The New York Knicks open their title defense with almost the same roster that ended a 53-year wait last June. They beat San Antonio 4-1 in the Finals, and Jalen Brunson was the unanimous Finals MVP. Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns, OG Anunoby, Josh Hart, Mikal Bridges, Miles McBride and Jose Alvarado are all back under Mike Brown. The one notable departure was backup center Mitchell Robinson, who signed with Boston, and Andre Drummond arrived to fill that role. Continuity is the strength. Age is the worry: every regular starter is 29 or older, and sportsbooks set the Knicks’ win total at 52.5, right around last season’s 53 wins. Opening night was a reality check. On the night they raised the banner, the Knicks lost 106-100 to Philadelphia, and Brunson needed 19 shots to score 21 points.
History is the toughest opponent
The bigger obstacle may be the calendar. No team has won back-to-back titles since Golden State in 2017 and 2018, and eight different champions have followed. The reasons repeat every year: salary cap pressure, injuries and a growing list of contenders. Brown knows it. “This is a new team, new season and new challenges we’re going to face,” he said before the opener, while Brunson promised to bring “the same mindset if not a tougher mindset we had last year.” Sportsbooks price the Knicks at about +900 to repeat, behind two teams from the West. If you plan to bet on the title race, compare the prices first, because the gap between books can be wide. RealGM keeps a guide to the best nba betting sites, so you can weigh the options side by side before opening an account.
Thunder, Spurs and Philadelphia lead the chase
Oklahoma City and San Antonio opened as co-favorites at +270. The Spurs beat the Thunder in a seven-game Western Conference finals last spring, and the Thunder struck back on opening night with a 116-104 win. In the East, Philadelphia is the main threat after adding Jaylen Brown and LeBron James, a pair of moves that took the 76ers from 60-1 to +900. Boston sits at 13-1, while Cleveland and Houston both shortened over the summer. In total, 14 teams started the season at 40-1 or shorter, a sign of how open the league looks.
Wembanyama leads the MVP Board
The MVP market has a new favorite. Victor Wembanyama opened at +210 at DraftKings after a season in which he won Defensive Player of the Year, finished third in MVP voting and averaged 25.0 points and 11.5 rebounds in only 29.2 minutes a night. More minutes would make him hard to beat. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander follows at +350 after winning two straight awards, though voter fatigue has hurt past winners. Nikola Jokic (+500) has finished first or second in each of the last six seasons, and Luka Doncic (+550) now leads the Lakers on his own after averaging 33.5 points. Further back, Giannis Antetokounmpo is +1200 with Miami, and Jayson Tatum and Anthony Edwards share +1800. Futures tie up money for months, so keep those stakes small.
This content is provided for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice. AFP editorial staff were not involved in the creation of this content. If you or someone you know is struggling with a gambling problem, a helpline is available at 1-888-532-3500.
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