Vegas oddsmakers punt Nets to lowest projected win total in NBA
It shouldn’t surprise you, but the Westgate Superbook in Las Vegas have released their over/under win totals for the 2016-2017 season and, well, the Brooklyn Nets were given the lowest projection in the NBA.
The Nets, in all their Jeremy Lin, Kenny Atkinson, and Brooklyn Grit glory, are expected to win just 20.5 games. If you’re not a huge gambler, this number likely means nothing to you — but, if you’re feeling lucky (or you’re Bojan Bogdanovic), betting on over is the way to go.
In 2015-2016, the Nets won 21 games, so oddsmakers don’t expect them improve much, if at all, after dealing away the always-reliable Thaddeus Young for the pick that would become Caris LeVert this summer. Unexpectedly, the Philadelphia 76ers have leapt up to 27.5 wins — a total higher than both the Phoenix Suns and Los Angeles Lakers as well.
When asked about the projections yesterday, general manager Sean Marks downplayed the expectations — as transcribed by NetsDaily:
“I don’t think we look at is as bulletin board material,” Marks said. “I mean, you’ve read probably a couple of pieces that some of our guys have said that they don’t agree with those odds and that’s great. That’s exactly what we want … that’s the competitor in them.”
Elsewhere, the Golden State Warriors sit at 66.5 after breaking the Chicago Bulls’ mark of 72 wins last season — a number which, of course, takes into consideration the addition of Kevin Durant in free agency. The defending champions in Cleveland are tied with the San Antonio Spurs for the league’s second-highest projection with 56.5 a piece.
The Nets won’t be competing for a championship in 2016-2017, but if they channel their inner-Leicester City, the sky’s the limit for defeating low Vegas odds.
Vegas releases 2016-17 NBA season over/under win totals for every team — CBS Sports
