NBA Betting Guide 2020-'21: Win Totals & Prop Bets

NBA Betting Guide 2020-21: Win Totals & Prop Bets

LAS VEGAS, NV - JANUARY 26: Bettors line up to place wagers after more than 400 proposition bets for Super Bowl LI between the Atlanta Falcons and the New England Patriots were posted at the Race & Sports SuperBook at the Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino on January 26, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /

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Ben Simmons Philadelphia 76ers (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /

Defensive Player of the Year

Ben Simmons DPOY (+2200)

Marcus Smart DPOY (+3300)

A guard winning the NBA’s Defensive Player of the Year award is a rarity. It has not happened since 1995-’96 when Gary Payton became the first (and only) point guard to take home the honors, and Sydney Moncrief and Alvin Robertson were the only shooting guards. But there are two players who could potentially buck that trend this upcoming season, and their long-shot odds make them interesting plays.

While he only received one first-place vote last year, Ben Simmons came in fourth in overall voting for DPOY, making him the most voted-for guard since Tony Allen in 2010-’11. Depending on how new coach Doc Rivers chooses to use him, Simmons could top his performance from last season. As for Marcus Smart, he was tied with Patrick Beverly (+3500) for sixth in DPOY voting last season. He could move up those rankings should he continue his defensive development, and is certainly worth a flier at 33/1 odds.

There will be plenty of formidable competition this season. Barring an injury, one of Anthony Davis (+225), Antetokounmpo (+325), or Rudy Gobert (+350) will be the outright front-runners. Their odds reflect that, and the value to too low on all of them when any one of the three could take it. Bam Adebayo (+750) and Joel Embiid (+1000) are probably better bets, but Simmons is where the money is at.