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Over/Under? Vegas Projected Win Totals Released for 2016-17 Regular Season

By Matthew Medley

Jun 13, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) and Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) during the third quarter in game five of the NBA Finals at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 13, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) and Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) during the third quarter in game five of the NBA Finals at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports /
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Feb 1, 2016; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) guards Indiana Pacers forward Paul George (13) at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. The Cavaliers won 111-106 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 1, 2016; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) guards Indiana Pacers forward Paul George (13) at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. The Cavaliers won 111-106 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports /

Central Divsion

Cleveland Cavaliers 56.5 wins

Over. Sooner or later, people will learn not to bet against LeBron James. Although the Cavs will not be going full steam ahead in the regular season, they are far and away the best team in the Eastern Conference and it will more than likely take somewhere in the range of 55 to 60 wins to finish with the top seed.

If the Cavs go under, it will only be by a game or two.

Indiana Pacers 43.5 wins

Over. My jaw dropped when I saw the Pacers are only expected to win 43.5 games. They won 45 games in 2015-16 and just added Jeff Teague, Thaddeus Young and Al Jefferson. This is one of the most off-base projections of the entire list, but then again, they’re the experts.

Detroit Pistons 45.5 wins

Under. Although the Pistons had an impressive 2015-16, winning 44 games, they did not upgrade their roster enough to keep up with the improvements around them in the Eastern Conference, especially in the Central, where teams like Indiana and Chicago should end up with better records than last season.

Chicago Bulls 38.5 wins

Over. The Bulls won 42 games in 2015-16 and it was a disappointing season. Although they lost Rose, Noah, and Pau Gasol, Jimmy Butler is a superstar-caliber player, Rajon Rondo is still one of the better point guards in the league and does anyone honestly believe Dwyane Wade would let his team fall below 38 wins?

Milwaukee Bucks 39.5 wins

Under. The Bucks should be slightly improved from an underwhelming 33-win season in 2015-16, but in my opinion, did not make big enough improvements to push them to 40 wins.

It doesn’t help that they play in one of the better divisions in the league, where they’ll have eight tough matches against Cleveland and Indiana.