Tuesday, November 19, 2024, marks a pivotal day for our NBA Cup picks and predictions on the Buckets podcast. With several key matchups, including the Cleveland Cavaliers hosting the Boston Celtics, teams are jockeying for position in this inaugural in-season tournament. Futures markets are heating up as well, with discussions ranging from group winners to potential Cup MVPs. Let’s dive into our latest NBA Cup futures predictions and picks from the Buckets podcast crew.
NBA Cup Futures Picks, Predictions
- Boston Celtics to Win Group C
- Trae Young Cup MVP
- Brooklyn Nets to Advance
- Alperen Sengun Cup MVP
- Steph Curry Cup MVP
Boston Celtics to Win Group C
By Joe Dellera
"Boston is +325 to win the group. And I understand they’re in terrible shape positionally. But they’re playing the one team that they really want to beat. You have to beat Cleveland. The rest of the group is the Hawks, the Wizards, and the Bulls. Boston’s remaining games are against Washington and Chicago, matchups that they should be, at minimum, double-digit favorites in."
Pick: Boston Celtics to Win Group C
Trae Young Cup MVP
By Joe Dellera
"Trae Young is 110-1 to be the cup MVP. I’m not saying that Atlanta is going to win. I’m not even saying they’re going to beat Chicago. But at the same time, the number’s too long. The number is just too long… You have to play Chicago, you have to play Cleveland, but they have their own path into getting into the next round. They have a plus-13 point differential, which is okay, but it’s not anything special right now. But they control their own destiny."
Pick: Trae Young Cup MVP
Brooklyn Nets to Advance
By Matt Moore
"At DK, you can get qualified for the semifinals. So this is just like by hook or by crook. The Nets are 35 to 1… Orlando leads their group right now with a plus-37. But this season, the home team in Magic games, whether the Magic are at home or they’re on the road, have won 13 of the 14 games.
Since April 1st, 26-2. They can’t win on the road. They can’t lose at home. Their last two Cup games are on the road. If the Celtics and Cavaliers cancel one another out, and the Nets burst through, their 3-point edge could get there."
Pick: Brooklyn Nets to Advance
Alperen Sengun Cup MVP
By Jim Turvey
"The Rockets have the fifth-best adjusted net rating right now. I think this Rockets team is like genuinely one of the better teams in the league right now. And Sengun is clearly the best player. He’s going to put up the most PRA combined. For the Rockets to be in the position they’re in within their group, and to be as good as they are, I think that’s the part that’s really getting slept on."
Pick: Alperen Sengun Cup MVP
Steph Curry Cup MVP
By Matt Moore
"Steph Curry is +900 at DraftKings. He has the shortest odds, currently favored at FanDuel. The Warriors are 2-0. If the Warriors advance to the semifinals, you’re going to want Steph in this market. You’re just going to want this ticket. At 9 to 1, I’m just like, 'you’ve got to bet this.'"
Pick: Steph Curry Cup MVP
