NBA Picks & Predictions

The 2024/25 NBA season is about to tip off in a few weeks. And if you are an NBA fan or someone hoping to profit big on NBA games and props, it’s a must for you to get up-to-date with every NBA team, roster composition, their pecking order in the power rankings, and the stars and promising players to watch out for this coming season.

Don’t worry! We got you covered.

In this article, we will walk you through around the association, keeping you informed about which NBA team is hot or not heading into the 2024-25 season. We will also get a closer look at the players who are poised to make a lot of noise whether on the hard court or on the betting floor.

NBA 24/25 Season Picks and Betting Tips

It’s great time to be an NBA fan. With sports betting operators continuing to gain ground across the United States, the level of enthusiasm around the NBA and betting on NBA games is already through the roof and the season hasn’t even started yet. 

As bookies continue to find ways to innovate their products and services, more betting options are being added to traditional markets such as moneyline, over/under, future betting and player props. There are now platforms that offer bettors a chance to bet as quick as every ball possession in a basketball game. This new innovation is called microbetting and it has swiftly become popular among the new generations of NBA bettors because of its appeal of high profits without relying on the scores of the match.

Of course, nothing beats the drama and raw excitement of high-stake NBA basketball during the playoffs and NBA finals where NBA betting activities reach its peak.

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NBA Prediction: Who Will Win the 24/25 NBA Championship

The Boston Celtics broke a 17-year title drought to earn their 18th championship banner at the expense of the Dallas Mavericks. Powered by their dynamic duo of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown and an ensemble of two-way players, the Celtics carved out a dominant playoff run that saw them topping the Miami Heat 4-1, Cleveland Cavaliers 4-1, Indiana Pacers 4-0 and the Mavs 4-1. 

The Celtics are currently the odds-on betting favorite to repeat in almost every betting platform after locking up the core of their championship run to multi-year deals. The Celtics made Tatum the highest-paid player in NBA history, inking the talented wingman to a five-year, $314 million deal. They also retained long-range gunner Sam Hauser to a four-year, $45 million deal and grabbed Loonie Walker on a 1-year veteran minimum deal, giving them another two-way player in an already loaded second unit.

As for the rest of the field, last season’s runner-up Dallas Mavericks have also significantly improved their roster by adding arguably the second-best shooter in NBA history, Klay Thompson, on a three-year, $50 million deal. All of a sudden, the Mavs parade a three-headed monster of Luka Doncic, Kyrie Irving and Thompson which is going to be a matchup nightmare for their opponents next season.

The new season brings a completely new ballgame for the other 28 NBA teams. The Milwaukee Bucks will look to recover championship glory in Damian Lillard and Giannis Antetokounmpo's second season together. The Denver Nuggets are projected to rebound after a dismal end to Nikola Jokic's MVP season, while up-and-coming clubs such as the Minnesota Timberwolves, Oklahoma City Thunder, and Indiana Pacers and New York Knicks are here to make this season even more exciting for NBA and betting enthusiasts. Our prediction for the 24/25 season: Boston Celtics champion!

2024 Title Contenders: Who are the favorites?

• Boston Celtics +300
• Oklahoma City Thunder +700
• Philadelphia 76ers +900
• New York Knicks +900
• Denver Nuggets +1100
• Dallas Mavericks +1100
• Minnesota Timberwolves +1100
• Milwaukee Bucks +1200
• Phoenix Suns +1600
• Orlando Magic +4000
• Memphis Grizzlies +4000
• Cleveland Cavaliers +4000
• Los Angeles Lakers +4000
• Golden State Warriors +4500
• Indiana Pacers +5000
• New Orleans Pelicans+5000
• Miami Heat +5000
• Sacramento Kings+5500
• Houston Rockets+8000
• Los Angeles Clippers +10000
• San Antonio Spurs +15000
• Atlanta Hawks +35000
• Portland Trail Blazers +100000
• Detroit Pistons +100000
• Chicago Bulls +100000
• Charlotte Hornets +100000
• Toronto Raptors +100000
• Washington Wizards +100000
• Brooklyn Nets +100000
• Utah Jazz +100000

Odds from FanDuel.com.

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Western Conference Picks: Who will be the Best of the West?

The Thunder are going to be scary this season after their current core of young players got their first taste of playoff basketball. Right now, OKC are the favorites to come out of the West with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander looking to compete for the MVP plum once more after finishing runner-up to Jokic last season. Coming in second are the Mavericks. The Mavs are expected to win a lot of games and defend the West title after giving their offense a shot in the arm with the Klay Thompson acquisition.

