Philadelphia 76ers Odds - No Miller could leave 76ers with an early vacation
Philadelphia isn’t going to turn many NBA betting heads this year, as they’re your typical average team: they’ll scare one of the top teams once in a while, but falter over the long season. With a new coach and a young point guard, the 76ers are going to have to lean on an budding star, and a former All-Star that needs to stay healthy.
Philadelphia 76ers Odds: +6000 to win NBA Championship
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Philadelphia 76ers odds maker breakdown: STARTING FIVE
The 76ers lost veteran point guard Andre Miller to Portland, which means Louis Williams steps into the spot. However, he seems to be a shoot-first kind of guard, which means that Andre Igoudala and Thaddeus Young may have to battle the youngster for shots. Then there’s the issue of a healthy Elton Brand, who played just 29 games after signing a big-money contract. Samuel Dalembert had an inconsistent year in the middle, and he needs to step it up if he wants to hold the starting spot over the improving Marreese Speights.
Philadelphia 76ers odds maker breakdown: BENCH
Speights showed a lot of promise in his rookie year, and he should be starting at some point. Willie Green takes over Williams’ spot as the gunner off the bench, and the 76ers also added Jason Kapono, the deadly three-point shooter who came from Toronto in the Reggie Evans deal. The most intriguing prospect is rookie Jrue Holiday, who left UCLA after just one year. Holiday is 6’4” with a point guard’s handle, but he’ll have to shore up his outside shooting.
Philadelphia 76ers odds maker breakdown: OFFENSE
Philly was 22nd in the league in points scored, but that could take a fall as Miller ran an efficient offense, even when the 76ers started to run more. There could be plenty of turnovers as Williams gets used to being a point guard. The 76ers also let Igoudala go one-on-one a lot, which worked when he wasn’t settling for jump shots. Brand has averaged 20.0 points over his career, and if he’s healthy, it’s a major boost to Philadelphia’s offshore sportsbook odds.
Philadelphia 76ers odds maker breakdown: DEFENSE
The 76ers were 11th in points allowed, and they played a tough, physical game. If Brand is healthy, Philly is good for low-post defending, although Dalembert can lose focus once in a while. Igoudala should really be a better perimeter defender than he is, but he’s always improving.
Philadelphia 76ers odds maker breakdown: COACHING
Tony DiLeo did a decent job steering the ship with Mo Cheeks fired after losing 14 of the first 23 games, and now Eddie Jordan takes over the reins. Jordan was fired after a poor start in Washington, and he’s known as a tough coach who stresses defense. This could be a problem for the offensively-challenged 76ers, who need help on that end of the floor, especially with Miller gone, and their online sports betting odds depend on an improved offense.
Philadelphia 76ers odds maker breakdown: SEASON OUTLOOK
The 76ers finished sixth in the East last year, falling in six games to Orlando. They won’t get much higher than that during the 2009-10 season, and I can’t stress how much they’re going to miss Andre Miller, especially Igoudala. Miller brought a steady presence to the lineup, and he knew where to get the 76ers the ball to give them their best chance to score. That’s a learning curve that Williams is going to have to go through, and he has to curb his shooting instincts. Brand also needs to stay on the floor and earn that contract he signed in last year’s offseason. Philadelphia is a big darkhorse this year, and even if they happen to make the playoffs in a top-heavy East, another first-round looms.
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