 victories. Still, Cleveland has weapons, even if one, Kevin Love, will be sidelined for an extended period due to injury. It’s still the East. There’s still hope for competitiveness, which has not shown thus far. Still, as FiveThirtyEight projects, the Cavs still have a chance to push for the postseason (it is the East, after all). However, if things continue to go south, certainly owner Dan Gilbert will again pull the tanking trigger.
• Indiana Pacers: The Pacers were thoroughly underrated last season. After trading away centerpiece Paul George, Indiana had only a few playmakers. And no cornerstones. At the time, anyway. Behind Victor Oladipo and Domantas Sabonis (two pieces received from OKC in the George deal) as well as Myles Turner and Thaddeus Young and somehow Lance Stephenson, the Pacers won 48 games (17.5 more than the preseason over/under) before bowing out in the first round. This year, Oladipo has continued his rise, averaging 22 points per game in October for an Indiana team that ranked second in the league in field goal and three-point percentage. In a LeBron-less East, Indiana still seems like an heir apparent.

Off the rails

• Boston Celtics: Fifty-seven players in the NBA had better scoring averages than the top scorer for the Celtics in October. The Celtics still went 5-2. When LeBron bolted to the West, Boston jumped to the top of the list of Eastern Conference representatives in the NBA Finals. Even if Bron stayed in Cleveland, the Celtics likely would receive similar praise. Despite a strong start, though, FiveThirtyEight has Boston stumbling along the way. Yet Boston boasted six players averaging double figures in the first month while holding opponents to the second-lowest shooting percentage.
• Milwaukee Bucks: The last unbeaten team in the NBA was not the Warriors. There’s the first shock. It was not either of the East’s top contenders, the Celtics or the Raptors. Actually, it was Toronto, then undefeated, that the Bucks defeated to exit October with a flawless 7-0 mark. The Alphabet, Giannis Antetokounmpo, has again emerged as an MVP candidate for Milwaukee, which has limited opponents to the worst shooting percentage in the league. Regression to the mean can be a wonderful thing (for those taking the under), but an inexplicable slump or some bad injury luck would need to get the Bucks down to around their projected 46.5 win total.
• Washington Wizards: Easily the most disappointing first-month performance in the league. And also another black mark against Dwight Howard. A playoff team four times in the past five years, Washington didn’t just stumble out of the starting blocks. It slipped, tripped, face-planted and skidded off the track into a cart of manure. John Wall and Bradley Beal are doing what they can, both averaging more than 20 points per game in October on better than 44 percent shooting apiece. But the Wizards need a streak. Or they will post the franchise’s lowest win total since Beal’s rookie year in 2012-13.

Over/Under Challenge: Western Conference

As for the Best Western Conference:

Western Conference	Preseason Over/Under	Pick	Record*	Pace
*(Through Oct. 31)
Dallas Mavericks	35.5	Under	2-6	27-55
Denver Nuggets	46.5	Over	6-1	51-31
Golden State Warriors	64.5	Under	8-1	62-20
Houston Rockets	56.5	Over	1-5	44-38
Los Angeles Clippers	38.5	Over	4-3	45-37
Los Angeles Lakers	49.5	Over	3-5	38-44
Memphis Grizzlies	32.5	Over	4-2	32-50
Minnesota Timberwolves	44.5	Under	4-4	41-41
New Orleans Pelicans	43.5	Over	4-3	48-34
Oklahoma City Thunder	48.5	Under	2-4	43-39
Phoenix Suns	27.5	Under	1-6	20-62
Portland Trail Blazers	42.5	Over	5-2	51-31
Sacramento Kings	26.5	Under	5-3	36-46
San Antonio Spurs	45.5	Under	5-2	45-37
Utah Jazz	48.5	Under	4-3	54-28

