The Brooklyn Nets are a good value bet in the NBA Atlantic Division odds

NBA Atlantic Division Odds: Keep An Eye On Brooklyn

The Atlantic Division has produced some of the NBA’s finest contenders over the last few years. The Toronto Raptors won the NBA championship in 2018-19, and just last season the Boston Celtics ripped all the way to the NBA Finals, ultimately dropping a tough series to the Golden State Warriors.

The NBA Atlantic Division odds offer some of the most exciting stakes in basketball. This year, online sportsbook Sportsbook has the Celtics as the early -135 favorites, with the Philadelphia 76ers listed at +270 and the Brooklyn Nets at +500 to round out the top three. 

If you’re up for more content, feel free to take a peek at some of our other basketball odds or our dedicated NBA betting news home page. If you’re in the mood for different wagers, you can also read up on the NBA Eastern Conference odds or NBA championship odds, which we break down and offer picks for.

If you’re new to sports betting, our How to Bet on NBA page will simplify things for you and have you ready to go in no time.

Odds To Win The NBA Atlantic Division

Team Odds
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Why Are The Celtics (-135) Favored In The Odds To Win The Atlantic Division?

A year ago, Boston didn’t finish atop the Eastern Conference standings but carried some late-season momentum all the way to Game 6 of the NBA Finals. 

There was no Finals hangover for Boston, as its front office came out swinging in NBA free agency. The Celtics swooped in to nab veteran Danilo Gallinari and traded for Malcolm Brogdon in a favorable swap with the Indiana Pacers. There’s a good chance the C’s would’ve been favored in the NBA Atlantic Division odds before those moves. Now they’re a powerhouse.

At Odds Shark, we like to offer picks that go beyond the chalk, but in all honesty, a -135 value on Boston is exceptional. If you’re going to bet on a division favorite, take the Celtics.

NBA Atlantic Division Odds: Best Value Bet

Toronto Raptors (+900)

The core that helped Toronto consistently win the division and, ultimately, an NBA championship is long gone, with the Raps having undergone a semi-rebuild over the past few seasons.

Reigning NBA Rookie of the Year Scottie Barnes is the Raptors’ rising star, meaning any divisional title will rest squarely on his shoulders. For Toronto to win the Atlantic, Barnes needs to continue building his skill set – particularly his three-point and free-throw shooting – and he’ll need his supporting cast (Fred VanVleet, Pascal Siakam, OG Anunoby) to all stay healthy, which historically hasn’t happened.

If everything comes together, +900 for the Raps to take the Atlantic is laughable value.

NBA Atlantic Division Odds: Best Pick

Brooklyn Nets (+500)

As you’ve probably guessed, the odds for Brooklyn to win the Atlantic rise or fall as a direct result of Kevin Durant’s status in the organization. While that story develops, the odds are sure to bounce all over the place, but if you can grab the Nets at +500, that’s a very good pick.

Right now, as it stands, the latest news in the KD saga features a “change in strategy by the Brooklyn Nets,” per ESPN, with the club now less urgently trying to move their enigmatic superstar. If this trend continues, we could see “The Slim Reaper” remain in the black and white for 2022-23.

If we operate on the premise that KD returns, this bet offers the best value of any divisional futures bet. But even if KD departs, it’s still a feasible wager. The Nets will presumably get full seasons out of Ben Simmons and Kyrie Irving, plus any assets acquired in a Durant deal should help them contend immediately. 

Last 10 NBA Atlantic Division Winners

NBA Atlantic Division Winners by Year
Year Winning Team Record
2021-22 Boston Celtics 51-31
2020-21 Philadelphia 76ers 49-23
2019-20 Toronto Raptors 53-19
2018-19 Toronto Raptors 58-24
2017-18 Toronto Raptors 59-23
2016-17 Boston Celtics 53-29
2015-16 Toronto Raptors 56-26
2014-15 Toronto Raptors 49-33
2013-14 Toronto Raptors 48-34
2012-13 New York Knicks 54-28

In the last 10 years, the Raptors have won the division more times (six) than any other club, which is part of why we like them as a value bet. Since Toronto isn’t the dominating force it once was, the door is open for other teams to sneak in. The Nets haven’t won the division since 2005-06, but at +500, we like the odds for them to finish first, with or without Durant. 


How To Read NBA Atlantic Division Odds

The great thing about sportsbooks is that they generally list futures odds the same way. You’ll see odds that look something like this:

Brooklyn Nets -125

Philadelphia 76ers +100

Let’s say you’re on board with Brooklyn at -125 and you bet $100. You’d get a payout of $180 – your original money is returned along with your gain of $80. Or, you love the 76ers at +100. That same $100 would get you $200 – your $100 comes back coupled with your winnings of $100. Our Odds Calculator will show you what you’d get based on the odds offered and the amount you bet.

What Is An NBA Divisional Futures Bet?

A futures bet is a wager made on events that will happen in time, often weeks or months in advance. In this case, the bet is on a team’s chances of winning their NBA division.

Oddsmakers create the lines before the season starts, but they are not etched in stone. Basketball betting action will change as games are played and the standings shift to accommodate surging or failing teams. If you can take a team with plus money (+) you’ll get better betting value if you win your bets than if you take them at minus money (-). However, don’t bet blindly. Keep it locked to this page and we’ll update the odds as they become available.