The Timberwolves and the Nuggets, the very same teams that battled in a highly-entertaining seven-game West semis series, rounded out the elites’ circle while the Grizzlies, Suns, Warriors, Lakers and the Pelicans also made it the top-10. The San Antonio Spurs are also set to improve their win total after trading for veteran wingman Harrison Barnes and signing free-agent Chris Paul, who many believe will speed up the development of French prodigy Victor Wembanyama. The Spurs could make a run at one of the lower playoff spots but they are no way near from contending for the West title this season.

Odds on the Western Conference Winners:

• Oklahoma City Thunder +320
• Minnesota Timberwolves +450
• Dallas Mavericks +500
• Denver Nuggets +500
• Phoenix Suns +1000
• Memphis Grizzlies +1600
• New Orleans Pelicans +1800
• Los Angeles Lakers +2000
• Golden State Warriors +2200
• Sacramento Kings +2500
• Houston Rockets +3000
• Los Angeles Clippers +4000
• San Antonio Spurs +8000
• Utah Jazz +50000
• Portland Trail Blazers +50000

Odds from FanDuel.com.

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Eastern Conference Picks: Who will be the Beast of the East?

Again, it would be difficult for the other Eastern Conference teams to dethrone the Celtics this season. With two versatile wing players at their peak performance, as well as feisty, defensive-minded guys like Derrick White, Jrue Holiday, and Kristaps Porzingis, this club is poised to win 60 games or more this season. The closest contenders they can find this season are their Atlantic Division opponents, the New York Knicks and the Philadelphia 76ers, who have improved their team significantly.

The Bucks are still a threat, but going all in on the Antetokounmpo-Lillard tandem for the second straight year should be risky after seeing them implode due to injury near the end of last season.

Odds on the Eastern Conference Winners:

• Boston Celtics +155
• Philadelphia 76ers +440
• New York Knicks +440
• Milwaukee Bucks +700
• Cleveland Cavaliers +1600
• Orlando Magic +1700
• Miami Heat +2000
• Indiana Pacers +2000
• Atlanta Hawks +15000
• Charlotte Hornets +50000
• Washington Wizards +50000
• Detroit Pistons +50000
• Brooklyn Nets +50000
• Chicago Bulls +50000
• Toronto Raptors +50000

Odds from FanDuel.com.

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2024-25 NBA Regular-Season Player Awards

Many analysts think this will be the year Luka Doncic will finally capture his first regular-season MVP award. The Slovenian wunderkind has been an All-NBA First Team performer since his second season in the league and it’s just a matter of time for him to etch his name in history by winning the league’s top individual award.

Speaking of all-around performers, Nikola Jokic will continue to be a staple in NBA MVP conversation as long as he keeps stuffing the stat sheet. The Nuggets star is a triple-double machine who can effectively lead his team to victory without scoring 30+ points. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Joel Embiid, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander make out the top five contenders for the 2024-25 NBA regular season MVP. Remember, their odds of being named MVP are usually determined by their team's performance this season. The more games their respective teams win, the better their chances of winning the Michael Jordan MVP award at the end of the season.

Before the 2024-2025 season kicks off, here's a list of players to keep an eye on in each of the categories we've mentioned:

- MVP:

• Nikola Jokic
• Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
• Giannis Antekokounmpo
• Luka Doncic
• Jayson Tatum

- DPOY:

• Victor Wembanyama
• Rudy Gobert
• Bam Adebayo
• Anthony Davis
• Mikal Bridges

- COY:

• Victor Wembanyama
• Jalen Williams
• Coby White
• Cade Cunningham
• Cam Thomas

Rookie of the Year Prediction: Who Will Be This Year’s Top Young player?

Last year, Victor Wembanyama took the NBA by storm after showing off his freakish ability en route to winning the 2024 NBA Rookie of the Year. Unlike last year when everybody expected Wemby to win the trophy even before the season began, this year’s Rookie of the Year race is a toss-up. Right now, Zach Eddey emerges as the betting favorite to win the ROY because he’s expected to start at center position this coming season. Many believe Eddey is bound for a productive season since he shares the same mold as Jonas Valanciunas, who averaged a double-double in three seasons with the Grizz.

Rockets gunner Reed Sheppard is another young player who will likely get significant minutes right away because of his outside shooting and two-way upside. Despite his poor performance in the Summer League, No.2 overall pick Alex Sarr is also seen as another ROY contender for the reason that he’s playing for a depleted Washington Wizard team.

