Thursday is the NBA’s official schedule release day, which means all 30 teams now have 80 games on their slate to play (the final two will be determined by the Emirates Cup standings following group play). Naturally, this marks a pretty good time to start canvassing the league to see how teams stack up. There’s no better way to do that than by visiting our friends at the FanDuel Sportsbook to see every team’s win total. First up, the Western Conference.
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Undisputed favorites
Oklahoma City Thunder
O/U 62.5 wins (-106/-125)
Do you want to hop in front of this freight train? Well, maybe. Injuries could bite them more this year, but it’s going to take a whole lot of courage to bet this under.
Undisputed contenders
Houston Rockets
O/U 55.5 wins (-110/-120)
Out the door go Dillon Brooks and Jalen Green, and in comes Kevin Durant. They are priced like a contender, we’ll see if the health allows them to play to their ceiling.
Denver Nuggets
O/U 53.5 wins (-106/-125)
I love what this team did in the offseason by acquiring Cam Johnson and reuniting with Bruce Brown. But they’ll need to play to that championship level under a new coach, after David Adelman had his interim tag removed this offseason.
A break away from contention
Minnesota Timberwolves
O/U 49.5 wins (-112/-118)
Doubling down on Julius Randle and Rudy Gobert is not my idea of team building around Anthony Edwards, but they have made two straight West Final’s. Losing NAW to Atlanta hurts, but Terrance Shannon Jr. should be ready to fill that void.
Los Angeles Clippers
O/U 49.5 wins (+100/-132)
Bradley Beal joined the Clippers because he wants a championship ring. The health of Kawhi Leonard and James Harden will go much further in determining that than anything Beal does. However, if healthy this is a good group with a great coaching staff.
Los Angeles Lakers
O/U 48.5 wins (-110/-120)
It’s telling that the Lakers are priced closer to the Warriors than they are the upper tier teams like Denver and Houston, and that’s not even including OKC. The Lake Show appears to be trying to rebuild the 2022 Mavericks, just without all the good vibes. Oh, and they let Luka’s all time favorite teammate in Dorian Finney-Smith walk because they pissed him off. This is a high variance squad.
Golden State Warriors
O/U 45.5 wins (-125/-106)
Can the Steph and Jimmy partnership stay healthy? Feels like Steph’s last chance to get ring number five, but he won’t be favored to do so.
Trying to get out of the Play-In
San Antonio Spurs
O/U 43.5 wins
The Wemby era is going to liftoff at some point. Is this year the year it happens? I like their chances, but that guard room needs figuring out. Fox, Castle and Vassel are all good players and now they’re joined by Dylan Harper. Someone (or two) have to go.
Dallas Mavericks
O/U 40.5 wins (-130/-102)
This number has gone up from where it opened at 38.5 wins. It’ll all come down to health and what they can get out of the guards early in the season. Both go right, and they’ll cruise over. Both go wrong, it’s NBA Draft Lottery time. Reality is probably somewhere in the middle.
Memphis Grizzlies
O/U 40.5 wins (-114/-114)
Based on the juice, FanDuel is telling us that the Dallas Mavericks are a better team than Memphis is. Where you fall in that argument is a very interesting discussion.
Trying to get into the Play-In
Sacramento Kings
O/U 35.5 wins
These are the Chicago Bulls of the West. I’m disgusted by this franchise. There is no analysis here. Take this plate away, waiter, I’m good here.
Portland Trail Blazers
O/U 33.5 wins (-114/-114)
What exactly is the direction of the Blazers? Dame is back, which is a great boost for the fanbase, but while he recovers from an Achillies, they aren’t going to be competitive! I’m just not sure what we’re doing here.
The uncompetitive
Phoenix Suns
O/U 31.5 wins (-130/-102)
The Suns should be thankful that Nico Harrison exists, otherwise they would be the laughingstock of the NBA. Nevertheless, this team has fallen from grace. Devin Booker extended, so at least Suns fans have that going for them.
New Orleans Pelicans
O/U 29.5 wins (-112/-118)
Has the voodoo been lifted from this city and franchise? I like the Poole addition, but there’s just a lot to overcome here.
Utah Jazz
O/U 18.5 wins
We don’t have to worry about the Jazz picking a direction. That direction is pointed directly at Lawrence, Kansas. Or potentially Durham, North Carolina. But most likely, it’s pointed at Provo, Utah.
