NBA season prop bets: Phoenix Suns edition
Odds makers are not showing the Phoenix Suns much respect when it comes to NBA season prop bets. The Suns rank near the bottom of the league in practically every win prediction category. Some of these bets, however, look tempting.
Sports gambling is slowly creeping its way toward legality across many states. While throwing down cash on games is still technically illegal in Arizona, talking about all the Phoenix Suns-related bets that could be made after a drive up to Las Vegas is not.
The exact odds in different sports books vary and will change based on betting patterns. So, if you make that drive up to Vegas, or login to your favorite offshore bookie and see slightly different odds, that’s why.
Remember to gamble responsibly, kids.
Let’s begin.
Phoenix Suns Win Total: 29.5
The Suns are coming off a 19 win season. That’s not very many, but neither is 29.5.
It seems as if those setting the line might be undervaluing the offseason addition of World Cup champion and MVP, Ricky Rubio. If he plays like the MVP of the Suns this season, 30 wins seems not just doable, but extremely likely.
If the Suns only win 30 games, that means they still lose 52, which still isn’t very good, so they can remain the bad team most analysts predict and still cover the over on this.
It is also possible the Suns surprise a lot of people and work the win column up to the mid thirties. Or higher.
Give me the over on this one. There’s no way Rubio leads this team to less than 30 wins.
Devin Booker to Win MVP: +10000 (100:1)
I get it. Booker hasn’t even made an All Star team yet. Betting on him to win the MVP is a stretch.
But +10000 odds is extremely low for the caliber a player of Booker’s caliber. For comparison, those are the same odds as Draymond Green, Mike Conley, and Nikola Vucevic.
It isn’t inconceivable for Booker to win the MVP. If he posts around 30 points a game, which isn’t out of the realm of possibility, all it takes is some of those big nights to translate into enough wins for the Suns to make the playoffs.
Again, that is not exactly a lock, but it may be worth throwing down $10 for a chance to win $1,000 at the end of the year.
Ty Jerome or Cameron Johnson to Win Rookie of the Year: N/A
No Phoenix Suns rookie is on the preseason bet sheet to win Rookie of the Year. Sure, the chances for either Ty Jerome or Cameron Johnson to win it are slim, but so slim they aren’t even listed as a prop bet?
You can bet early second-round draft picks Bruno Fernando and KZ Okpala with +50000 odds but not 11th overall pick Cam Johnson. The fact his draft position was a severe reach is well understood, but the 44th overall pick, Bol Bol, is listed at only +5000 and the Denver Nuggets are starting him off on a two-way contract.
Their omission is unjustifiable.
Phoenix Suns to Make the Playoffs: Yes: +1000 (10:1) No: -1500 (1:15)
This one is tempting. Can the Suns finish in the top eight in the Western Conference?
If you placed the Suns in the East, then I would walk into a casino with a wheelbarrow full of the cash I would dump on this 10:1 bet. The West, though, is just so tough.
Betting the No in this prop is not a good idea. It would take a $100 bet to win $15 and crazier things than this Suns team making the playoffs have happened.
It is probably best to stay away from this one, but check back after the first couple preseason games.
Phoenix Suns to win NBA Championship: +30000 (300:1)
Some sites have this as high as +50000, so it is safe to say there isn’t a lot of faith this is the year the Suns take home their first Larry O’Brien trophy. Coming off a dismal season, it is easy to see why.
However odds makers aren’t taking into consideration the Suns’ key offseason acquisitions like Frank Kaminsky and Cheick Diallo.
Joking.
It might be tempting to drop $10 on this with a chance to win $3,000, but save that money for a hot dog and a drink at a Suns game instead.
Phoenix Suns to win Western Conference: +20000 (200:1)
If you aren’t confident the Suns will win it all, maybe they could at least get to the NBA Finals. That $10 bet pays out $2,000, and again, bettors might be overlooking the fact the Suns have Jevon Carter now.
Again, joking.
Buy a cold draft at a Suns game instead. You’ll enjoy it more.
Phoenix Suns to win the Pacific Division: +15000 (150:1)
One might think the odds for the Suns to win the division would significantly drop compared to the Western Conference or the NBA Championship. However, the Suns just happen to share a division with the odds-on favorite to win all of those, the Los Angeles Clippers.
And the Los Angeles Lakers, who are second favorites to win all of those.
Oh, and the Golden State Warriors who are 6th favorite to win it all and third to win the Western Conference and Pacific Division.
The Sacramento Kings aren’t exactly slackers, either. Their odds to win the Pacific Division are only +3300, meaning odds makers believe they are nearly five times more likely to accomplish this feat than the Phoenix Suns.
If you’re keeping your money on the Western Conference bet, do the same for the division bet too.
Be smart out there. Don’t make a loved one call a gambling hotline on you. It’s awkward.