Australian Gambling – Basketball fans rejoice! The NBA is back in action this week!

Season 2014/15 kicks off on Wednesday our time, so it’s time to decide which teams provide the best bang for your buck in the title market.

The world’s best player, Lebron James’ sensational return to the Cleveland Cavaliers in the off season and the club’s subsequent move to recruit arguably the best power forward in the game, Kevin Love, has been all the rage with the punters.

And, with that pair joining ‘Uncle Drew’ Kyrie Irving to form a new and improved ‘Big Three’ the punters haven’t been able to resist, smashing the Cavs in to $4 favourites for the title with each of our recommended bookmakers.

That smells a little short to us, with massive question marks over the Cavs’ ability to defend.

LBJ is obviously an elite defender and fellow off season recruit Shawn Marion is no slouch, but he’s entering the twilight of his career. Anderson Varejao has won the starting spot at centre over the younger, smaller Tristan Thompson and he’s a hard worker, but not exactly known for his rim protection. Then there’s Love who, for all his rebounding prowess, would struggle to defend a wet paper bag, and let’s just say Kyrie and Waiters prefer to put their efforts in at the offensive end.

It’s a conundrum. With the firepower the Cavs possess – James and Love were among the top five in scoring last season and Kyrie was top 15 – they are going to rattle up massive points totals, but will they be able to stop teams at the other end?

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