The 2020/21 NBA regular season will get underway on December 22, so it’s time to get serious about predictions for the upcoming campaign.
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.
Of course, there are plenty of wild cards to take into account this season. For one, teams are scheduled to play 72 games instead of 82, so if you’re picking a team to win 41 games, you’re not just expecting them to be a .500 club — you’re projecting them to finish 10 games above .500. For each team’s over/under below, we’ve noted the record they’d have to achieve to finish “over” their projection, as a reminder.
It’s also worth noting that the coronavirus pandemic could cause some games to be canceled in 2020/21. We don’t want you to have to take possible cancellations into account when making your picks though, so don’t let that stop you from taking the “over.” If a team has a couple games canceled, we’ll adjust their over/under figure downward, so you’re essentially just projecting that team’s winning percentage.
We’ll turn today to the Southeast…
Miami Heat
- 2019/20 record: 44-29
- Over/under for 2020/21: 44.5 wins (45-27)
- Major offseason moves:
- Added: Avery Bradley, Maurice Harkless, Precious Achiuwa
- Lost: Jae Crowder, Derrick Jones, Solomon Hill
Trade Rumors app users, click here for Heat poll.
Atlanta Hawks
- 2019/20 record: 20-47
- Over/under for 2020/21: 36.5 wins (37-35)
- Major offseason moves:
Trade Rumors app users, click here for Hawks poll.
Washington Wizards
- 2019/20 record: 25-47
- Over/under for 2020/21: 34.5 wins (35-37)
- Major offseason moves:
Trade Rumors app users, click here for Wizards poll.
Orlando Magic
- 2019/20 record: 33-40
- Over/under for 2020/21: 31.5 wins (32-40)
- Major offseason moves:
- Added: Cole Anthony, Chuma Okeke, Dwayne Bacon
- Lost: D.J. Augustin, Wesley Iwundu, Melvin Frazier
- Note: Jonathan Isaac will be out for the season due to a torn ACL.
Trade Rumors app users, click here for Magic poll.
Charlotte Hornets
- 2019/20 record: 23-42
- Over/under for 2020/21: 26.5 wins (27-45)
- Major offseason moves:
- Added: Gordon Hayward, LaMelo Ball, Vernon Carey, Nick Richards
- Lost: Nicolas Batum, Dwayne Bacon, Willy Hernangomez
Trade Rumors app users, click here for Hornets poll.
Previous voting results:
- Boston Celtics (45.5 wins): Over (66.3%)
- Brooklyn Nets (45.5 wins): Over (58.6%)
- Philadelphia 76ers (44.5 wins): Over (57.4%)
- Toronto Raptors (42.5 wins): Over (54.7%)
- New York Knicks (22.5 wins): Under (59.5%)
- Denver Nuggets (44.5 wins): Over (69.7%)
- Utah Jazz (42.5 wins): Over (59.9%)
- Portland Trail Blazers (41.5 wins): Over (70.1%)
- Minnesota Timberwolves (29.5 wins): Under (50.3%)
- Oklahoma City Thunder (22.5 wins): Under (64.4%)
- Milwaukee Bucks (51.5 wins): Over (73.7%)
- Indiana Pacers (39.5 wins): Over (57.9%)
- Chicago Bulls (29.5 wins): Under (61.6%)
- Cleveland Cavaliers (23.5 wins): Under (68.5%)
- Detroit Pistons (22.5 wins): Over (53.9%)
- Los Angeles Lakers (48.5 wins): Over (79.1%)
- Los Angeles Clippers (47.5 wins): Under (50.4%)
- Phoenix Suns (40.5 wins): Over (51.0%)
- Golden State Warriors (38.5 wins): Over (60.3%)
- Sacramento Kings (29.5 wins): Under (60.7%)
Is Jonathan Isaac really that important to the Magic’s success?
Winning 32 out of 72 games in the eastern conference isn’t that difficult.
A team with russ and Beal in the east will win 35 games
One would think so, but Westbrook is 32 and injury prone.
harden (mvp),wall, and wood I can’t wait to see how you try to bash Harden and turn on him too once he’s traded.
I hated Westbrook long before he played for the Rockets last season and I’m glad he’s gone. Anyone with a brain can see that Wall is an upgrade over him, plus the Rockets got a first round pick in the deal.
But Harden is way better than Russ, and it’s not even close. He is already well on his way to becoming one of the greatest players in NBA history, despite the wide-spread hatred for him.
I would never bash him, no matter who he plays for, and it would be a tremendous mistake for the Rockets to trade him. Hopefully teams will continue offering far less than he’s worth, giving Houston no choice than to hold onto him until the end of his illustrious career.
homer. And you were bullish on RW.
Either playing against EC teams is good for all EC teams or none. Cherrypicking makes houston( a dolt.
Points added thru FG shooting ranks him at 62 in the NBA. He is #1 in points added in the NBA because of his ability to draw fouls. Points win games but most are not ready to call him historically great because he is great at drawing fouls.
Was may not need RW much to win 35. The easier EC works for every EC team, not just the liked.
under ATL ORL
over MIA, WAS, CHA
ATL will be over.
MIA, WAS, ORL & CHA will be under.
Ok
We’re about oppsite! I was ready to say over for Atlanta, but Bovado already had them boosted, and they are still not in better shape defensively. MIA should be able to keep the mo going. WAS will benefit from RW proving himself and Beal’s flexibility and young players adding a lot for a defense to account for. ORL went backwards and Ross got a heel. CHA should pick up steam when they leverage movement. They could be fun.
Laughing my ass off at all the people picking the under on Orlando…they must not have seen the roster lol
I’ll laugh 10 times harder at all the people who pick the under on Houston!