Playing The Odds With OKC
The online gambling Web site Bodog.com has released a variety of odds for the 2009-10 NBA season. I’m not a betting man, but there is some very interesting material about the probability of how the Thunder and some of its players will do this season.
Kevin Durant
Over/Under: 27.5 PPG
Over/Under: 6.9 RPG
(I’m taking the under on points and a push on rebounds.)
Russell Westbrook
Over/Under: 16.3 PPG
Over/Under: 6.0 APG
(Give me the under on points, barely, and the over on assists.)
Jeff Green
Over/Under: 17.4 PPG
Over/Under: 6.8 PPG
(Again, I’m going under on points and I’ll take the over on rebounds.)
James Harden
Over/Under: 12.0 PPG.
(Sounds close to me. I’ll go 12.4)
Odds to win the 2010 NBA championship
Lakers: 2/1
Thunder: 100/1
Sacramento: 150/1
Odds to win the Western Conference
Lakers: 2/3
Thunder: 50/1
Sacramento: 60/1
NBA Regular Season Win Totals
Lakers: 62.5 wins.
Cavs: 61.5 wins.
Thunder: 34.5 wins.
Kings: 23.5 wins.
(I’ve penciled the Thunder in for 34 wins. I’m feeling a little better about my prediction.)
What Team Will Improve The Most In The Number Of Wins From Their Total From The 2008-09 Season?
Wizards: 3/2
Clippers: 2/1
Thunder: 5/2
Field: 9/5
(From my conversations, these three teams seem to be the consensus around the league to be the most improved clubs.)
Odds To Win The 2009-10 NBA Regular Season MVP
LeBron James: 11/4
Kobe Bryant: 3/1
Dwyane Wade: 5/1
Dwight Howard: 9/1
Chris Paul: 10/1
Kevin Durant: 30/1
(Some of the notable names Durant is ahead of: Amare Stoudemire, Steve Nash, Pau Gasol, Vince Carter, Shaq and Joe Johnson. He’s tied with Gilbert Arenas and Chris Bosh.)
Odds To Win The 2009-10 NBA Rookie Of The Year Award
Blake Griffin: 5/6
Stephen Curry: 5/1
Jonny Flynn: 6/1
Tyreke Evans: 6/1
James Harden: 7/1
(I’ve also got Griffin winning this trophy, although I think Evans will have a better season. Griffin, because the Clippers are scheduled to have eight nationally televised games (tied with Curry’s Warriors), will receive the most attention of any other rookie in the race because he’s the No. 1 overall pick. And he’s a highlight waiting to happen. Any time he dunks, swats a shot or dives into the stands for a loose ball it’s going to be shown on SportsCenter 20 times a night. That kind of attention is going to sway voters who aren’t paying attention to anything but the nightly highlights.)
Blake Griffin
Over/Under: 16.6 PPG
Over/Under: 8.2 RPG
(I don’t want to underestimate Griffin, but those would be awfully impressive numbers. Especially for a rookie. One who is expected to come off the bench to start the season. On a stacked team. In the Western Conference. I’m going under on both, but especially the points.)
Regular Season Points/Game Leader (Must Play Enough Games To Qualify)
Dwyane Wade: 2/1
LeBron James: 3/1
Kobe Bryant: 7/2
Kevin Durant: 5/1
Danny Granger: 8/1
(Since Wade has the least help, I can see him easily walking away with another scoring title if he stays healthy.)
Greg Oden
Over/Under: 10.3 PPG
Over/Under: 8.4 RPG
(Good thing he’s in Portland.)
-DM-
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Comments
Brick, I’ll definitely remember it. But are you in any way suggesting that Oden will someday be better than Durant? I hope not. -DM-
Absolutely not. If not for Brandon Roy, I’m positive Portland would have chosen Durant in a heartbeat. But slighting GO doesn’t make Durant Better. It kind of an apples and oranges thing. A better argument over the next few years would be Durant/ Roy….
Brick, don’t get me wrong. I’m not slighting Oden. He’ll do that on his own if he averages only 10 and 8 in his third season (technically his second). And this isn’t so much an apples to oranges debate. Durant is clearly the better player. Kobe v. Shaq, for example? Sure, because both were great players playing different positions. Durant-Roy is a good little debate. Not a great one, though, in my opinion. Roy is better now. Durant will be better very soon and likely for their rest of their careers. I’m not sure how much more room for improvement Roy has. -DM-
I meant in terms of position on the a & o thing. Durant is clearly the better player at this point and probably down the line as well. But when he was drafted everyone agreed Portland needed Oden. Barring injury I think this year’s results will bear that out. He came into camp and TOOK that starting job…he looks great. Hold me to the fire if I’m wrong: I predict 14 ppg and 11 rpg a game…brave, huh! Time will tell with KD/BR..Gentleman’s disagreement. Totally unrelated: I have acoustic guitar music I recorded that I would like to share w/ you and Martzmimic…How would I do that?
Brick, hand it to me at the next game you’re at. E-mail me before the game and let me know if you’ll be in attendance and where you’ll be sitting. -DM-
There is no doubt Kevin Durant is a better player than Greg Oden. The 2012 Olympic basketball team will most likely invite Durant to be a member, not Oden. But, looking at Portland and Brandon Roy vs. Joel Przybilla, it wanted its #1 draftee to compete with Przybilla (Durant was listed as a SG during the 2007 draft).
Thanks, Darnell but I am actually a PDX native! Will get it to you…I truly believe Pryz, Juwan Howard and Maurice Lucas are going to be nothing but good for young Greg. We are looking awfully good in the front court. Walton was in town for a ceremony last Sunday and I guess Walton, Oden and Lucas sat for a visit…Megadose of Blazer Championship Heritage! It is getting exciting around here. Good luck in the ’09-’10 Campaign, OKC.
there are many people that do get addicted to Online Gambling because it is easy to bet and easy to win too ‘
A very good thing. Remember you said that.