The start of the 2024-25 NBA regular season is just weeks away with opening game tip Oct. 22. The New York Knicks at Boston Celtics (-4.5) and Minnesota Timberwolves (-1) at Los Angeles Lakers get the season started and Boston is the betting favorite to win the NBA championship. The Celtics (58.5) also have the highest season win total with the Oklahoma City Thunder (57), Knicks (54.5) and Timberwolves (52) expected to be among pro basketball’s best teams.

While the MLB playoffs are in full swing and NFL and college football fans are betting weekly games and adjusted future odds, pro basketball fans are placing preseason bets on season win totals and NBA futures to win the championship.

Toronto Raptors Media Day And Comments

Toronto Raptors center Jakob Poeltl just surprised fans, teammates, coaches and bettors with some of his comments this week during the Raptors media day press conference.

“It makes no sense for us to like try and win every single game, and sacrifice development,” Poeltl said (starting 2 hour 16 minute mark). “It has to be like, a long term project, and I think we all know that we’re not going to go out and attack the championship this year.”

While it may seem subtle, the reference to “try not to win every single game” is not a good look and sends a mixed message. Especially for highly (over)paid basketball players. The average NBA salary this year is $11.9 million per year, up $2 million from last season with minimum salary of $1.15 million for players with no experience.

In fairness, there are clearly worse comments by players, and Poeltl did comment and clarify that it’s more about the mindset and focus of the team. He believes the rebuilding Raptors can have positive experiences and “we can surprise people and exceed expectations.”

The Raptors roster underwent a significant overhaul last season while winning just 25 games and finishing last in the Atlantic division. That included losing 15 straight games starting March 5 and ending with their most devastating loss in franchise history, a defeat to the Timberwolves by 48 points. The Raptors finished the season losing 21-of-24 games including 7-17 against the spread (ATS).

Raptors point guard Immanuel Quickley recently spoke at Raptors media day and said of the 10-year veteran Poeltl “He’s a very smart basketball player,” adding that he texts Poeltl almost every day. “I don’t know if a lot of players know that, but just the intelligence he has, especially when you talk to him, you can understand how he’s a very smart player.”

Poeltl was the Raptors leading rebounder last season (8.6/game) while scoring an average of 11.1 points per game. So while he’s apparently an analytical thinker, his comments about not trying to win every game were either not well thought out, or not too smart.

Quickley has a team-high salary of $32.5 million this season, and Poeltl is the fourth highest-paid Raptors player at $19.5 million per year. That’s 237,804 per game if Poeltl plays all 82, or 390,000 per game if he plays in 50 contests like he did last season. Clearly there won’t be more than 82 games for the Raptors, as Toronto is a longshot to make the playoffs and Poeltl doesn’t think it makes sense to try and win every game.

NBA Championship Odds And Season Wins

Basketball and NBA odds from FanDuel and leading online sportsbooks refresh periodically and are subject to change, including on futures, props and live betting.

The Toronto Raptors are one of eight NBA teams expected to struggle this season, according to NBA Championship odds at FanDuel Sportsbook. Eight teams have odds to win the 2024-25 championship of 1000/1. A $10 bet on any of these teams would return $10,000 if they capture the NBA title. Those eight teams also have season win totals below 31 wins, as offered by Circa Sports.

• +320: Boston Celtics (58.5)
• +650: Oklahoma City Thunder (57)
• +750: New York Knicks (54.5)
• +1000: Philadelphia 76ers (52.5), Minnesota Timberwolves (52)
• +1100: Denver Nuggets (50.5), Dallas Mavericks (48.5)
• +1400: Milwaukee Bucks (49)
• +2000: Phoenix Suns (47.5)
• +4000: Orlando Magic (47.5), Cleveland Cavaliers (49.5)
• +4000: Memphis Grizzlies (48), Los Angeles Lakers (43.5)
• +4500: Golden State Warriors (44.5)
• +5000: Indiana Pacers (46.5), New Orleans Pelicans (46.5), Miami Heat (44.5)
• +5500: Sacramento Kings (46.5)
• +8000: Houston Rockets (43)
• +10000: Los Angeles Clippers (39)
• +15000: San Antonio Spurs (35.5)
• +35000: Atlanta Hawks (36.5)
• +100000: Brooklyn Nets (20), Charlotte Hornets (30.5), Chicago Bulls (27.5), Detroit Pistons (27), Portland Trail Blazers (22.5), Toronto Raptors (30), Utah Jazz (28), Washington Wizards (20)

Follow NBA betting news, sportsbook odds, picks and props including on the Toronto Raptors, who open their season on Oct. 23 as a 4-point home underdog to the Cleveland Cavaliers. Two nights later they will be a home underdog to the Philadelphia 76ers. Then it’s on the road to Minnesota and back home to play the Denver Nuggets with an 0-4 start to the season a distinct possibility.

Bettors may be buying under 30 wins on Toronto.

You can bet on it.

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