Nets 2021 NBA Championship Odds Shorten to +440 After Blowing Out Celtics on Christmas Day

• After an impressive 2-0 start, the Brooklyn Nets are already at odds of +440 to win the NBA Championship
• They have the best odds to win it all of any Eastern Conference club
• Playing their first Christmas Day game in seven years, the Nets blasted the Boston Celtics 123-95

The last time the Nets and championship were uttered in the same sentence, it was in 1975-76. They were the New York Nets back then, and they were the final champions of the ABA before becoming one of the four clubs that merged with the NBA.

Sure, it’s only two games into the current NBA season, but uttering the phrase Nets and championship in the same sentence isn’t far-fetched.

Brooklyn’s NBA team is off to a 2-0 start. On Christmas Day, with a national television audience watching, the Nets dismantled the Boston Celtics 123-95.

Oddsmakers were also paying attention. The NBA Championship odds now list the Nets at a betting line of +440. Those are the best odds offered on any Eastern Conference club.

NBA Championship Odds

All odds as of Dec. 26th at FanDuel.

Booklyn opened at odds of +1200 to be NBA champions this season.

Nets Gain

When the Nets signed Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving last season as free agents, it seemed exactly like the type of moves they’d historically make. Add an injured guy – Durant missed all of last season with a torn Achilles tendon – and a noted problem child in Irving and hope for the best.

After two games as teammates, that best looks quite impressive. Durant, former NBA scoring champion and MVP, looks like he hasn’t lost a step.

Against the Celtics, Durant and Irving combined for 66 points. Of that total, 40 were scored in the second half as the Nets erased a three-point deficit and won going away by 28.

Irving scored 14 points in the second quarter to keep Brooklyn in the game. Durant heated up in the third quarter, scoring 16 points as the Nets took command.

Bench Strength Abounds

In the NBA, it’s easy to get hung up on star power. Teams generally don’t win without that sort of dominance.

At the same time, no club carries off a championship banner without depth. And the Nets go deep.

According to Basketball-Reference.com, Brooklyn boasts an NBA-high 605 games started by its nine bench players over the past two seasons.

The Brooklyn Nets have a bench full of starters. pic.twitter.com/nXblsjCkMd

— Todd Whitehead (@CrumpledJumper) December 24, 2020

That depth is led by Jarrett Allen, who has started 144 NBA games in that span. Taurean Prince (108) and Bruce Brown (99) are also high in this ranking.

This level of bench strength is also enabling the Nets to play a high-tempo game and really push the pace on the floor.

Will It Last?

One of the encouraging factors at this early stage is that Durant and Irving are also setting the tone for the team in terms of defensive stops. According to everyone associated with the Nets, they’re establishing a culture of work ethic and dedication.

New coach Steve Nash was known for his ability to distribute the wealth as a player. If he can continue to get Durant and Irving to feed the one with the hot hand, that also bodes well.

Kevin Durant has scored 51 points in his first two games with the @BrooklynNets. Durant is one of four players with 50+ points in his first two games with New Jersey/Brooklyn, joining Kyrie Irving (76 pts), John Williamson (54), and Nate Archibald (52). @EliasSports pic.twitter.com/UFOY4r9f1o

— NBA History (@NBAHistory) December 26, 2020

The Nets don’t own a rich history of success. They’ve been to two NBA Finals, losing both times. The last time Brooklyn won a playoff series was in 2014.

The East is wide open for the taking. Milwaukee still hasn’t proven its championship mettle. At this stage, the Nets are as good a bet to come out of the East as any team.

Pick: New Jersey Nets (+440).