NBA Futures: Best Bets to Win Western Conference (2021)
With two months of the NBA season nearly complete, fans and bettors have had ample time to get a feel for what’s what and who’s who in the Association this year. With the All-Star festivities fast approaching and the second half of the season looming on the other side now makes for a great time to consider some mid-season NBA futures bets.
The futures book lines have certainly moved a great deal from where they were before the season began. They’ll only continue to fluctuate as we draw closer to the postseason. Based on what we’ve seen through the season’s first nine weeks, here are my three best NBA futures bets to win the Western Conference.
NBA Western Conference Futures Betting Odds
All odds courtesy of BetMGM
Get a Deposit Bonus up to $500 at BetMGM >>
NBA Western Conference Futures Best Bets
Los Angeles Clippers (+280)
For some reason, the NBA betting market really turned on the Clippers following the disappointing finish to last season. While the playoff collapse to the Denver Nuggets was certainly deflating, the Clips still have two of the game’s best superstars in Kawhi Leonard and Paul George. Being firmly in the shadow of the crosstown rival Lakers could be a blessing in disguise. At the time of writing, the Clippers 21-9 record has them third in the Western Conference standings.
One thing that the Clippers can lay claim to through the first two months of the season that the defending champion Lakers can’t is a top-five ranking in both scoring offense and defense. The fact that L.A. has done this despite being without Leonard and George for multiple games due to virus protocols, load management, and most recently, George’s foot injury speaks volumes. Landing free agent Serge Ibaka helped ease the loss of Montrezl Harrell in the frontcourt. Nicolas Batum has also played a larger than expected role in his first year as a Clipper. Los Angeles is deep, talented and seemingly playing with far less pressure than a season ago. When it comes to betting value to win the West, give me the Clippers over the Lakers any day.
Utah Jazz (+450)
No team has been hotter over the first two months of the season than the Utah Jazz. With a record of 24-5, Utah is the best team in both the Western Conference and the entire NBA at the time of writing. To put the context of that incredible start into further perspective, it should be noted that the Jazz at one point had a 4-4 record. The Jazz have won 20 of their 21 games since January 6th and look every bit like a true NBA championship contender.
Donovan Mitchell is the alpha of the group, averaging 22.8 points per game. Even so, no Jazz player is really getting a sniff when it comes to the futures market for the MVP award. This speaks to the collective team brand of basketball that coach Quin Snyder has this group playing. Mike Conley, Rudy Gobert, Joe Ingles, Bojan Bogdanovic, Jordan Clarkson, and Royce O’Neale all play vital roles in the Jazz’ overall team success. Utah ranks third in scoring defense and fourth in scoring offense, suggesting that they are far from a one-dimensional team as well.
Bettors are advised to play the Jazz as soon as possible and perhaps double down if desired when the incredible run of victories does cool off a bit. For a team that plays so well together and has postseason experience to boot, there’s a lot of value in +450 odds.
Denver Nuggets (+1200)
There’s no denying that the Nuggets’ play early this season has been inconsistent and uninspiring. But with the opportunity to bet last year’s conference runners-up at 12-1 odds to take the next step, the value is among the best in the conference. The Nuggets sit in eighth place with a 15-13 record at the time of writing. The West is as deep (or deeper) than ever this season, but there’s no disputing that Denver has the talent to rise in the standings as the year progresses.
Nikola Jokic has a real case when it comes to debating the best big man in today’s NBA. Joker does it all, evidenced in his season averages of 27.4 points, 11.1 rebounds and 8.6 assists. One challenge that the Nuggets do face this season relates to the players surrounding their star center. The loss of Jerami Grant in the offseason hurts big time. Denver will hope that Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr. can play at a more consistent level as we advance. If they do so, the Nuggets are as legit a team as any in the Western Conference.
Bet $1, Win $100 on any Game if Your Team Hits a Three-Pointer >>
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | RadioPublic | Breaker | Castbox | Pocket Casts
Whether you’re new to sports betting or a betting pro, our Sports Betting Strategy and Advice page is for you. You can get started with our 101 section — including Common Sports Betting Terms — or head to more advanced strategy — like 10 Tips to Become a Sharper Sports Bettor — to learn more.
Henry John is a featured writer at BettingPros. For more from Henry, check out his archive and follow him @HankTimeSports.