Fansided

Picking every NBA over/under win total

By Brad Rowland

Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) takes the court prior to the game against the Atlanta Hawks at the Cintas Center. Mandatory Credit: Frank Victores-USA TODAY Sports
Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) takes the court prior to the game against the Atlanta Hawks at the Cintas Center. Mandatory Credit: Frank Victores-USA TODAY Sports /
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San Antonio Spurs players (from left to right) Kawhi Leonard, and Tim Duncan, and Tony Parker, and Manu Ginobili watch on the bench against the Los Angeles Clippers in game three of the first round of the NBA Playoffs at AT&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports
San Antonio Spurs players (from left to right) Kawhi Leonard, and Tim Duncan, and Tony Parker, and Manu Ginobili watch on the bench against the Los Angeles Clippers in game three of the first round of the NBA Playoffs at AT&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports /

San Antonio Spurs – Over/Under 58.5 wins

“The Spurs added LaMarcus Aldridge and David West? They HAVE to win 60 games!”

I’ve heard a lot of the above sentiment, and yes, the Spurs are very good on paper. However, San Antonio is notorious for resting guys and caring very little about the regular season, plus Gregg Popovich is forced to integrate a star-level player with a real ego for the first time in a very long time.

I’m not telling you that San Antonio isn’t going to be great, because they probably will be. Aldridge is really good, Kawhi Leonard is awesome and Tim Duncan continues to defy age and gravity each and every season. Still, Tony Parker looks like a shell of himself, and there is a real possibility that David West is a downgrade from what San Antonio has extracted from Tiago Splitter (now in Atlanta) in the recent past.

The Spurs aren’t going to try to win 60 games, and that is the biggest reason the sharp play is on the under, but there are actual questions about this roster, too.

The Pick: Under (56-26)

Toronto Raptors – Over/Under 46.5 wins

I don’t know how to feel about Toronto and that means I’m staying away unless I have to pick. Since it is my job to pick, let’s analyze this thing together.

DeMarre Carroll is a huge acquisition for the Raptors, and I can see why the experts like Toronto to make a leap with him on board. However, it is unclear just how much the team wants to use him at power forward, and if he does play some time at the four, Toronto’s wing depth evaporates in a hurry after DeMar DeRozan (Terrence Ross? Yikes). More importantly, though, I’m not in love with the Lowry-DeRozan pairing, and even with indications that Lowry is in fantastic shape, the duo has yet to play exceptional basketball over a full season without incident.

If Jonas Valanciunas makes the leap, Lowry and DeRozan produce and Carroll fits well, this might be a 48-win team. I’ll take my chances on the under in the event that the perfect storm doesn’t occur.

The Pick: Under (44-38)

Next: Jazz and Wizards

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