Right on track

• Denver Nuggets: Fun challenge — name the starting five for the Nuggets. Name three players other than Nikola Jokic. Name Denver’s coach. Doesn’t matter. They don’t care. Denver wrapped up October with the second-most wins in the West, behind only the Warriors. Four of the Nuggets’ five starting regulars (all five, if you count Will Barton, who has been sidelined since the second game of the year due to injury) averaged more than 12 points per game in the first month. Not only is Denver winning the jersey war, it’s started establishing itself as a contender.
• Oklahoma City Thunder: Speaking on behalf of all Seattle diehards, good. Finally, the Sonics have something to be proud of. Despite ridding itself of iso-beso master Carmelo Anthony, OKC has not put anything together. Russell Westbrook and Paul George both averaged 25 points per game, yet the Thunder shot a league-worst 27.5 percent from 3-point range, an absolute necessity in today’s game.
• Portland Trail Blazers: You would think after several years of shaming the Trail Blazers and pegging them as mediocre-at-best, oddsmakers would at some point try to provide some respect. Then again, Portland has been known to use any fodder as motivation. Still, a preseason projection of 42.5 wins, nearly seven less than last year’s total, seems to have inspired Portland more than ever before. Off to the third-best record in the West, the Blazers have under-the-radar MVP candidate Damian Lillard, the only player in October to average nearly 30 points, six assists and five boards per game.

Off the rails

• Houston Rockets: The Carmelo Anthony effect has set in. The team with the NBA’s best record last year, with a franchise-record 65 wins, went just 1-5 in October. James Harden continues to be a travelling circus (emphasis on travelling; don’t @ me), and Chris Paul, when not poking the face of Rajon Rondo, continues to be a top-tier point guard. Yet the Rockets shot the second-lowest field goal percentage in the NBA. Certainly, one would assume, Houston will right the ship. But when? How quickly?
• Los Angeles Lakers: Certainly no one, at least nobody in their right minds and nobody whose room is decorated with padded walls, expected the Lakers to become immediate championship contenders. Even an NBA Finals has not gone on without LeBron on the court since 2010. The Lakers got off to a horrid start and limped into November at 3-5. The rag-tag island of misfit toys could still find a rhythm. Most LeBron teams do at some point. Here’s hoping.
• Sacramento Kings: No. No no no. Nonononono. C’mon, Kings. Who does this? Granted, the preseason over/under for Sac-tap-town stood at a mere 26.5. And the Kings have not won fewer than 27 games since 2012. Still, Sacramento has lost more and more over the past three years. Off to a 5-3 start, Sacramento is among the league leaders in field goal (49.8) and 3-point (40) percentage. But the Kings are still young. The West is still loaded. The trademark Sactown Slump awaits. Hopefully.

Who ya got for the title?

Naturally, the Warriors continue to be odds-on favorites to win the NBA title. After just two weeks, however, several teams have argued hard enough for lines to move significantly at FanDuel Sportsbook and DraftKings Sportsbook.

The Bucks, for example, jumped from a +10,000 preseason line to +4,400 at FanDuel, while the Nuggets have climbed from +8,000 to +6,000. At DraftKings Sportsbook, Toronto went from +1,700 to +900, and the New Orleans Pelicans have gone from +9,000 to +4,500.

As for MVP odds (at FanDuel/DraftKings):

• Giannis Antetokounmpo (+240/+300)
• Steph Curry (+410/+450)
• Anthony Davis (+390/+450)
• LeBron James (+500/+450)
• Kawhi Leonard (+750/+650)

ALSO READ: Have the Golden State Warriors Ruined NBA Betting?

The NBA has created a new pinball machine, and bookmakers are going on tilt. Scoring has surged to record levels the opening week, and the new plasma pop bumpers are spinning out of control as scoring erupts. The first 46 games of the season had 10,162 points scored for an average of 220.9 points per game. Take out the two overtime games on Monday, Oct. 22 and scoring is still averaging 219.7 PPG in regulation.

The record scoring has resulted in 29 OVERS and 17 UNDERS, as the OVER is hitting at a 63% rate thus far.

According to BetLabs and its proprietary sports betting information and database, OVERS in the month of October have been profitable only four times in the past 11 years.