Summer League standouts Matas Buzelis of the Chicago Bulls and Stephon Castle of the San Antonio Spurs rounded out the top five, with No.1 overall pick Zaccharrie Risacher ranking sixth for the time being, as many analysts believe he is still a project for the Atlanta Hawks.

- ROY: 

• Zach Edey
• Zaccharie Risacher
• Reed Sheppard
• Alexandre Sarr
• Stephon Castle

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Beginner Bettors - How does the NBA season and the 2024-2025 NBA playoffs work?

Located in the United States, the NBA is by far the largest and most spectacular basketball championship in the world. The league consists of 30 teams in a closed league format (no relegation), divided into two Conferences: East and West. There are 82 games played from late October to mid-April, followed by the playoffs involving the top 16 teams in the league (8 from each Conference). The goal is to lift the Larry O’Brien Trophy after four rounds in the postseason (the best of seven games qualifies).

At the end of the regular season, several standings have an impact on the continuation of the competition:

• Teams finishing between 1st and 6th place qualify for the playoffs.
• Teams finishing between 7th and 10th place qualify for the play-in.
• Teams finishing beyond 10th place are on vacation.

Regarding the NBA playoffs, here is a summary of how they operate:

• First round of the playoffs (quarterfinals)
• Second round (semifinals)
• Conference Finals
• NBA Finals (between the winners of the conference finals)

This league, eagerly awaited by fans, features some of the most popular franchises such as the Lakers, Bucks, Celtics, Warriors, Nets, Bulls, and Clippers. This explains why American basketball and NBA betting are highly favored worldwide and in France among the best online sportsbooks by French bettors.

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How to bet on the NBA ?

Thanks to the sheer amount of matches in a regular NBA season means that sports bettors can find value in just about every game.

Unlike soccer, which is growing in the US in its own right, the NBA always ensures a winner through regular or overtime. This keeps the betting experience interesting and the betting options easier to understand for newer bettors.

Sportsbooks commonly include phrases such as “will be extra time” rather than placing odds on a match ending in a tie for this reason. With games frequently passing the 200 total point mark, it’s no surprise that one of the most popular NBA bets is the number of baskets scored in a match.

Point spreads are equally as common, where sportsbooks will set a handicap to give an advantage or disadvantage to one of the teams based on their current form. For instance, if the Warriors have a handicap of -4.5 against the Magic, this impacts the odds and potential payouts for the match.

Besides these, sportsbooks will offer bets on the total points scored each quarter, which team will lead at various points in the match, top scorers, total number of free throws, three-pointers, rebounds, and lots more.

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NBA Betting Tips for Beginner Bettors

Due to the sheer length of the NBA season, which now features the immensely popular in-season tournament, there are loads of betting opportunities each year. Our NBA betting experts at SportyTrader go to extra lengths to make sure you’re armed with the best possible NBA predictions as well as a healthy supply of betting strategies to follow. Here are five key tips to consider when betting on the NBA:

• Checking the collective status of NBA teams
• Analyzing the latest NBA stats
• Taking stock of the current form of players
• Keeping track of injuries and suspensions
• Taking account of current stars

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Tip 1: Checking the collective status of NBA teams

Collective power is fundamental in the functioning of NBA teams since shoddy defensive work could harm everything achieved on offense. Taking this detail into account, it is necessary to verify how the performance of each franchise has been on both sides of the ball in a given season.

Paying attention to this imbalance can be key to choosing a winning bet. The composition of the squad, absent or injured athletes, the coach's strategy and shot accuracy are vital in this area. You need to study this point before all basketball picks you make.

Tip 2: Analyzing the latest NBA stats

Likewise, it is worth considering the individual level of the stars of each team. given that a good performance could be enough to achieve a victory.

For example, the relevance of Jayson Tatum in the Boston Celtics or Jimmy Butler in the Miami Heat, when it comes to scoring and managing the game, always weighs in the outcome of a confrontation, whether positively (high score) or negatively (minimum participation or errors).

Long absences due to injuries sometimes mean a problem. However, the supporting actors must also be taken into account, who help exploit the best qualities of their teammates: Kevin Durant and Devin Booker in the Phoenix Suns or Jamal Murray and Nikola Jokić in the Nuggets are clear evidence.

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Tip 3: Know the list of absent players in the NBA

Precisely, it is always essential to analyze the roster of available players, since physical problems, due to the tight schedule, are common in the NBA. As an example, facing the Dallas Mavericks with Luka Doncic as a leader on the field will not be the same as without his presence.

