2021-2022 AROUND the NBA: GSW Champs [ARCHIVED]

[F Gump]

Vegas sets lines in order to get equal numbers of bets on both sides. 

The lines they set tend to be REALLY accurate with one major exception: When they set lines for "fan favorites" they tend to set them a little higher because they know they will get lots of bets from "ignorant fans." Again their goal is equal number of bets on BOTH sides of the number. 

For perspective, here is last season O/U as of Dec 22 (right as the season opened), compared to the results. Quite a few were right on target (or reasonably close), but in doing the comparison, I was surprised that more than half turned out to be mediocre-to-awful guesses in comparison to the results.
https://www.hoopsrumors.com/2020/12/2020...recap.html

Teams whose results were within 2.5 games of the oddsmakers O/U line

• Brooklyn (45.5 wins):  ACTUAL 48
  

• Chicago Bulls (29.5 wins): ACTUAL 31
  
• Cleveland Cavaliers (23.5 wins): ACTUAL 22
  
• Detroit Pistons (22.5 wins): ACTUAL 20
  

• Washington Wizards (34.5 wins): ACTUAL 34
  

• Denver Nuggets (44.5 wins): ACTUAL 47
  
• Portland Trail Blazers (41.5 wins): ACTUAL 42
  
• Oklahoma City Thunder (22.5 wins): ACTUAL 22
  

• Los Angeles Clippers (47.5 wins): ACTUAL 47
  

• Golden State Warriors (38.5 wins): ACTUAL 39
  
• Sacramento Kings (29.5 wins): ACTUAL 31
  

• Dallas Mavericks (43.5 wins): ACTUAL 42
  
• San Antonio Spurs (30.5 wins): ACTUAL 33
  

Misses by more than 2.5 games

[*]Boston Celtics (45.5 wins): ACTUAL 36
[*]Philadelphia 76ers (44.5 wins): ACTUAL 49
[*]Toronto Raptors (42.5 wins): ACTUAL 27
[*]New York Knicks (22.5 wins): ACTUAL 41
[*]Milwaukee Bucks (51.5 wins): ACTUAL 46
[*]Indiana Pacers (39.5 wins): ACTUAL 34
[*]Miami Heat (44.5 wins): ACTUAL 40
[*]Atlanta Hawks (36.5 wins): ACTUAL 41
[*]Orlando Magic (31.5 wins): ACTUAL 21
[*]Charlotte Hornets (26.5 wins): ACTUAL 33
[*]Utah Jazz (42.5 wins): ACTUAL 52
[*]Minnesota Timberwolves (29.5 wins): ACTUAL 23
[*]Los Angeles Lakers (48.5 wins): ACTUAL 42
[*]Phoenix Suns (40.5 wins): ACTUAL 51
[*]New Orleans Pelicans (36.5 wins): ACTUAL 31
[*]Houston Rockets (35.5 wins): ACTUAL 17
[*]Memphis Grizzlies (32.5 wins): ACTUAL 38