Last season, there were 13 times when a team scored at least 140 points in a game. In the first week of the 2018-19 NBA season, two teams have scored at least 140 points as the Mavericks scored 140 on the Timberwolves and the Pelicans poured in 149 points against Sacramento. The Kings had the lowest season win total of all NBA teams at 25.5, but Sacramento has come out scoring and its defense is dreadful through three games, as the total in the Kings games has gone over in all three games by an average of 36 points per game. Dallas, Minnesota and Utah games are also going over by an average of 30 points per game.

From 2005 through 2015, NBA scoring averaged 99 points per game (PPG). The 2016-17 season saw scoring average 103 PPG and last season scoring averaged 106 PPG, which was the highest since the early 1990s. It appears scoring records will be shattered this season.

Bookmaker adjustments

The bookmakers are usually quick to adjust to totals, but it still been a struggle trying to figure out the pace, shooting and scoring. Of the 29 games that have gone over the total, 20 of them eclipsed the total by at least 10 points. And 11 of those games went over the total by at least 20 points. On Oct. 22, seven of the nine games had posted totals of at least 224 points. Four of them still went over the total. So even with the adjustment upward on the totals, scoring is still sailing over the adjusted totals and the players are beating the bookmakers early this season when betting overs.

Why the scoring increase?

Rule changes with a point of education and emphasis on buckling down on perimeter contact and less clutch, grab and bumping in the half court are designed to allow more freedom of movement. There has also been more whistles and fouls called inside. New rule changes include:

• The shot clock reset to 14 seconds in offensive rebounding situations, as opposed to 24 seconds in seasons past.
• Simplification of the Clear Path Foul Rule – personal foul against any offensive player during his team’s transition scoring opportunity.

Pace of play is up to an average of more than 105 possessions per game, up from 102 possessions per game the opening week of last season. All of last season saw possessions per game average 100 per game. No team last season averaged more than 105 possessions per game, but this season 18 teams are averaging at least 105 possessions per game.

The Hawks, Kings and Lakers are all averaging at least 110 possessions per game.

Last season, only the Houston Rockets produced more than 36% of its points from 3-pointers. This season, the Bucks and Rockets are scoring more than 40% of its points from long range, and Hawks, Hornets, Jazz and Suns are all greater than 36% scoring from 3-point range.

Through one full week and 46 games, a total of 2,219 fouls have been called for an average of 48.2 fouls per game, up from 39.8 fouls per game last season.

Free throws are averaging more than 51 per game, up from 43.4 last year. And 11 teams are making at least 20 free throws per game, while just one team made at least 20 per game last season.

Five teams, including the world champion Warriors, are shooting at least 49% field goals this early season, and only Golden State hit better than 49% shooting each of the last two seasons.

Will scoring continue at record pace?

There will always be a correction in the market, and bookmakers will adjust and post higher totals. Coaches and teams will make adjustments as well and defensive improvement and efficiency numbers will be something to monitor moving forward. Across the league, 10 of 30 teams are giving up at least 120 points per game. Through the end of play on the first Sunday last season, just two teams were giving up 120 on average. The Denver Nuggets are 3-0 SU/ATS and the only team to allow less than 100 points in all three contests including Sunday’s 100-98 win over Golden State.

Rule changes including shot clot reset are impacting play, pace and tighter calls are resulting in more fouls and free throws. More freedom of movement and increased scoring is what the NBA wants in hopes of providing a more entertaining brand of basketball. Perhaps it’s being overdone in the early season, but scoring is surging and record scoring is inevitable.

You can bet on it.

The 2018-19 NBA season tips off Tuesday night. The season is an inevitable slog with a predetermined final result: the Golden State Warriors will end up as champions again.

When ring-chasing-burner-account-having-uber-sensitive-rabbit-eared Kevin Durant joined the Warriors, the team basically broke basketball. Nobody really stands a chance if they’re at full strength.

While the Houston Rockets were a Chris Paul injury away from possibly upending the Warriors title run last year, they’ve taken a few ticks back this season. Nobody stacks up to Golden State. They’ve made the season irrelevant.

