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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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July 26, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; USA guard Kevin Durant (5) is congratulated by forward Draymond Green (14) behind guard Klay Thompson (11) against China in the first quarter during an exhibition basketball game at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
July 26, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; USA guard Kevin Durant (5) is congratulated by forward Draymond Green (14) behind guard Klay Thompson (11) against China in the first quarter during an exhibition basketball game at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /

Pacific Division

Golden State Warriors 66.5 wins

Under. Don’t get me wrong. This team is going to be great. My only question is how long it will take them to adjust to each other’s styles of play. They’ll be clicking by mid-season, but I’d be surprised if the Warriors come right out of the gate and win 15 of 20 to start the season.

Maybe the talent alone is enough to flirt with another 70-win season, but I just don’t see it in year one.

Los Angeles Clippers 53.5 wins

Over. This is the time for the Clippers to put up or shut up. If they can’t become a realistic threat to the Warriors in the first year that the super team is together, they have no chance of making that happen beyond 2017.

Chris Paul and Blake Griffin may both be on their way out of LA in the not-too-distant future. There will be an unprecedented sense of urgency on Doc Rivers‘ squad and I feel like the Clippers are going to mash on the gas pedal from the moment the season starts.

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Sacramento Kings 32.5 wins

Under. They don’t have a reliable point guard to start the season. Dysfunction has been the first word that comes to mind with the Kings for as long as fans can remember.

DeMarcus Cousins is great. Rudy Gay is solid. They just don’t fit. If the Kings want to have a chance of a long-term, sustainable future, they’ll trade one, if not both of those players.

Phoenix Suns 26.5 wins

Over. The Suns have a talented young group, with budding stars, Devin Booker and Eric Bledsoe, along with some talented young players, like Archie Goodwin and Brandon Knight.

Anything less than 30 wins would be a surprise in my opinion. I’m not saying the Suns would make the playoffs, but Vegas seems to be severely underrating the upstart squad.

Los Angeles Lakers 24.5 wins

Over. Everyone is quick to dismiss the signings of Timofey Mozgov and Luol Deng, but those two will be valuable to have on a young, inexperienced team. The addition of Yi Jianlian might be one of the best under-the-radar moves of the summer.

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Julius Randle and D’Angelo Russell already have proven they can play at a high level. Much like the Suns, I don’t expect the Lakers to be in the playoff hunt at all, but they could be somewhere around 30 wins.