The NFL has pushed all other sports news off to the side, so some may not realize the NBA regular season starts on Tuesday. 

It’s not too late to throw some jellybeans on a few NBA prop bets. Prop bets have become individualized so much that you can bet on a specific person’s assists per game for a season. I just like to stick to a vanilla approach to NBA props. My favorite NBA prop bets are regular season over/unders. 

The Cleveland Cavs are without LeBron, again. Do they have enough talent left to eclipse 31 wins?

Here are our 2018-19 NBA over/under season wins total picks for the Eastern Conference.

Atlanta Hawks – 24 1/2 Wins – UNDER

Atlanta kicked PG Dennis Schroder to the curb and replaced him with trigger-happy rookie Trae Young. They also acquired PG Jeremy Lin, but I don’t have much confidence in him staying healthy. The rest of their ‘additions’ are just warm bodies. They finished with 24 wins last season and I don’t think they improved the roster. 

Boston Celtics – 59 Wins – OVER

The Celtics won 55 games last season and they were without start Gordon Hayward for all but a few minutes last season. A lot of young guys played extended minutes and turned into legit championship pieces during the year. I expect this team to be dangerous, but without a LeBron-led team to chase, will the Celtics keep on the gas all season? I think they should be a 60-win team this year.

Brooklyn Nets – 32 Wins – UNDER

I like some of the additions the Nets made this offseason (Ed Davis, Kenneth Faried). They now have depth at every position, but their starting-five may not match up well against most of the NBA. They have a roster full of bench players and that doesn’t translate to a 32+ win team.

Charlotte Hornets – 35.5 Wins – OVER

Charlotte made one of the most surprising free agent signings this offseason by snagging veteran PG Tony Parker. He can lead the second-team and get the most out of guys like PF Frank Kaminsky and Jeremy Lamb. I think they will hover around .500 this year.

Chicago Bulls – 29.5 Wins – OVER

The Bulls overpaid for SF Jabari Parker and SG Zach Lavine, but I like a lot about this team. I like the youth the starting-five brings and PF Lauri Markkanen could soon be an All-Star in this league. If the Bulls hope to reach 30 wins, they will need more from PG Kris Dunn. He was a talented player in college and hasn’t quite found his NBA stroke. I’m betting on that he finds it this year.

Cleveland Cavaliers – 31 Wins – OVER

The Cavs are once again without LeBron James. He didn’t leave the cupboard as bare as his previous departure. In a vacuum, a team with Kevin Love, George Hill and JR Smith should be a 31+ win team. They also have some youth with upside like Collin Sexton and Larry Nance Jr. 

Detroit Pistons – 38 1/2 Wins – UNDER

The Pistons made some moves last season to acquire PF Blake Griffin, but gave up a lot of future assets. They lack the back-court talent of a playoff-level team. I don’t see Reggie Jackson and Reggie Bullock being a back-court tandem that can get the Pistons to 39 wins.

Indiana Pacers – 48 Wins – OVER

The Pacers made some solid offseason signings by getting SG Tyreke Evans on a one-year deal and finally signing a bench shooter (SF Doug McDermott). The Pacers were a huge surprise last year and I think they will at least match last year’s win total of 48.

Miami Heat – 43 Wins – OVER

I’m taking the over assuming the Heat puts together a trade package for SG Jimmy Butler. I think it will happen and it would put the Heat among the top teams in the East. They might pass 43 wins without Butler, but it would be near-automatic with him.

Milwaukee Bucks – 48.5 Wins – OVER

The Bucks have missed the last few over/under season win expectations. They come into this season losing SF Jabari Parker, but will add C Brook Lopez and the returning PF Ersan Ilyasova. The young guys on the Bucks have another season under the belts. This is the season they will eclipse 50 wins.

New York Knicks – 29 Wins – OVER

The Knicks will be without PF Kristaps Porzingis for most of the year. They still have some talent and I really like SF Kevin Knox. He could find himself in the starting lineup if he starts off hot and Tim Hardaway Jr. struggles to find a consistent shot. I think the Knicks should be a 30+ win team in 2018-2019.

Orlando Magic – 31 Wins – UNDER

I’m not sold on the young talent in Orlando. They have made a lot of lottery picks that haven’t panned out. Their last few early picks have plateaued. I don’t see them getting to 31 wins this season.

Philadelphia 76ers – 53.5 Wins – OVER

The Sixers are loaded with youth, but unpredictability comes with inexperience. We never really saw much from Markelle Fultz last season and I’m not sure what the Sixers will get from him this year. He’s allegedly 100% and shouldn’t be on a ‘pitch count’ per se, but I’m hung up on what he will do for the Sixers. I would try to dangle him in a trade for a veteran. The Sixers have a chance to be a Finals team in the East.

Toronto Raptors – 55 1/2 Wins – UNDER

The Kawhi Leonard for DeMar DeRozan trade will be analyzed for years to come, because it may take more than a year to decide which team won here. DeRozan was becoming a franchise star for Toronto and helped turn the Raptors unto a legit title contender. I’m taking the under here because I’m not sold that Leonard is all-in for the Raptors. He’s looking ahead to next offseason when he can get a max extension somewhere else (Toronto isn’t going to win him over).

Washington Wizards – 46 Wins – OVER

The Wizards seem to always disappoint in some way, every single year. I like the SG Austin Rivers trade and acquiring SF Jeff Green. Depth has always been a need for the Wizards and they helped solve that need. They won’t smash the over, but I think 47 wins is attainable.

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About the Author…

Bobby Roberts (otherwise known as Sweetbob) is the creator of ‘America’s White Boy’ and contributor at Project Shanks. His writing has been featured on ESPN’s ‘SportsNation’, Sports Illustrated’s Hot Clicks, Guyspeed, and various other sites. You can follow him on Twitter at @Sweetbob.