It finally happened — James Harden was traded. In an inevitable move, the Brooklyn Nets landed one of the best players in the NBA. This trade now puts Harden alongside two other superstars in Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant. Following the trade, the NBA odds view the Nets as the favorites to win the Eastern Conference Finals.
This betting preview contains the NBA odds to win the Eastern Conference, as well as breakdowns of the best teams in the East.
NBA Odds to Win Eastern Conference Finals
All NBA odds can be found at Bovada Sportsbook.
| Brooklyn Nets | +125 |
| Milwaukee Bucks | +325 |
| Boston Celtics | +650 |
| Miami Heat | +650 |
| Philadelphia 76ers | +650 |
| Indiana Pacers | +1600 |
| Toronto Raptors | +2800 |
| Atlanta Hawks | +4500 |
| Orlando Magic | +7500 |
| Washington Wizards | +8000 |
| Charlotte Hornets | +12500 |
| Cleveland Cavaliers | +15000 |
| New York Knicks | +15000 |
| Chicago Bulls | +20000 |
| Detroit Pistons | +25000 |
Brooklyn Nets Odds Following James Harden Trade
The Brooklyn Nets have become an offensive juggernaut, with the addition of Harden. Featuring three potential hall of famers, this Nets offense might be the greatest of all time. The first game that Harden played with the Nets resulted in a seven-point win over the Orlando Magic. Kevin Durant went for 42 points on 16/26 shooting. Harden’s debut performance was excellent. He recorded a 32-12-14 triple-double. The Nets won’t have a problem scoring points this season, but what may worry fans is the defensive side of the ball.
Kyrie Irving is also a wild card in this situation. Will he play? If so, when will he play and how many games will he be a factor in? Irving wanted to play with Durant, and that wish came true in Brooklyn. But with Harden in the picture, how much does Irving’s usage go down?
All in all, the Nets have three top-15 players on their team. They have a new coach, who seems to be very player-friendly, and two assistant coaches that have been around the NBA for awhile (Mike D’Antoni & Jacque Vaughn). Barring injury, the Nets will be a powerhouse and should be the team to watch out for in the East.
Contenders in the East
The Milwaukee Bucks are going to be the biggest threat to the Nets’ quest for the East. The Bucks have been shooting the lights out of the gym. Their addition of Jrue Holiday has seemed to be a benefit, both offensively and defensively. What gives the Nets an advantage over the Bucks is their inconsistency to close out game. Will Giannis Antetonkounmpo be able to hit free throws when it counts? Will Khris Middleton be able to take over games when teams shut Giannis down?
The Boston Celtics are also going to be around. The Celtics’ biggest strength is their ability to play as a team. Jayson Tatum is turning into a superstar and Jaylen Brown is one of the best second options in the NBA. Their defense is led by Marcus Smart, who is often in the running for Defensive Player of the Year. The disadvantage to the Celtics, right now, is that Kemba Walker is fighting injuries and they aren’t completely sure what they will get out him when he fully comes back. The Celtics have also been bitten by the COVID-19 bug. If some players suffer some long-term effects, the Celtics could be in for an early offseason.
