On paper and according to the betting odds, the race for the Atlantic Division figures to be one of the tightest in the NBA.
The division’s top three teams were separated by just four games last season, and this year’s race may end up going right down to the wire as well.
Going off at +125 at TopBet, the Boston Celtics are the favorite to win the Atlantic Division. Even with the loss of Ray Allen, the Celtics are one of the Eastern Conference’s deepest teams; free agent acquisitions Courtney Lee and Jason Terry were huge, and Jared Sullinger could end up being the biggest steal in the 2012 draft.
ADVERTISEMENT: Bet on the Celtics to upset the Knicks and 76ers? What are the latest Atlantic Division odds? Check out NBA props at .
Add that depth to the core of Rajon Rondo, Paul Pierce, and Kevin Garnett, and the defending Atlantic Division champions are a valid betting favorite.
Jeremy Lin and his “Linsanity” are gone, but the New York Knicks (+200) still figure to be a major player in the Atlantic Division race. The talent is clearly there; Raymond Felton will play court general at point guard and have a talented trio of bigs to dish the ball to in Amar’e Stoudemire, Carmelo Anthony, and Tyson Chandler.
Chemistry and health has eluded this team since Anthony and Stoudemire’s arrival, but perhaps the third year will be the charm for this duo.
The Brooklyn Nets (+275) added all-star guard Joe Johnson to their talented trio of Deron Williams, Gerald Wallace, and Brook Lopez this offseason in the hopes of kicking things off in Brooklyn with a bang. In New Jersey, the Nets were an abysmal 9-24 SU at home; that number should turn around in a big way with this talent and an excited new fan base.
The Philadelphia 76ers (+450) and the Toronto Raptors (+8000) are both undergoing rebuilds, but Philadelphia still has the talent to compete for a playoff spot with newcomers Andrew Bynum and Jason Richardson leading the way. Toronto will be a work in progress, but rookies Terrence Ross and Jason Valanciunas should provide some excitement for the young team this season.
NBA Odds: Atlantic Division Props (courtesy of ):
Brooklyn Nets
Total Points Per Game - Deron Williams
Over / Under 20.5
Total Assists Per Game - Deron Williams
Over / Under 10
Total Points Per Game - Brook Lopez
Over / Under 19
Total Rebounds Per Game - Brook Lopez
Over / Under 7.5
Total Points Per Game - Joe Johnson
Over / Under 17.5
Total Points Per Game - Gerald Wallace
Over / Under 13.5
Total Points Per Game - Kris Humphries
Over / Under 10
Total Rebounds Per Game - Kris Humphries
Over / Under 9.5
Boston Celtics
Total Points Per Game - Paul Pierce
Over / Under 19
Total Points Per Game - Jason Terry
Over / Under 13.5
Total Points Per Game - Kevin Garnett
Over / Under 14.5
Total Rebounds Per Game - Kevin Garnett
Over / Under 8
Total Points Per Game - Rajon Rondo
Over / Under 13.5
Total Assists Per Game - Rajon Rondo
Over / Under 11
New York Knicks
Total Points Per Game - Carmelo Anthony
Over / Under 24.5
Total Points Per Game - Amare Stoudemire
Over / Under 19.5
Total Rebounds Per Game - Amare Stoudemire
Over / Under 7.5
Total Points Per Game - J.R. Smith
Over / Under 12.5
Total Points Per Game - Raymond Felton
Over / Under 12.5
Total Assists Per Game - Raymond Felton
Over / Under 6.5
Total Points Per Game - Tyson Chandler
Over / Under 10.5
Total Rebounds Per Game - Tyson Chandler
Over / Under 9.5
Philadelphia 76ers
Total Points Per Game - Andrew Bynum
Over / Under 21
Total Rebounds Per Game - Andrew Bynum
Over / Under 11
Will Andrew Bynum be a member of the 76ers for Game 1 of the 2013-2014 season?
Yes -500
No +300
Total Points Per Game - Jrue Holiday
Over / Under 14.5
Total Assists Per Game - Jrue Holiday
Over / Under 6.5
Total Points Per Game - Thaddeus Young
Over / Under 13
Total Points Per Game - Jason Richardson
Over / Under 12
Total Points Per Game - Evan Turner
Over / Under 11.5
Total Rebounds Per Game - Evan Turner
Over / Under 6.5
Toronto Raptors
Total Points Per Game - Andrea Bargnani
Over / Under 20.5
Total Points Per Game - DeMar DeRozan
Over / Under 15.5
Total Points Per Game - Kyle Lowry
Over / Under 14
Total Assists Per Game - Kyle Lowry
Over / Under 6.5
Total Points Per Game - Jonas Valanciunas
Over / Under 13
Total Rebounds Per Game - Jonas Valanciunas
Over / Under 7
