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Vegas odds insult Raptors chances – what a surprise!

By Brian Boake

TORONTO, ON - FEBRUARY 24: Norman Powell
TORONTO, ON - FEBRUARY 24: Norman Powell /
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The Raptors are given little chance by the alleged smart money in Las Vegas. It might be time to try a flutter.

The latest odds are out from Las Vegas bet shops on various NBA propositions. To the surprise of none of us who follow the Toronto Raptors, our beloved team receives no respect.

While the results of NBA Divisional races are of little import any more, you can wager on the likely winner just as always. Our guys play in the Atlantic, of course, along with Boston, Philadelphia, New York and Brooklyn. The Celtics are currently listed as a 1/5 favourite, with the Raptors the second choice at 7/1. The 76ers are at 8/1 (the Knicks and Nets are ultra longshots).

I’m not a betting person, but odds like that could make me change my mind. I don’t know which of these three is the most shocking, so let’s take them in order.

Are Celtics ready?

Boston has built one of the NBA’s best rosters, on paper or in a simulation game. However, that’s not where the games are played. As The Ringer points out, the Celtics have decimated last season’s successful team. Kyrie Irving and Gordon Hayward have never played together, nor with the few holdovers the Celtics have. You’d have to be crazy, or bleed Celtic green, to put down $5 for a chance to win $1.

Sports fans have short memories. The Raptors, who finished two games behind last season’s deep Celtics team, have retained their core. And yet they are deep underdogs?

LAS VEGAS, NV – JULY 13: NBA TV Analyst, Richard Hamilton interviews Jerry Stackhouse of the Toronto Raptors during the 2017 Las Vegas Summer League game against the Portland Trail Blazers on July 13, 2017 at the Cox Pavillion in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NV – JULY 13: NBA TV Analyst, Richard Hamilton interviews Jerry Stackhouse of the Toronto Raptors during the 2017 Las Vegas Summer League game against the Portland Trail Blazers on July 13, 2017 at the Cox Pavillion in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Philly? Please

Speaking of underdogs, what have the 76ers done to warrant odds virtually matching the Raptors? They won 28 games last year, and will likely need 50 to take the Division. I can’t imagine a rookie-laden team making a 22-game improvement – not now, not ever.

The Raptors and 76ers are both listed at 100/1 to win the championship. The mind boggles.

Beware of achy-breaky players

I’m constantly reminding readers of the perils of predictions in the NBA. Injuries to top-rank players can have such a devastating impact on teams with the smallest rosters in major sports. Certainly it’s possible both the Celtics and Raptors could be dogged by injuries to such an extent that an outsider could win the Division. But would you really want to pony up money based upon both top teams getting whacked? Have you considered some lovely, though slightly damp, property in Florida?

If you’re going to take a flyer, Gentle Reader, you’ll likely never get better odds than those offered on the Raptors at the moment.

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