And they’re ruining NBA futures betting, too.

Basketball outright handle at an all-time low

The Warriors enter the season at -200 to three-peat. According to Sportsoddshistory.com, no other team in the past 30 years has been a pre-season odds-on favorite to win the championship. The Warriors have been a preseason favorite three years in a row.

This is impacting the overall handle on basketball outrights (future bets taken on winning the title).

It’s gotten so bad that handle on NHL futures EXCEEDS that of the NBA in Las Vegas. What the puck!?

Parity is the problem

The NBA is a star-driven league. A couple of superstars joining forces significantly shift a team’s championship odds. The Warriors have five potential Hall of Famers in their starting lineup (and maybe seven overall if Boogie Cousins gets his body and head right, or Andre Iguodala grinds out another Finals MVP). Their outright dominance kills the action.

Parity reigns supreme in the NHL, and to varying degrees in the NFL and MLB as well.

Unless you’re an obnoxious Golden State fan, their dominance has taken the fun out of the NBA season. They say money talks, and the lack of wagering on NBA futures backs it up.

Having said that, one bettor was willing to place a $67,736.25 wager on the Warriors to make the playoffs at -10,000 odds … so in six months he can cash in a whopping $677.35 return on that investment.

The Warriors start the season as 13-point favorites against the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Thunder title odds clock in at anywhere from +3000 at some Vegas sportsbooks to +3400 on FanDuel Sportsbook in New Jersey.

NBA outright title odds in NJ

	DraftKings	FanDuel	SugarHouse	BetStars	888sport
Golden State	-200	-160	-200	-185	-200
Boston	+525	+600	+525	+600	+525
Houston	+600	+800	+600	+700	+600
LA Lakers	+800	+1300	+800	+900	+800
Philadelphia	+1400	+1800	+1400	+1600	+1400
Toronto	+1700	+1800	+1700	+1600	+1700
OKC Thunder	+4000	+3400	+4000	+3300	+4000
San Antonio	+6000	+6000	+6000	+8000	+6000
Utah	+6000	+4200	+6000	+6600	+6000
Milwaukee	+7000	+10000	+7000	+6600	+7000
New Orleans	+9000	+10000	+9000	+8000	+9000
Dallas	+10000	+36000	+10000	+12500	+10000
Denver	+10000	+8000	+10000	+10000	+10000
Indiana	+10000	+10000	+10000	+8000	+10000
Minnesota	+10000	+8000	+10000	+6600	+10000
Portland	+10000	+10000	+10000	+10000	+10000
Washington	+10000	+10000	+10000	+10000	+10000
LA Clippers	+20000	+18000	+20000	+20000	+20000
Miami	+20000	+10000	+20000	+30000	+20000
Phoenix	+20000	+55000	+20000	+25000	+20000
Atlanta	+30000	+55000	+30000	+40000	+30000
Charlotte	+30000	+36000	+30000	+30000	+30000
Chicago	+30000	+55000	+30000	+30000	+30000
Detroit	+30000	+21000	+30000	+30000	+30000
NY Knicks	+30000	+50000	+30000	+30000	+30000
Brooklyn	+40000	+55000	+40000	+40000	+40000
Cleveland	+40000	+55000	+40000	+40000	+40000
Orlando	+40000	+55000	+40000	+40000	+40000
Sacramento	+40000	+55000	+40000	+50000	+40000
Memphis	+50000	+29000	+50000	+50000	+50000

It’s an interesting time of year in the sports betting realm. Both pro and college football have a firm grasp on the betting public’s attention, and postseason baseball undoubtedly enjoys its fair share of action as well.

Yet somewhat under the radar, the NBA suddenly pops up in mid-October. For approximately the subsequent two weeks (depending on how long the World Series goes), it’s a sports betting fan’s (and sportsbook’s) delight — all three major sports are playing meaningful, wagerable games.