With up to four games a week, the talented athletes are usually left on the sidelines for several days and that unbalances the balance, as happened with the Golden State Warriors in the previous campaign. By not having Stephen Curry or Klay Thompson for a long period, the Warriors struggled at the bottom of the table during this time. 

Tip 4: Take stock of the mental state of NBA players

Another value that weighs during an NBA match is the mental state of the players. Bad streaks are difficult for any team to deal with and if things are not resolved, the pressure begins to generate errors among athletes.

Likewise, difficulties off of the court or lack of personal care also cause a decrease in general performance. For example, Ja Morant (Memphis Grizzlies) was out of action for a long time for appearing with a gun at a party; while Kyrie Irving (Brooklyn Nets) was suspended due to messages with anti-Semitic comments and ended up changing sides (Mavericks).

Tip 5: Analyze the latest NBA statistics

Last, but not least, it is a requirement to study the previous stats of each NBA team before making a prediction. Under this context, the number of points scored in previous games points against, field goals, free throws, threes and rebounds, the effectiveness of the home team, the strength of the visitors, etc. must be analyzed.

For example, last season, the Warriors raised their level little by little and consolidated themselves at home, but they constantly failed on the road: just as they could beat the Dallas Mavericks, they could then lose to the Portland Trail Blazers. In addition, you should always check recent head-to-heads.

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What Not to Do for NBA Predictions

To be a successful sports bettor, especially with your NBA bets, it’s essential to develop and refine your betting strategy. A key part of refining your strategy involves evolving with trends. However, there are common pitfalls that bettors should avoid in order to maintain a successful trajectory. Here are some common mistakes to avoid when betting on the NBA:

• Forgetting to follow the notably dense NBA schedule, which often includes games on consecutive days
• Making predictions without being informed about the current form of the teams involved
• Failing to compare odds across multiple sportsbooks to ensure you’re getting the best bang for your buck
• Betting a bunch of money on a team without considering key factors such as form or absences
• Choosing rare or complex parlays solely for the lure of higher odds
• Overlooking the home-court advantage or away strengths of any given team
• Hastily placing bets on teams you’re not familiar enough with, in an attempt to break a losing streak

A losing streak in betting happens to everyone, by avoiding the mistakes listed above, you’ll be well on your way out of a rut. Be sure to continue to refine your betting strategy and not just stick to betting on your favorite teams. Get out there, inform yourself and start placing better bets! 

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Stats You Should Consider for NBA Predictions

Every NBA expert would agree: succeeding in sports betting on the NBA also requires a thorough knowledge of the main statistics from the world's premier basketball league. Here are some new figures to remember for your NBA predictions, recorded during the latest edition of the competition:

• Home wins: 54.3%
• Away wins: 45.7%
• Average points: 227.3 points per game
• 3-point shooting success over the season: 36.46% per franchise (38.49% for the best, 34.48% for the least efficient)
• Free throw success over the season: 78.42% per franchise (83% for the best, 74.59% for the least efficient)
• Number of rebounds per game: 43.43 average rebounds per franchise
• Number of offensive rebounds per game: 10.52 average offensive rebounds per team
• Number of defensive rebounds per game: 32.91 average defensive rebounds per team

For sports betting on NBA games, you'll find that certain types of bets are more advantageous to consider in your predictions, such as the home team winning or the "Under/Over". Indeed, the American basketball championship is one of the most spectacular in the world, and bets like "Over 224.5" are often validated. Of course, this isn't the case for all teams, and it will be necessary to evaluate on a case-by-case basis. With interesting odds, this could allow you to earn some euros for your account. Even though nothing is guaranteed in advance, of course!

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Conclusion: How to get Your NBA Predictions Right Today?

Success in sports betting comes down to a careful analysis of the multitude of aspects that can influence a match: absent players, injuries, bad form, home/away deficits, head-to-head matchups, shot percentages, etc. Similarly, it is crucial to know how the season is progressing, keeping tabs on current trends. 

Obviously, this process requires precious time so it is always advisable to carefully select the matches you’re going to bet on in advance. If you have difficulties analyzing each matchup, we’ve got you covered with free predictions for every matchup throughout the season. Our predictions, made by our vetted NBA experts, will help you multiply your bankroll from the first whistle-blow. 

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Our current NBA predictions

NBA: Best Odds

Odds are not yet available for this competition.