2016-17 NBA Betting: Who will lead the NBA in Points, Rebounds, and Assists?
Several teams held media day yesterday, and for some teams the preseason will kick off this weekend. Just in time for the start of preseason, Irish sportsbook Paddy Power posted odds for various season leaders, including points, rebounds, and assists.
This offseason we have highlighted multiple NBA prop bets, including win totals, Divisional Odds, Rookie of the Year Odds, MVP Odds, and Conference Championship Odds.
The tables below display the odds for league leader props at BetOnline and Paddy Power.
Points
Last year’s leader in points per game (PPG), Stephen Curry, has the fourth-shortest odds (+600) to accomplish that feat again. Oddsmakers believe that Russell Westbrook (+220) has the best chance to lead the NBA in PPG. In 2015-16, he finished 8th in the NBA in PPG, but that was with superstar Kevin Durant and forward Serge Ibaka on the team. Even with Durant and Ibaka, Westbrook was a trigger-happy shooter. Now the lone transcendent talent on Oklahoma City’s roster, Westbrook is poised to erupt on offense.
Don’t sleep on Houston Rockets guard James Harden (+230). Houston hired Mike D’Antoni—known for his “7 seconds or less” system—as head coach and he will instill a fast-paced offense onto a Rockets team that played at the 7th quickest pace last season. In D’Antoni’s scheme, Harden will see more touches and scoring opportunities.
Rebounds
Oddsmakers believe that Andre Drummond will lead the NBA in rebounds per game (RPG) for the second straight season. Detroit’s center grabbed 14.8 RPG last season and at only 23 years old has established himself as one of the best young rebounders in the league.
Miami Heat center Hassan Whiteside at +550 is worth the risk. Whiteside finished third in the league in RPG (11.8) and could see that number rise due to the losses of Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh. Whiteside’s role will likely increase thanks to the absence of those veterans, giving him the opportunity to gather more boards while Miami’s young gunners, Justise Winslow and Josh Richardson, are free to hoist up shots.
Assists
In the most competitive race, Chicago Bulls’ new starting point guard Rondo opens as the favorite to lead the NBA in assists per game (APG) again. Last season Rondo averaged 11.8 assists in his lone season with the Sacramento Kings and joins a Bulls team with two skilled scorers: Jimmy Butler and Dwyane Wade. Rondo has some serious competition in Westbrook, Chris Paul, and John Wall, but bettors may want to take a flier on Harden at +2500.
D’Antoni announced that Harden will switch positions and become the team’s full-time point guard this season, which will increase his already high usage. He’ll handle more of the ball handling duties and now has two new weapons in Eric Gordon and Ryan Anderson. In my opinion, Harden is an underappreciated playmaker and D’Antoni’s system will only expose his true playmaking potential.
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