By Larry Rupp
The Milwaukee Bucks rolled through the East during last season’s NBA Playoffs en route to winning the NBA Championship ultimately. Their dominance showed anything can happen once those eight postseason seeds are set in place.
Well, it is all up for grabs again. Betting on the Bucks or the Brooklyn Nets may seem like the easiest way to go, but there are a few dark-horse teams out there. Let’s take a look at the squads that could turn some heads, with all odds coming from DraftKings Sportsbook.
Atlanta Hawks (+1500)
Betting on the team that finished as the runner-up in the previous season is never a bad idea. The Hawks were the lovable underdogs that just kept on winning and will look to do the same during the 2021-22 season. Atlanta’s high-octane offense is highlighted by point guard Trae Young, who averaged a career-high 9.4 assists per game last year to go along with 25.3 points.
However, the biggest story to this team is its depth. The Hawks return all five starters and have shooters like Kevin Huerter and Lou Williams coming off the bench. Being able to seamlessly sub in players without losing ground on the scoreboard is crucial to sustaining success in the NBA. Don’t underestimate the Hawks in their quest to take home the conference title.
The greatest postseason run in Atlanta Hawks history. pic.twitter.com/7Arj02kva6
— Atlanta Hawks (@ATLHawks) July 5, 2021
Chicago Bulls (+2800)
No one truly knows what to expect out of Chicago this season, but the Bulls certainly have the pieces to compete with some of the best teams in the conference. This front office added a multitude of stars in the off-season, including Lonzo Ball (14.6 points per game in 2020-21) and Demar DeRozan (four-time All-Star).
The potential of this team simply comes down to how well its two stars can play together. Both guard Zach Lavine and center Nikola Vucevic are coming off All-Star seasons and know how to score efficiently. While this team is going to need some time to gel, the Bulls have some value at +2800 and are a tempting team to take a chance on.
Our season is here!
— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) October 20, 2021
Let’s get this show started 🍿 pic.twitter.com/PYwwQFWLmK
New York Knicks (+4000)
This is not the same New York Knicks team that posted a combined record of 67-163 from 2017 to 2020. Coach Tom Thibodeau turned this team around and led them to the playoffs last season as the No. 4 seed in the Eastern Conference. With All-Star forward Julius Randle putting in a rock-solid effort on both ends of the court, the sky’s the limit here.
The Knicks know this is the best shot they have had in a long time and made some moves to bolster the roster. Point guard Kemba Walker and shooting guard Evan Fournier join the squad and come with a combined 19 seasons of NBA experience. Their knowledge can help shape Obi Toppin’s and RJ Barrett’s games as New York hopes to grab its first conference title since 1999.
Julius Randle is the 1st Knicks player with 25 points, 5 rebounds & 5 assists in multiple season openers. pic.twitter.com/IjJ2nFBXGO
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) October 21, 2021
Picture Credit: Google Creative Commons Licenses
