NBA Longshot Bets
In the sports betting world, sometimes it is smart to sprinkle on a bet with huge odds attached. The payout becomes enlarged and despite the odds not being in your favor, there is still a chance the bet cashes. The NBA in some cases can be predictable, such as who is making the playoffs, but in some cases, the unexpected happens. For example, before the season kicked off last year, Rudy Gobert was +1500 to win Defensive Player of the Year, while Tyrese Maxey was +1400 to win Most Improved Player. Imagine having those two longshot bets in your back pocket. That is what I want to do with these three bets I found with +1200 odds or better.
Jayson Tatum to Win MVP (+1300)
After winning an NBA championship and Olympic Gold Medal in the same year, you would think Jayson Tatum has nothing left to prove in this league. Then you can’t forget about the 5 straight All-Star nods and 3 straight 1st Team All-NBA selections. Despite all of those accomplishments, Tatum gets the short end of the stick from the public. He was not the recipient of the Conference nor Finals MVP (both going to his teammate, Jaylen Brown).
Then there was the debacle with the Olympics where he was the only player for some games getting DNPs. Tatum has seen all of the success one could only dream of in the NBA, but he is still looked down upon. However, this can be the year he kicks it into a new gear and wins the MVP award. The Boston Celtics can easily win around 65 games if everything goes to plan, but that same boost could be his detriment.
The Celtics have a stacked roster, which might hurt Tatum’s case. There are nights that Tatum does not have to be the best guy on the floor for his team to win. They are the favorites for a reason and it is more of the core around Tatum than Tatum himself. Nonetheless, if Tatum averages around 30 PPG on efficient shooting and leads the Celtics to 65 wins, why not give him the MVP? His odds at +1300 could be a steal if everything goes right for the Celtics.
Bam Adebayo to win Defensive Player of the Year (+1200)
Bam Adebayo is +1200 to win the DPOY but somehow tied for the 2nd-best odds. Why is that? The answer is that Victor Wembanyama is the clear-cut favorite at -155. Those are crazy odds, but that sets us up to take a sprinkle on a top-tier defensive candidate.
Bam has already started his campaign for the DPOY by talking about the last couple of years feeling snubbed from the award. Over the past Bam has finished in the top 5 in voting for this award, but never was able to win the honor. This season could be the year, despite Wemby standing in his way. However, there is a chance that the Spurs’ defense is subpar, while the Heat take the regular season seriously for once and Bam is the anchor for a stifling defense.
If the Heat can finish in the upper half of the Eastern Conference and the Spurs miss the postseason, voters might take it upon themselves to reward winning. With Wemby being such a heavy favorite, this might be the best sprinkle on the board.
Chris Paul to Lead the League in Assists (+3100)
This is the longest of the longshot bets I want to take and for good reason. Chris Paul gets to play with Wemby and throw him lobs all day long. Granted, Paul is turning 40 years old this season, but he led the league in assists 3 years ago. Why can’t he do it one last time?
He will have some tough competition with Tyrese Haliburton and Trae Young racking up assists, but Paul has the skills to match up. He is a pick-and-roll maestro that can get anyone open. However, health will be a factor for the 39-year-old, as he has not played 60 games in each of the last two seasons. I think the Spurs will manage his minutes, but I firmly believe they are going to take a serious step in the Western Conference.
This bet rides on the chemistry Paul will display with Wemby and how much of a factor he will be for this young squad. As a +3100 sprinkle, I decided why not take the risk on Paul. This can be his last hoorah in the NBA and why not go out doing the one thing you made a career out of and that is dishing the rock?
Noel is from Philadelphia, PA. He went to West Chester University and graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Communications in Media & Culture.
