NBA win total over/under picks: Eastern Conference
By Ian Levy
Hello and welcome to our NBA win total over/under picks. All 10 of us here at Friendly Bounce made our picks, which include three “locks” each. Below you’ll find each person’s pick for each team, along with a short paragraph for any locks. You’ll also see an infographic with each team’s win projection, how many of us picked the over, how many of us picked the under, and a small lock(s) if anyone picked that team for one of their “locks”. Here’s the Eastern Conference. Let’s get into it.
Atlanta Hawks
Jack (@jackhaveitall): Over
Taylor (@TaylorBojangles): Over
Wes G (@wcgoldberg): Under
Brian (@bbeebe): Over
Zach (@ZachOliverNBA): Under
Ryne (@ryneprinz): Over (Lock)
Sure, they lost Demarre Carroll in free agency this summer. He played an important role on their defense, but they should be able to make up for it with the return of Thabo Sefolosha as well as the addition of Justin Holiday and Tim Hardaway Jr. Atlanta received center Tiago Splitter from the Spurs for next to nothing, improving their front court depth. The Hawks are still going to be an enjoyable and successful team this season. Oh, and they play in the East.
Donnie (@donniebuckets): Over
Wesley S (@wesley_share): Over
Matt (@Matt_Cianfrone): Under
Chris (@ChrisBarnewall): Over (Lock)
Yes, the Hawks lost Demarre Carroll. Yes, the Hawks played well above their heads last season. Yes, the Hawks were awful in the playoffs last year. Yes, the Hawks should have an expected drop. They still won 60 plus games last year, and this supposed huge loss of theirs was the 5th man on a team with four all-stars. The Hawks not winning 50 games this season would mean someone got hurt. Them as an over is an easy lock.
Boston Celtics
Jack: Over
Taylor: Under
Wes G: Over
Brian: Under
Zach: Under
Ryne: Under
Donnie: Under
Wesley S: Under
Matt: Under
Chris: Under
Brooklyn Nets
Jack: Under
Taylor: Under
Wes G: Under
Brian: Under
Zach: Over
Ryne: Under
Donnie: Under
Wesley S: Under
Matt: Over
Chris: Over
Charlotte Hornets
Jack: Under
Taylor: Over
Wes G: Under
Brian: Under
Zach: Over
Ryne: Under
Donnie: Under
Wesley S: Under
Matt: Under
Chris: Over
Chicago Bulls
Jack: Over
Taylor: Over
Wes G: Over
Brian: Under
Zach: Over
Ryne: Over
Donnie: Under
Wesley S: Over
Matt: Under
Chris: Under
Cleveland Cavaliers
Jack: Under
Taylor: Under
Wes G: Under
Brian: Under
Zach: Under
Ryne: Under
Donnie: Under (Lock)
Cleveland knows it needs to be healthy in the playoffs, and will sacrifice regular season wins to get there. Kyrie Irving will take his time getting back, and LeBron James will sit out some too. If the team was in the West, it might fight for extra wins. In the East? The number one seed will be wrapped up early, and Cleveland will coast, thus falling short of 57 wins but being better for it.
Wesley S: Under
Matt: Under
Chris: Over
Detroit Pistons
Jack: Over
Taylor: Over (Lock)
Do I trust the Pistons? Not in the least. But I think SVG finally has the roster he wants in place, and I’ll be surprised if they aren’t a playoff team this year.
Wes G: Over (Lock)
The Detroit Pistons are built to be consistent, though unspectacular, this season. That may not lead to a 50-win year, but this team that Stan Van Gundy built is modeled in the shadow of his best Magic teams. A system based on pick-and-rolls and strong defense makes them a lock to win more than 33.5 games this season.
Brian: Over (Lock)
Now, full and total disclosure–I’m a Pistons fan. I fully, totally, and wholly understand that this team has underwent a number of changes in a short amount of time. 12 months ago we were looking at a winter of sadness with 3 mismatched parts dominating the conversation.
