The sportsbook experts see the NBA’s Eastern Conference as being wide open for a few reasons. For one thing, the defending champion Miami Heat is not showing the kind of determination one would expect from a champion. Miami looks flat at times and has been steadily criticized for its lack of determination. The decline of teams like the Boston Celtics and the Chicago Bulls opens up the Eastern Conference for a new champion. The online betting experts are contemplating which Eastern Conference teams could be legitimate title contenders.
Miami Heat
While the Heat is struggling, it is difficult to completely dismiss Miami as an Eastern Conference contender. This is mostly because Miami currently holds the best record in the Eastern Conference. But the sportsbook experts point to stories about Miami coach Erik Spoelstra benching players such as Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh late in games due to lack of effort. Fans cannot help but wonder how long the Heat can hold it together.
New York Knicks
The novelty of the Knicks possibly being contenders has worn off and the 5dimes betting experts are now ready to give New York its due. The only problem with the Knicks is that much of its success revolves around Carmelo Anthony. When Anthony is not in the lineup, the Knicks lose. It is pretty simple. That kind of result is a formula for disaster if the Knicks lose Anthony to injury late in the season. Not even the return of Amar’eStoudemire could subside the potential issues that would arise if Carmelo Anthony is injured and lost for the playoffs.
Brooklyn Nets
The Brooklyn Nets has also won the respect of the betting experts throughout the league. The Nets did not make many significant changes to its lineup during the offseason, but the changes the team did make seemed to be enough to push Brooklyn into playoff contention. Joe Jackson offers a scoring touch that the Nets had been previously missing. The rest of the team plays some pretty determined defense to go along with the new offense. The Nets also seem to have a very talented bench, which could be an extremely important factor when the playoffs begin.
Indiana Pacers
When the Pacers got knocked out of the playoffs last season, most of the betting experts were expecting to see Indiana back this season. The Pacers is a young team that is brimming with confidence. The experience the team picked up in the playoffs last season is going a long way to teaching it how to compete this year. The Pacers has been leading the Central Division all season long and looks like it will be reluctant to give that title up any time soon. This is a team that no other team wants to meet when the playoffs begin.
Read more about the Eastern Conference playoff contenders and what fans can expect in the NBA playoffs this season.
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