The pigskin will continue to draw plenty of attention all the way through Super Bowl LIII on the first Sunday in February. But this coming NBA season will hold no shortage of interest. Specifically, the movement of three prominent pieces on the league’s chess board – LeBron James, Kawhi Leonard, and DeMarcus Cousins – has led to some interesting futures props in New Jersey sportsbooks.

And not to be forgotten in all the offseason-moves-centered hype is a team that stood pat, but that returns a star who missed all but the opening minutes of last season – an already formidable Boston Celtics squad that stands to get even better with a healthy Gordon Hayward.

Even the NBA itself is combining the anticipation with its increasing embrace of the new legalized sports betting landscape – along with new partner MGM Resorts, it’s running an NBA Pick ‘Em: Team Win Totals contest that awards a cool $1 million to those who can specifically predict each team’s number of victories.

Ahead of roundball season, let’s examine how some of what’s transpired this offseason is reflected in current lines:

Los Angeles Lakers

• FanDuel Sportsbook: +950 to win Western Conference/ +1100 to win NBA Finals
• 888sport: +700 to win Western Conference/ +800 to win NBA Finals
• BetStars: +900 to win Western Conference/ +900 to win NBA Finals

Never underestimate the power of the King. LeBron’s second exit out of Cleveland drew relatively less fanfare than his first one back in 2010, but it’s had a seismic effect on the way the Lakers are viewed by the oddsmakers. Los Angeles’ triple-digit numbers for both their conference and NBA title chances are especially striking when compared to other playoff teams.

On all three Garden State sportsbooks cited above, the Lakers check in with markedly better odds to be crowned champs than 2017-18 playoff teams like the 76ers, Thunder, Jazz, Raptors, Spurs and Trail Blazers. Make no mistake – despite the fact the Lakers offered reason for optimism with their play at times last season, there’s no way they come close to sniffing these odds without LeBron in the fold. This was a 35-47 team last season that returns three-fifths of their starting five and that arguably downgraded by swapping out Brook Lopez for JaVale McGee at center.

James’ massive effect on a team has been proven countless times (by comparison, a now LeBron-less Cavaliers squad is a whopping +55000 to win it all), but whether it’s enough for the type of line movement the Lakers have seen makes for a healthy debate.

Toronto Raptors

• FanDuel Sportsbook: +320 to win Eastern Conference/ +1800 to win NBA Finals
• 888sport: +375 to win Eastern Conference/ +1700 to win NBA Finals
• BetStars: +375 to win Eastern Conference/ +1600 to win NBA Finals

The Raptors went from regular-season juggernauts to LeBron patsies – again — by the time their 2017-18 campaign wrapped up. Yet another postseason collapse made their 59-23 regular-season record seem hollow. They then made what could potentially turn out to be a move that’s has a neutral effect at best and could even represent a downgrade at worst – swapping out DeMar DeRozan for Kawhi Leonard.

If he’s 100 percent right physically, Leonard is arguably an elite difference-maker, especially on defense. But whether he’ll hold up for an entire season is anyone’s guess, regardless of how much due diligence Toronto undoubtedly performed before trading for him. Meanwhile, the Raptors essentially return the same cast – sans DeRozan – that fell short. That includes a 32-year-old Kyle Lowry that saw a drop of more than six points per game last season.

Irrespective of those factors, Toronto checks in with considerably better Finals odds than fellow 2017-18 playoff teams such as the Thunder, Jazz, Heat, Pelicans and Trail Blazers, and with the same chances as a promising Sixers squad. Toronto’s current numbers are clearly based on the health of one player, and like those of the Lakers, are fodder for plenty of discussion.

Golden State Warriors

• FanDuel Sportsbook: -330 to win Western Conference/ -160 to win NBA Finals
• 888sport: -286 to win Western Conference/ -200 to win NBA Finals
• BetStars: -330 to win Western Conference/ -180 to win NBA Finals

Outside of LeBron, the Warriors likely made the most headlines this offseason with their acquisition of DeMarcus Cousins. Many cried foul at Golden State’s apparent quest to ensure no other team hoists the Larry O’Brien trophy for about the next decade. The validity of those complaints could probably be debated until next June’s Finals. However, it says plenty about the oddsmakers’ faith in the Warriors’ Big Four of Curry, Thompson, Durant and Green that they’re comfortably the odds-on favorites to repeat, even though Cousins’ exact return date from his Achilles injury remains firmly up in the air heading into the season.