Now, suddenly, there is light. And the light, while certainly not bright enough to burn a man’s skin, is at least enough to make a man pay attention and enjoy watching his favorite team again. No more questionable Brandon Jennings contested 18 foot jumpers (at least, not for awhile). Josh Smith, he gone! And while I don’t fully understand why Greg Monroe walked for nothing, I’m okay with not overpaying him, especially with a head coach with a vision for success in which Monroe didn’t fit in.
Yes, I know that Reggie Jackson is the starting point guard. Yes, I know that a rookie is our starting small forward. And yes, I’m fully aware that Andre Drummond’s free throws are roughly akin to an injured 8 year old’s percentage. But I’m willing to see where this goes.
Now…I’m glad I talked myself into this before seeing the Pistons’ schedule. 10 of their 15 November games are on the road, including their annual (and usually awful) early-season West Coast trip featuring a pair of back to backs. Not favorable in any way. But I’m still on board.
Zach: Over (Lock)
This number is absolutely ridiculous. I know they still have a lot of questions, but in the second year under Stan Van Gundy, they should take a big step forward. Andre Drummond is going to continue to get better, and they get a full season with Reggie Jackson running the point. They added some nice pieces in the offseason, and with the relatively weak bottom portion of the Eastern Conference, should be able to fight their way into a position for that eighth and final playoff spot.
Ryne: Over
Donnie: Over
Wesley S: Over
Matt: Over
Chris: Over
Indiana Pacers
Jack: Under
Taylor: Over
Wes G: Under
Brian: Under
Zach: Under
Ryne: Under
Donnie: Under
Wesley S: Under
Matt: Under (Lock)
Superstars make teams much better than they have any right being, and the return of Paul George should help Indiana. Yet he already hates his role and the Pacers really aren’t equipped to move him back to the three. I just don’t trust a team that could rely heavily on Monta Ellis and Ian Mahinmi to play anything more than supporting roles. Shoot, if Indy gives in to George, Jordan Hill may start. Even in the East that means an under .500 team.
Chris: Under
Miami HEAT
Jack: Over
Taylor: Over
Wes G: Over
Brian: Over
Zach: Over (Lock)
I might be way too optimistic about this Heat team, but I think they have the potential to win the Eastern Conference this season. Their depth is better than it has been in years, and they’re getting Chris Bosh back fully healthy. Obviously Dwyane Wade’s health is going to be a big question, but if they can get 55-60 games out of him, and have him fully healthy for the postseason, they could be very dangerous. Overall, I think they’re the deepest team in the East, and are going to run through a lot of opponents night-in and night-out.
Ryne: Over
Donnie: Under
Wesley S: Under
Matt: Over
Chris: Over
Milwaukee Bucks
Jack: Under
Taylor: Over
Wes G: Over
Brian: Over
Zach: Under
Ryne: Under
Donnie: Under
Wesley S: Under
Matt: Under
Chris: Under
New York Knicks
Jack: Over
Taylor: Over
Wes G: Under
Brian: Over
Zach: Over
Ryne: Over
Donnie: Under
Wesley S: Under
Matt: Over
Chris: Over
Orlando Magic
Jack: Over
Taylor: Under
Wes G: Over
Brian: Under
Zach: Under
Ryne: Over
Donnie: Over
Wesley S: Under
Matt: Over
Chris: Under
Philadelphia 76ers
Jack: Over
Taylor: Under
Wes G: Under
Brian: Under
Zach: Over
Ryne: Under
Donnie: Over
Wesley S: Over
Matt: Over
Chris: Over
Toronto Raptors
Jack: Under
Taylor: Over
Wes G: Under
Brian: Under
Zach: Under
Ryne: Under
Donnie: Under
Wesley S: Under
Matt: Under
Chris: Under
Washington Wizards
Jack: Over
Taylor: Over
Wes G: Over
Brian: Over (Lock)
Usually, I’m a wagering contrarian. When something looks too easy, it often is from a betting standpoint.
Having said that, this number simply is too good to pass up. Bradley Beal is my fantasy NBA guy this year. Wall keeps getting better. Roster relatively intact. Otto Porter losing his mind in pre-season. I’ll gladly take this over.
Zach: Over
Ryne: Over
Donnie: Over
Wesley S: Over
Matt: Over
Chris: Under