As the 2017-18 NBA season is set for tip-off, many clubs will be fighting for position in the scrappy Eastern Conference. Outside of the three-time defending conference champion Cleveland Cavaliers, the East has seen a lot of teams shift from contender to pretender at expedient rates. Nothing typifies this more than Boston earning the #1 seed in the playoffs in 2016 after coming in as a #8 seed the season before. Here is a breakdown of the best favorite for value, top contenders, and longshot with best equity to win the Eastern Conference based on futures betting odds from BetOnline.

Top Valued Favorite

The East has been declared a two-horse race by the market. Cleveland requires chalk to take back as Eastern Conference Champion at a price of -150 while the Celtics come in with a number of +220 next to their name. Chalk is not a philosophy we preach or a practice we partake in but there a lot of things that can go wrong in Beantown. Boston acquired forward Gordon Hayward and point guard Kyrie Irving from Cleveland but they had to off-load a plethora of talent and draft picks in doing so. Cleveland actually got stronger upon the departure of Irving with Derrick Rose, Dewayne Wade, Isaiah Thomas, Jae Crowder, and Jeff Green coming to town. Therefore, we recommend staying off either team unless you are willing to bite the bullet on the Cavaliers.

Top Valued Contender

There are five times priced mid-range that all can be classed as value contenders per say. They are Miami +2500, Toronto +2500, Philadelphia +2500, Washington +2000, and Milwaukee at +1800. The Bucks are the one that we like because they have one of the game’s rising stars in Giannis Antetkuompo leading the charge for the Buckaroos. In addition to Giannis, the team has some exceptional talent in shooter Khris Middleton, point-man Malcom Brogdon, and forward Johnny Henson. In addition, the Bucks have the likes of Jabari Parker and Greg Monroe in their ranks to complement their personnel. This team continues to gel and in doing so, plays a better brand of basketball. The more experience this outfit gets, the more dangerous they become.

Top Valued Longshot

Upon reviewing the field, the market longshots consist of Atlanta +20000, Brooklyn +20000, New York +20000, Chicago +20000, and Orlando at +10000. Our favorite for valued longshots is the Detroit Pistons at the price of +10000. There is little doubt that the Central Division is the most rugged in the NBA. Last year, the Central sent four teams to the playoffs, including Cleveland, Milwaukee, Chicago, and Indiana. The Pistons were the odd-man out but even then, they were in contention until the closing weeks of action. Had Detroit been the benefactors of playing in a weaker division, perhaps there would have been an entirely different discussion about how price them in 2018. In the question of starters, it is essential for Motown to stay healthy. If they are successful in doing so, they have one of the best quartets on the court in all of the NBA comprised of center Andre Drummond, point guard Reggie Jackson, shooter Avery Bradley, and small forward Tobias Harris. We like their ceiling with this kind of talent.

2017/2018 Eastern Conference Championship Team Odds as offered at BetOnline

• Atlanta Hawks 20000
• Boston Celtics 220
• Brooklyn Nets 20000
• Charlotte Hornets 5000
• Chicago Bulls 20000
• Cleveland Cavaliers -150
• Detroit Pistons 10000
• Indiana Pacers 20000
• Miami Heat 2500
• Milwaukee Bucks 1800
• New York Knicks 20000
• Orlando Magic 10000
• Philadelphia 76ers 2500
• Toronto Raptors 2500
• Washington Wizards 2000