After a week without basketball, the NBA now gears up for its final stretch of regular season action. Unlike the first half of the year, the following months should have high-stakes games being played across the association. Figuring out which teams are set up for long-term success is easier said than done. However, some teams are clearly better positioned to dominate the second half. Let’s take a look at some contenders for best record after the All-Star break on DraftKings Sportsbook.
The Favorite: Boston Celtics (+205)
It was a predictably good half for the Celtics, who entered this week with a 39-16 record. There’s reason to believe that the best is yet to come for the defending champions. According to Tankathon, Boston’s remaining strength of schedule, i.e. combined winning percentage of all future opponents, is just .465. That’s the third-lowest mark in the NBA; only the cellar-dwelling Raptors and Wizards have it easier.
Health also favors the Celtics, as Kristaps Porzingis’ knee injury kept him out for a month of the season. The All-Star center is unlikely to play every game in the second half, especially back-to-backs. Still, he’s a good bet to suit up for more games going forward. The biggest hurdle for Boston might be complacency. If their playoff fate determined by the start of April, the C’s might be content to rest their stars. Still, with the Cavaliers currently first in the Eastern Conference, there should be plenty to play for in Beantown.
Best Value: New York Knicks (+1900)
When assessing a second-half best record bet, a few factors are important: schedule strength, room for improvement, and something to play for. In that regard, New York checks two of those three boxes with flying colors. Let’s get to the bad first: the upcoming schedule is no joke. Games against the Celtics and Cavaliers won’t be easy for a Knicks team that has struggled beating elite squads. Still, outside of those five contests, every matchup going forward is one that favors the ‘Bockers in overall talent.
That statement is true without factoring in the impending return of Mitchell Robinson, projected for early March. The oft-injured center has been missed for a surprisingly vulnerable defense, currently ranked 13th in points allowed. His presence should also give a boost to New York’s bench, one of the smallest in basketball. One thing is for certain: this group, led by head coach Tom Thibodeau, is going to give maximum effort. Even if the games don’t matter, the Knicks will make a strong push to win. A handful of ‘meaningless’ victories in April could give this bet some extra juice.
Best Longshot: Philadelphia 76ers (+15000)
I know what you’re thinking. How on Earth can you trust this team? The 20-34 76ers have been a mess, riddled all season by health issues and underperformance. Joel Embiid is a walking injury report, while offseason signing Paul George hasn’t been much better in that regard. One of the team’s only silver linings has been Tyrese Maxey. The 24-year-old has been terrific so far, averaging 27.6 points, 3.5 rebounds and 6.1 assists per game. Still, the point guard has often had to serve as a one-man show without his All-Star teammates in action.
Saying Philadelphia will be better in the second half isn’t really going out on a limb. Simply put, things can’t get much worse. However, there’s massive potential for this group going forward…health permitting. Per Tankathon, the Sixers have the fourth-easiest remaining schedule, with a combined winning percentage of .474. Unlike Boston, Philly should be fighting until the last day of the regular season. Since December 1st, this group is 8-5 when Embiid plays. That alone isn’t enough to suggest they’ll dominate the second half, but it is a promising sign. Obviously, the 76ers are not to be trusted…but at these odds? Perhaps a small wager is in order.
