The Philadelphia 76ers had a busy offseason of moves, aimed at improving on their 51 wins in 2018-19. That total got them a 3rd seed in the NBA Playoffs – where they defeated the Brooklyn Nets, before losing to the eventual-champion Toronto Raptors.
The Sixers big offseason moves included trading Jimmy Butler to Miami (for Josh Richardson), adding Al Horford from Boston, resigning Tobias Harris, and extending Ben Simmons. Along with team MVP Joel Embiid, those five added and retained players project to be Philly’s intimidating starting five.
Game Preview – Celtics @ Sixers
Wed. 10/22 at 7:30 PM
Philly opens at home against the Boston Celtics, who are now led by newly-acquired Kemba Walker, after Kyrie Irving left to sign with the Brooklyn Nets.
The team around Walker includes growing-star Jayson Tatum, newly-extended Jaylen Brown, injury-diminished Gordon Hayward, and rebound-machine Enes Kanter.
The Pick:
I think the newly-strengthened 76ers will mop the floor with Boston, with former-Celtic Horford helping overpower the smaller Celtics. Sixers by 6 is the pick.
Where to bet this:
Currently all of the top sports books list the Sixers as 5 point favorites. With no major outlier emerging on the line, we will bet where the payout is highest. Right now, that’s PointsBet.
PointsBet is offering even money (+100) on Philly at minus 5 points. (***remember, odds change quickly)
Bonus Value:
PointsBet also is running a promo for opening week that all NBA bettors can take advantage of. The “Make It Rain” promo pays NBA spread bettors an extra $3 per 3-pointer that their team makes. Bets have to be $100 or more to qualify, and it’s good for pre-game spread bets only. Amazingly, you can get $3 per 3-pointer for all games through 10/26.
Future Props – 76ers total wins this season
The Sixers are coming off two straight 50+ win seasons where they topped out at totals of 52 and 51. Those teams relied heavily on the health of Joel Embiid.
This year, with Al Horford as an added starter, and a revamped bench full of big men, Philly will field a power lineup for longer stretches of games, whether Embiid plays his best-case-scenario 70 of them or not.
Philly’s best starting five of Simmons, Embiid, Horford Harris, and Richardson project to be among the top defensive units in the league, primed to pile up wins against their many weaker non-Milwaukee Eastern Conference opponents, and hold their own against the loaded West.
For those reasons, I think Philadelphia can win 60 games this season.
Where to bet this:
We shopped the books to find the best value on a Sports NBA futures markets, and find the best over/under odds for that 60 win total.
SugarHouse has set Philly’s line at 54.5 wins, with -110 odds for the over/under. While Caesars has the line set at 54 wins, also with -110 odds.
However, the best value on the Philadelphia 76ers win total going over 54.5 this season is currently found at PointsBet. PB is offering this future at even money (+100).
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