NBA Betting Insider – James to Heat Causes Big Change in NBA Futures Odds

Okay NBA betting enthusiasts, I know 90 percent of you are sick and tired of hearing the name LeBron James after all of the over-the-top hoopla surround his prime time free agent announcement – and I promise this is the last time I’m going to write his name for the remainder of the week.

Nevertheless, James’ departure from Cleveland – and subsequent decision to join the Miami Heat –have ‘flipped the script’ on the entire 2010-11 NBA Championship Futures Odds.

James, who joins fellow superstars, Dwyane Wade – the face of the Heat franchise – and power forward Chris Bosh, and the Futures Odds for next year’s championship title have changed since being released in mid-June.

The Las Vegas Sports Consultants initially released the Futures betting Odds with Miami listed with 25/1 odds of winning the title.

Since Bosh and Wade agreed to play together in Miami, the odds have dropped to 6/1 – and will likely move again with the addition of James.

Most betting insiders, myself included, believe the Heat will likely be 4/5 favorites come next week.

Just to show how crazy things have gotten around James’ signing with Miami, the Heat are now sitting just behind the L.A. Lakers (4/1) and tied with the Orlando Magic (6/1).

Denver, (10/1), Chicago (12/1) and Oklahoma City (12/1) round out the top seven favorites.

Industry insiders seem to believe the Heat will likely be double digit favorites of up to 15 points more often than not and particularly when they play at home.

Now, whether the Heat advance out of the Eastern Conference and actually beat whoever their Western Conference opponent is (L.A.) remains to be seen, but it’s clear what the oddsmakers are expecting out of Miami – an NBA Finals appearance and nothing else.