Boston Celtics

• FanDuel Sportsbook: -110 to win Eastern Conference/ +600 to win NBA Finals
• 888sport: -106 to win Eastern Conference/ +525 to win NBA Finals
• BetStars: -115 to win Eastern Conference/ +600 to win NBA Finals

Which team has the most potential to serve as the NBA’s savior from those dastardly Warriors? It’s the boys in green from across the country, which admittedly might need a good dose of the luck of the Irish to topple Golden State. However, while they’re not quite on the Warriors’ level with respect to securing an NBA championship in the eyes of the sportsbooks, the Celts are perceived as the highly likely favorites to emerge as the potential dragon slayers out of the Eastern Conference.

The numbers are driven not just by Boston’s remarkable, deep playoff run last season with a short-handed squad, but by the reinforcements they get back this season. The returns of a presumably healthy Kyrie Irving and Hayward arguably make the Celtics the deepest unit in the Eastern Conference. Moreover, the books also appear to be projecting a true breakout season for phenom Jayson Tatum, whose learning curve was undoubtedly accelerated by a large margin in the 2017-18 campaign while filling in for Hayward.

Boston’s talent and potential coaching advantage over the Warriors is such that they could be one key Golden State injury away from making those current Finals odds a bargain.

Northeast teams hold plenty of regional interest

Of particular interest to Garden State bettors are the three teams within closest proximity. That includes the former home-state Nets, as well as the neighboring Knicks and 76ers. Of the three, only the latter has anything resembling bright prospects heading into the season. Nevertheless, here’s a look at where the trio of clubs stands in the eyes of the oddsmakers:

Brooklyn Nets

• FanDuel Sportsbook: +21000 to win Eastern Conference/+55000 to win NBA Finals/32.5 projected wins total
• 888sport:  +10000 to win Eastern Conference/ +40000 to win NBA Finals/31.5 projected wins total
• BetStars: +15000 to win Eastern Conference/ +40000 to win NBA Finals/31.5 projected wins total

The Nets are projected to only bump up last season’s win total by four, although Brooklyn returns its impressive core of young players and has added reliable veteran Ed Davis to serve as an important part of the second-unit frontcourt rotation. While they have the misfortune of playing in the same division as the 76ers, Raptors and Celtics, the Nets could surprise a la last season’s Lakers and push for a win total in the upper 30s if the likes of D’Angelo Russell, Rondae Hollis-Jefferson and promising big man Jarrett Allen can stay healthy.

New York Knicks

• FanDuel Sportsbook: +21000 to win Eastern Conference/+50000 to win NBA Finals/29.5 projected wins total
• 888sport: +5000 to win Eastern Conference/+30000 to win NBA Finals/29.5 projected wins total
• BetStars: +10000 to win Eastern Conference/+30000 to win NBA Finals/29.5 projected wins total

Think the crosstown Nets with a slower pace and you have the Knicks, who also have some solid under-30 talent, especially if Kristaps Porzingis is able to return at some point. However, considering that’s far from certain, New York will have to rely on much surer propositions such as Tim Hardaway, Jr., Trey Burke and Enes Kanter, as well as ninth overall pick Kevin Knox. The Knicks also added what could turn out to be one of the better under-the-radar free agents of the offseason in Mario Hezonja, but the oddsmakers don’t see them having made a net improvement of even one full win. Porzingis’ potential season-long absence is certainly a factor in that assessment.

