The Golden State Warriors lead the league with an 8-1 record and have seen their 2022 NBA championship odds bump to +500 as a result of their sizzling start. In the preseason, the Warriors were +1100 odds as the fourth-highest team on the NBA futures board.
The Brooklyn Nets (7-3) are still the consensus favorite to win the championship at +300 odds, remaining ahead of the Warriors despite the fact that Kyrie Irving has yet to suit up for the team due to his vaccination status.
| 2022 NBA Championship Odds |
- Brooklyn Nets +300
- Golden State Warriors +500
- Los Angeles Lakers +800
- Utah Jazz +800
- Milwaukee Bucks +1000
- Miami Heat +1200
- Phoenix Suns +1600
- Denver Nuggets +1800
- Philadelphia 76ers +2000
- LA Clippers +3000
- Atlanta Hawks +3000
- Chicago Bulls +4000
- Dallas Mavericks +5000
- New York Knicks +5000
- Boston Celtics +8000
- Portland Trail Blazers +8000
- Memphis Grizzlies +8000
- Toronto Raptors +10000
- Washington Wizards +10000
The Los Angeles Lakers (5-4) stumbled out of the gate while Russell Westbrook struggles to adjust to his new team and vice versa. LeBron James is currently sidelined with an abdominal strain and Anthony Davis is nursing a sprained thumb. The Lakers saw their title odds drop to +800 after an unimpressive first two weeks of the season.
Return of the Warriors
The Golden State Warriors won four games in a row and boast the best record in the NBA. Klay Thompson has yet to return to the lineup, which is scary to think about considering their hot start and league-leading 113.9 ppg.
The new foul rules hindered high-volume scorers â¬like James Harden, Trae Young, and Damian Lillard. Although Curry only averages 25.1 ppg (or five points less per game than last season), he’s been sharing the rock more and no longer has to jack up 30-plus points per game to keep the Warriors relevant.
Jordan Poole, a third-year player out of Michigan, has excelled so far, averaging 18.4 ppg as the Warriors’ second-best scoring option.
“I feel more confident in Jordan than ever,” said Warriors coach Steve Kerr. “He’s been our most consistent worker for two years now. You could see the confidence level. He’s shooting shots with ease now that maybe he struggled with a couple of years ago because his body is stronger, more fit, and more fluid.”
The Warriors are 3-0 on the road this season. Their only loss occurred in overtime against the Memphis Grizzlies.
The Warriors have three more games at the Chase Center in downtown San Francisco to complete a five-game homestand with upcoming tilts against the Atlanta Hawks, Minnesota Timberwolves, and the high-octane Chicago Bulls. Then the Warriors hit the road next week for a four-game trip out East that includes a showdown against the Brooklyn Nets next Tuesday evening.
The Warriors were a popular pick in the offseason, and two weeks into the season, the public continues to back them at +500 odds to win the championship.
Da Bulls and the Wiz
The Washington Wizards are the biggest surprise in the first two weeks of the season. They were an afterthought after they traded Russell Westbrook to the Lakers in the offseason. The Wizards were +25000 odds and long shots to win the championship in the preseason, but you can now back the Wiz at +10000 odds after an impressive 7-3 start.
The Lakers gave up a handful of role players in exchange for Westbrook, and pivotal guys like Montrezl Harrell (17.7 ppg, 9.1 rebounds) and Kyle Kuzma (14.1 ppg, 9.5 rebounds) are thriving in DC. Beal averages only 24.2 ppg, which is significantly lower than the past two seasons when he averaged 30.5 ppg and 31.3 ppg respectively, but he has better players on the floor with him, including Spencer Dinwiddie (15.9 ppg).
The Chicago Bulls saw their odds jump from +8000 to +4000 after a 6-1 start. Just when you thought DeMar DeRozan lost a step, he’s playing some of the best basketball of his career, averaging 26.8 ppg and ranked #4 in the league in scoring. Zach LaVine is right behind him, averaging 26.4 ppg. DDR and LV are the most prolific one-two scoring punch in the NBA right now ahead of Kevin Durant/James Harden and LeBron James/Anthony Davis.
Long Shots: New-Look Cavs Legit?
The Cleveland Cavs won four in a row and improved to 7-4. That’s not a typo. The Cavs have their best team in years thanks to a well-balanced scoring attack. Ricky Rubio looks like he’s found the fountain of youth — in Cleveland of all places. He dropped a career-high 37 points off the bench last night while backing up the young, yet exciting backcourt comprised of Colling Sexton (16 ppg) and Darius Garland (15.4 ppg, 7.6 assists). Evan Mobley (14.9 ppg, 8 rebounds), the third-overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, is outplaying his fellow rookies.
| 2022 NBA Championship Odds |
- Indiana Pacers +20000
- Charlotte Hornets +20000
- Sacramento Kings +20000
- Cleveland Cavs +20000
- Minnesota Timberwolves +20000
- New Orleans Pelicans +50000
- San Antonio Spurs +50000
- Orlando Magic +500000
- Oklahoma City Thunder +500000
- Detroit Pistons +500000
- Houston Rockets +500000
Many fans were high on the Charlotte Hornets coming into this season, but they’re only 5-6. LaMelo Ball, last year’s rookie of the year, continues to improve with every game, but he still needs to improve his defense. Overall, the Hornets can’t play defense to save their lives, allowing a league-high 117.6 ppg. The Hornets have seen their title odds slip to long-shot territory at +20000.
