The NBA is officially back, and sifting through OddsShopper this morning has felt incredible. The season opens with a two-game slate featuring an Eastern Conference matchup between the Philadelphia 76ers and Boston Celtics, while the night wraps up with a Western Conference clash between the Los Angeles Lakers and Golden State Warriors.
NBA Betting Picks Today: 76ers vs. Celtics
To remind everyone, this is only Day 1 of the regular season, and it is important to start the season responsibly with half-unit bets on early-season props. Although there is all the information need regarding last season’s results, everything evolves in the NBA on a year-to-year basis, and it is critical to ease into the season to figure out the new rotations around the NBA. Be sure to check out OddsShopper before locking in bets to find the best odds in the market.
NBA Player Prop: James Harden O/U 5.5 Rebounds
It begins with James Harden tonight. Harden comes into this season with something to prove, and training camp storylines suggest he is in shape and ready to go. Harden carries a rebounding prop of 5.5 in this one tonight, and if he does play close to 35 minutes, he will get six or more. Last season, Harden topped 5.5 rebounds in 58 of 77 games — which is good for 75% — and this game should be close tonight, positively influencing his opportunities.
Harden averaged 7.1 rebounds per game after joining the 76ers a season ago. This team is once again constructed to make a deep run into the playoffs, and if they are going to do that, Harden will be the key factor. His opening-night matchup does feature a strong defensive team in Boston, but they will be without one of their premier rebounders in Robert Williams.
OddsShopper gives Harden a 57% chance to top 5.5 rebounds. Should his usage be where it is expected to be, he can grab upwards of eight or nine boards. Take one of the premier stat stuffers of his generation to go over 5.5 rebounds.
Best NBA Player Prop Bet: James Harden Over 5.5 Rebounds (-120)
NBA Player Prop: Jayson Tatum O/U 23.5 Points
The reigning Eastern Conference champion Boston Celtics come into this season with hopes of getting back to the NBA Finals. If they are going to do that, they will need not only their top players, but also their bench to be consistent throughout the season. With the acquisition of Malcolm Brogdon in the offseason, the Celtics bolstered the front end of their bench. Because of that, the rotation is a bit of a mystery heading into the season. How Brogdon and Derrick White will split time will be fascinating early on, and with the closing lineup a mystery, it is hard to predict their minutes for now.
The point guard situation is a wait-and-see approach, so the Celtics’ best player needs to start the season hot. Jayson Tatum leads one of the most efficient offenses in the NBA, and he will have opportunity to score tonight. Tatum currently holds a points prop of 23.5 with -110 odds to the over. That number could be his low end for this prop throughout the season, and because Tatum is reliable to play big minutes on a nightly basis, this is the way to approach the Celtics early on in the season. Tatum topped 23.5 points in 63 of 100 games a season ago, which included the playoffs.
OddsShopper gives Tatum a 54% chance of hitting his point total, and the key to this line was getting it at -110 odds. This number almost feels suspiciously low, but the risk of it being a trap acceptable.
Best NBA Player Prop Bet: Jayson Tatum Over 23.5 Points (-110)
