Indiana Pacers (+6000)
It’s much easier for me to float a long shot from the East than the loaded West (which is perhaps 13 teams deep).
No, I don’t think the Pacers will become the 2021 Atlanta Hawks, who made the conference finals, then lost in the first round twice, and then missed the playoffs.
The Pacers are built for the East, with a surplus of guards and wings just like Boston and New York. And they didn’t have former lottery pick Bennedict Mathurin in the playoffs (shoulder injury).
Let’s see if 2023 lottery pick Jarace Walker makes the leap. Losing veteran T.J. McConnell in free agency would hurt, but this feels like a sneaky 45-50 win team.
Nobody played Boston tougher in the playoffs despite getting swept, as Game 1 went to overtime, and two others were determined in the final minute.
PICK: Indiana Pacers to win 2024-25 NBA title (bet $10 to win $610 total)
It's startin early.

