On the night of October 24-25, the new NBA regular season will kick off with a rematch of the last Western Conference finals between Denver and Lakers. Starting from this game, everyone interested can place bets on matches in the world’s strongest league. If you want to bet using your mobile device, all you need to do is yukle the app from the respective bookmaker.
In this article, we will discuss two teams that were already among the favorites and made significant roster changes over the summer: Milwaukee Bucks and Boston Celtics. What can we expect from them in the new season?
Milwaukee
Perhaps the most obvious choice of a team that will attract the most attention. In the summer, the Bucks made no major changes, but in September, they unexpectedly traded for Damian Lillard when no one even suspected that Milwaukee was in the running for the superstar guard.
The main question is how Lillard and Giannis Antetokounmpo will play together. Giannis promises that Damian will have more ball-handling duties, and he won’t have any problems being essentially the “second option” in the team’s offense.
It’s also important to understand how the team’s defense will fare without Jrue Holiday, who was the cornerstone of Milwaukee’s defense (and made significant contributions on his own end of the court during the championship season of 2020/21).
Amid all the recent news related to the Bucks, it’s essential not to forget that Mike Budenholzer left the club after the season, and the team will start its championship campaign under new head coach Adrian Griffin, making it his first-ever coaching job in the NBA.
On paper, Milwaukee looks like one of the top contenders for the championship (the team consistently ranks in the top three of various bookmakers’ rankings, with some even calling them the primary contender), but the changes in the Bucks are so significant that an easy path to victory is not guaranteed. Therefore, we can expect a lot of exciting games and storylines from the Giannis-Lillard partnership.
How did Lillard’s move impact Milwaukee’s chances of winning the title? Who is now the top contender for the NBA championship? How will a rookie coach handle the pressure and responsibility? The season for the team will undoubtedly be intriguing for all Bucks fans and basketball enthusiasts.
Boston
The second team that shook up the entire NBA this September and the second team that outperformed Miami in the market. Boston, which participated in the last two Eastern Conference finals (and even reached the NBA Finals in 2022), appeared to be a team with more questions than answers until the recent signings. The Celtics seemed to have patched up their roster holes even before the start of the season.
The Celtics made a significant emphasis on their offense, letting go of Marcus Smart (the best defensive player in the 2021/22 season, for a moment) and acquiring Kristaps Porzingis with a hefty contract. Then, they addressed their defensive issues by signing Jrue Holiday, who became available after Damian Lillard’s trade to Portland. They had to part ways with Malcolm Brogdon (the best sixth man of the previous season), but considering Brogdon’s injury troubles during his time in Boston, it appears more as shedding excess baggage than a loss. Also, young talents like Grant Williams and Robert Williams left the team.
Now, Boston is an obviously star-studded team (with such names and contracts) and has a player with championship experience. Not just as the 15th player in the championship team’s rotation, but Holiday won a title with Milwaukee as one of the main stars. The Celtics appear balanced, and their loud response to the market means a strong desire to compete for the championship (not just on paper but in practice).
It’s premature to declare the Joe Mazzulla-led team as the top contenders for the title, as they are not yet a perfect team and still have room for growth and improvement. Nevertheless, this is a significant improvement compared to the options Boston was contemplating before signing Holiday. The balance between the two sides of the court has been restored, making it an intriguing prospect.