The 2021/22 NBA regular season will get underway in less than a month, so it’s time to start getting serious about predictions for the upcoming campaign and to resume an annual Hoops Rumors tradition.
With the help of the lines from a handful of sports betting sites, including Bovada and BetOnline, we’re running through the predicted win totals for each of the NBA’s 30 teams, by division. In a series of team-by-team polls, you’ll get the chance to weigh in on whether you think those forecasts are too optimistic or too pessimistic.
In 2020/21, our voters went 17-13 on their over/under picks. Can you top that in ’21/22?
As a reminder, the NBA played a 72-game schedule in 2020/21, so a team that won 41 games last year finished with a 41-31 record. This year, a club that wins 41 games would be a .500 team (41-41). For added clarity, we’ve noted the record that each team would have to achieve to finish “over” its projected win total.
We’ll turn today to the Pacific division…
Los Angeles Lakers
- 2020/21 record: 42-30
- Over/under for 2021/22: 52.5 wins (53-29)
- Major offseason moves:
- Added: Russell Westbrook, Kendrick Nunn, Dwight Howard, Carmelo Anthony, DeAndre Jordan, Rajon Rondo, Trevor Ariza, Malik Monk, Kent Bazemore, Wayne Ellington
- Lost: Dennis Schröder, Kyle Kuzma, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Montrezl Harrell, Alex Caruso, Marc Gasol, Markieff Morris, Andre Drummond, Wesley Matthews, Ben McLemore, Jared Dudley, Alfonzo McKinnie
How many games will the Lakers win in 2021/22?
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Over 52.5 58% (512)
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Under 52.5 42% (368)
Total votes: 880
Phoenix Suns
- 2020/21 record: 51-21
- Over/under for 2021/22: 51.5 wins (52-30)
- Major offseason moves:
How many games will the Suns win in 2021/22?
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Over 51.5 59% (437)
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Under 51.5 41% (309)
Total votes: 746
Golden State Warriors
- 2020/21 record: 39-33
- Over/under for 2021/22: 48.5 wins (49-33)
- Major offseason moves:
How many games will the Warriors win in 2021/22?
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Over 48.5 50% (391)
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Under 48.5 50% (386)
Total votes: 777
Los Angeles Clippers
- 2020/21 record: 47-25
- Over/under for 2021/22: 43.5 wins (44-38)
- Major offseason moves:
- Added: Eric Bledsoe, Justise Winslow, Keon Johnson, Brandon Boston, Jason Preston, Harry Giles, Isaiah Hartenstein
- Lost: Patrick Beverley, Rajon Rondo, Patrick Patterson, DeMarcus Cousins, Yogi Ferrell, Daniel Oturu
- Note: Kawhi Leonard is expected to miss most or all of the season while recovering from ACL surgery.
How many games will the Clippers win in 2021/22?
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Over 43.5 51% (374)
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Under 43.5 49% (357)
Total votes: 731
Sacramento Kings
- 2020/21 record: 31-41
- Over/under for 2021/22: 36.5 wins (37-45)
- Major offseason moves:
- Added: Davion Mitchell, Tristan Thompson, Alex Len
- Lost: Delon Wright, Hassan Whiteside, Justin James
How many games will the Kings win in 2021/22?
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Under 36.5 66% (472)
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Over 36.5 34% (243)
Total votes: 715
Previous voting results:
- Brooklyn Nets (55.5 wins): Over (63.2%)
- Philadelphia 76ers (51.5 wins): Under (70.0%)
- Boston Celtics (46.5 wins): Over (58.1%)
- New York Knicks (42.5 wins): Over (65.1%)
- Toronto Raptors (36.5 wins): Under (50.6%)
- Utah Jazz (52.5 wins): Over (61.7%)
- Denver Nuggets (48.5 wins): Over (69.3%)
- Portland Trail Blazers (44.5 wins): Over (53.0%)
- Minnesota Timberwolves (34.5 wins): Under (57.1%)
- Oklahoma City Thunder (23.5 wins): Under (65.0%)
- Milwaukee Bucks (54.5 wins): Over (63.7%)
- Indiana Pacers (42.5 wins): Under (58.2%)
- Chicago Bulls (42.5 wins): Over (68.3%)
- Cleveland Cavaliers (26.5 wins): Under (50.5%)
- Detroit Pistons (25.5 wins): Under (52.6%)
I am surprised that Suns are not the preseason favorites in the West. They have the same team as they did last year.
Most of the other teams they beat out were dealing with a lot of injuries.
And some will still be dealing with injuries while others will likely rest their players. Not much has changed.
They will be right up there in the fight but like Wally says, health is going to be a huge factor in deciding who comes out of the west with so many teams capable of making a run at it.
Arc. The betting changes the line too. So the Suns likely are not backed by wealthy loyal betting fans as much as the Lakers are.
Clippers 44 wins?
It means to me that Clippers will miss the playoffs
Clippers are done if George misses 20 games this season
I expect conference finals will have two new teams
Of course the Clippers need him to stay healthy, but we all know he has struggled in LA the last two seasons to stay on the court.
If the Jazz and Nuggets can avoid their key players from getting hurt this season, they have a good chance of meeting in the WCF.
Clippers are definitely going to have an uphill battle this season. The Jazz and Nuggets both will make noise and should be around when push comes to shove. The Lakers and Warriors have plenty of vets with playoff experience so they can’t be counted out either. It should be a fun season, can’t wait.
Under for both la teams
LAL will be over clearly!
PHO, GSW, LAC & SAC will be under!
Even if PG-13 misses 10-ish games Clips gotta win 45 games minimum