Philadelphia 76ers

• FanDuel Sportsbook: +320 to win Eastern Conference/+1800 to win NBA Finals/53.5 projected wins total
• 888sport: +300 to win Eastern Conference/ +1400 to win NBA Finals/54.5 projected wins total
• BetStars: +375 to win Eastern Conference/ +1600 to win NBA Finals/53.5 projected wins total

The 76ers naturally carry the highest expectations of the three teams coming into the season. The books project a slight improvement in their win total as Philly returns their entire first unit from last season’s 52-win squad. A full season of health from Joel Embiid and Dario Saric could certainly push them closer to the 60-win mark, and Philadelphia should also benefit from the offseason acquisition of veteran Wilson Chandler to back up Robert Covington. Another x-factor will be the health of 2017 top overall pick Markelle Fultz, who was limited to 14 games during his rookie campaign due to a shoulder injury. The Celtics still represent a major roadblock to a division title for Philadelphia, but a playoff spot seems all but assured if key pieces avoid the injury bug.

Despite neither being the actual title favorite, LeBron’s LA Lakers and the Boston Celtics are taking the most bets to win the NBA championship this season.

According to David Purdum at ESPN, the Lakers and Celtics have “drawn more than three times as many bets” as any other team. The Houston Rockets are a distant third.

Proximity may matter somewhat for the wagering. The Lakers, historically a team wagered heavily in Vegas, have the most bets placed on them in Sin City.

FanDuel Sportsbook in New Jersey claims that 45% of all NBA title handle rests on the Celtics. FanDuel’s largest liability is the New York Knicks at 500/1.

What about the reigning champs?

The title favorite, Golden State, sits at -200. Entering the season, the Warriors are among the clearest title favorites in NBA history.

While their total futures wagers trail the Lakers and Celtics in Vegas, the Warriors have taken some big money action.

The Westgate SuperBook has taken a pair of $10k title bets on the Warriors. The MGM booked a six-figure title bet on the reigning champs.

Spoiler Alert: barring a zombie apocalypse or an earthquake that jettison’s Oakland into the Pacific, the Warriors are winning the title this year.

The 2018-19 NBA season kicks off Tuesday, Oct. 16 at 8 p.m. EST as those heavily-wagered Celtics host the Philadelphia 76ers.

NBA futures at NJ sportsbooks

(Odds updated 10/11/18)

	DraftKings	FanDuel	SugarHouse	BetStars	888sport
Golden State	-200	-160	-200	-185	-200
Boston	+525	+600	+525	+600	+525
Houston	+600	+800	+600	+700	+600
LA Lakers	+800	+1300	+800	+900	+800
Philadelphia	+1400	+1800	+1400	+1600	+1400
Toronto	+1700	+1800	+1700	+1600	+1700
OKC Thunder	+4000	+3400	+4000	+3300	+4000
San Antonio	+6000	+6000	+6000	+8000	+6000
Utah	+6000	+4200	+6000	+6600	+6000
Milwaukee	+7000	+10000	+7000	+6600	+7000
New Orleans	+9000	+10000	+9000	+8000	+9000
Dallas	+10000	+36000	+10000	+12500	+10000
Denver	+10000	+8000	+10000	+10000	+10000
Indiana	+10000	+10000	+10000	+8000	+10000
Minnesota	+10000	+8000	+10000	+6600	+10000
Portland	+10000	+10000	+10000	+10000	+10000
Washington	+10000	+10000	+10000	+10000	+10000
LA Clippers	+20000	+18000	+20000	+20000	+20000
Miami	+20000	+10000	+20000	+30000	+20000
Phoenix	+20000	+55000	+20000	+25000	+20000
Atlanta	+30000	+55000	+30000	+40000	+30000
Charlotte	+30000	+36000	+30000	+30000	+30000
Chicago	+30000	+55000	+30000	+30000	+30000
Detroit	+30000	+21000	+30000	+30000	+30000
NY Knicks	+30000	+50000	+30000	+30000	+30000
Brooklyn	+40000	+55000	+40000	+40000	+40000
Cleveland	+40000	+55000	+40000	+40000	+40000
Orlando	+40000	+55000	+40000	+40000	+40000
Sacramento	+40000	+55000	+40000	+50000	+40000
Memphis	+50000	+29000	+50000	+50000	+50000