2016 NBA season opening day multi tips and bookie specials

IT’S time for tip-off.

The NBA season opens up on Wednesday with a trio of big games to finally whet punters’ appetites.

Here’s our take on the first three games of the season.

NBA opening night multi selections:

Wednesday, October 26, 2016, 11.10am AEDT

New York Knicks at the line (+9.5) at Cleveland Cavaliers ($1.91)

Utah Jazz at the line (+6) at Portland Trailblazers ($1.91)

Golden State Warriors to defeat San Antonio Spurs ($1.25)

Three leg multi pays $4.56 with Sportsbet.com.au

New York Knicks at the line (+9.5) at Cleveland Cavaliers ($1.91)

Wednesday, October 26, 2016, 11.10am AEDT

The New York Knicks are perhaps the most intriguing NBA team this season. They have brought in some serious star calibre – albeit fallen star calibre. The corpse of Derrick Rose will still put bums on seats, but can his broken body stand up to the rigours of another NBA season? And that whole trial over you know what might play a role in his efforts this season too. Then there is Joachim Noah. He went from all star to injured chump last season, but how much of that was his fault and how much of that can be attributed to the rampant dysfunction in Chicago last season. He gets a fresh start and, when healthy and dialled in, is among the best big men in the game. Add Brandon Jennings to the list of “talented, but with questions” additions to the Knicks squad this off-season. Jennings looked like he could be anything when he dropped 50-odd on the Golden State Warriors in his rookie season, but you only have to look back to draft day – when he did not show up because he thought he was going to fall out of the lottery – to realise what sort of bloke he is. Add that trio to the star power and ego of gun forward Carmelo Anthony and you have a serious melting pot. And hey, their best player might be a towering second year Euro in Kristaps Porzingis. Let’s hope he does not get lost in the void. The Cleveland Cavaliers are the reigning NBA champions, but their ageing, experienced roster knows how to win and also knows how to ease into the season. Expect them to do the bare minimum to get the job done on their home deck in the season opener. We reckon they’re in for a four to six point win to kick off their NBA title unveiling celebrations. Put LeBron down for 20, eight and eight, with Kyrie going off thanks to his arrival in last year’s finals.

Utah Jazz at the line (+6) at Portland Trailblazers ($1.91)

Wednesday, October 26, 2016, 1.10pm AEDT

Utah does not have an out and out star, but what they do possess is a very deep, very talented roster that is reminiscent of the the Denver Nuggets squad after the pillaging of the New York Knicks in the Carmelo Anthony trade. They’re virtually two deep at every position and, with the likes of Gordon Hayward and Derrick Favors leading the charge, coupled with the Stifle Tower, French shot blocking machine Rudy Gobert, they are widely tipped to be a team to make noise this season. Joe Johnson is a great veteran addition to the line up who brings an ageing body, but clutch chops to Utah and George Hill and Boris Diaw are savvy veteran additions. Add to that the potential emergence of Rodney Hood and Trey Lyles, and even forgotten Aussie pair Dante Exum and Joe Ingles and you have a recipe for success. Any team with a back court of Damien Lillard and CJ McCollum is going to be formidable, but the bit parts surrounding that pristine pair just don’t stack up for us. Feasts Ezeli, Evan Turner and Mason Plumee are only just NBA players. The Rose Garden is notoriously tough to take a win from, but we’re backing the Jazz in here and you could get some serious value at $3.

Golden State Warriors to defeat San Antonio Spurs ($1.25)

Wednesday, October 26, 2016, 1.40pm AEDT

ARE you kidding me?

$1.25 about the Warriors?

Put your house on it.

Go on, do it.

Ok, don’t really, but seriously, you won’t often see the Warriors at $1.25 at home this season.

Yes we know it’s the Spurs. Yes we know they got Gasol to replace Tim Duncan. Yes we know they have LMA and Kawhi is going to take his game to another level.

None of that matters.

This Warriors team is shaping as perhaps the greatest ever assembled. They were 3-1 up in the NBA Finals and wet the bed last season.

So they went out and added one of the top three players in the league – to a side that already had the reigning back to back NBA Most Valuable Player.

Make no mistake, this team is special.

They might not win every game – possibly dropping one or two along the way, but, if it all clicks, they are going to be a nightmare. We’ve already seen it in the preseason, with Steph Curry, Kevin Durant and Klay Thompson taking it in turns at torching the opposition, and Draymond Green has just been doing Draymond Green things.

We love the Spurs’ team first ethos, but you just feel the defence has taken a hit. Neither Gasol, nor Aldridge are great defenders.

That pair could make serious hay on the offensive end with the Warriors’ lack of rim protection, but, when you are probably going to average 120 a night, that is probably the least of their worries.

KD’s debut, on opening night, in front of a packed Oracle Arena crowd that is hell bent on redemption for last year’s capitulation – this one could get ugly, really, really quickly.

We’d go the line, but there is too much value in the $1.25.

They may as well pay out on this leg right now.