What a way to start the NBA 2021/22 with two of the most talented teams locking horns when Brooklyn and Milwaukee face each other.
Los Angeles Lakers and Golden State Warriors will also front up for their first clash after stoushing in the pre-season.
The BetDeluxe crew has worked its way through the best bets and same game multis to provide us with the winners ahead of day one.
Brooklyn @ Milwaukee
October 20th 10:30am
Defending NBA champions Milwaukee welcomes Brooklyn to Fiserv Forum in what shapes to be a firecracker of a season opener on Wednesday morning (AEDT).
It has been a strange off-season for the Nets with Kyrie Irving being frozen out of the league due to his vaccination status, but the Nets still have the talents of Kevin Durant and James Harden to rely upon for victory.
The Bucks, meanwhile, have gone about their business in a leisurely way during the pre-season only winning one game but rotating through a host of players in their squad.
It is the first game back of any real meaning for Giannis Antetokounmpo with his last game of significance being an incredible 50-point performance in game six of the NBA Finals against Phoenix.
The Greek Freak has said all pre-season that he wishes to come back a bigger and better players which should scare all his rivals this season.
Intrigue surrounds how the Nets will deal with Giannis from a defensive point of view.
We know how good this Nets offence is, having averaged 118.6 points per game in the regular season of 2020/21, but it is the defensive leaks that will be pivotal to how they go, not only in this match, but for the rest of the season.
Brooklyn wil surely have a point to prove in this opening match with Durant and Harder being much fitter than when they came up short against the Bucks in last year’s Conference Finals.
Suggested Bet: Brooklyn Nets head to head at $1.91
Suggested Same Game Multi:
Leg 1: Brooklyn head to head
Leg 2: Total points under 237.5
Leg 3: K. Durant over 29.5 points
Combined odds = $6.25
Golden State @ LA Lakers
October 20th 1:30pm
Los Angeles Lakers opens it season with a clash at the Staples Centre against Golden State.
A winless pre-season for the Lakers has pundits and fans in a headspin after bolstering its squad with Russell Westbrook and Carmelo Anthony.
The Warriors come into this game with an undefeated pre-season run which included dispatching the Lakers both times the teams faced each other in the practice games
Doubt we can really take too much of a guide out of those games with the Lakers more worried about winning championships with this experienced-laden squad.
Chemistry is going to be key for the Lakers this season as is the fitness of LeBron James and Anthony Davis, who were riddled with injuries last season.
The Warriors, meanwhile, will be reliant on Stephen Curry to provide the offensive threat with Klay Thompson still recovering from his torn achilles.
Curry will need to produce as both a scorer and facilitator as this team incorporates a host of new players, both young and experienced.
He will face a heap of heat from multiple Lakers defenders on the night.
All eyes will be on Westbrook after he had an abysmal pre-season that accounted for 24 turnovers in four games and poor shooting percentage from field-goal range.
When it comes down to the ‘real’ season beginning, this is is where the likes of Lebron and Davis just will their team over the line.
The Warriors will provide a headache for the Lakers, but class will prevail.
Suggested Bet: LA Lakers -3.5 at $1.94
