The NBA season begins next week and the Los Angeles Lakers are the favorite to win the Pacific Division at +105 odds, ahead of the Phoenix Suns (+205), Golden State Warriors (+425), and LA Clippers (+900).
The Phoenix Suns shocked everyone on the West Coast last season when they posted a 51-21 record and held on to win their first Pacific Division title since 2007. The Suns won the Western Conference and advanced to the NBA Finals before losing to Giannis “Greek Freak” Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks.
| 2021-22 NBA Pacific Division Odds |
- LA Lakers +105
- Phoenix Suns +220
- Golden State Warriors +425
- LA Clippers +900
- Sacramento Kings +15000
Right now, you can back the Lakers at +400 odds to win the 2022 NBA Championship. They’re the second-highest favorite on the futures board, trailing the Brooklyn Nets, according to DraftKings.
The Phoenix Suns are on a mission to return to the NBA Finals, but they’re only +1700 odds to win the championship.
LA Lakers +105
The Lakers won the division in LeBron’s second year with the team, but a late-season ankle injury derailed any chances of back-to-back division titles. When Anthony Davis injured his groin in the playoffs, the Lakers missed a shot at back-to-back championships when they were eliminated in the first round.
The Lakers added Russell Westbrook in the offseason after a huge trade with the Washington Wizards. They have a lot of new players on the team, including veterans like Carmelo Anthony, Dwight Howard, and Trevor Ariza. If LeBron and Davis remain healthy, the Lakers can win the division and lock up their second championship in three seasons.
Phoenix Suns +220
Are the Suns a fluke? Will Chris Paul stay healthy long enough to replicate last year’s march to the NBA Finals? Will Devin Booker unlock another level of awesomeness?
Sure, CP3 is a year older, but the Suns two young superstars — Deandre Ayton and Booker — finally got a taste of the postseason. They were able to fly under the radar last season, but all eyes will be on the Suns this season.
If you fire away at the Suns at +220 odds to win the Pacific division, you’re essentially betting that CP3 will fade injuries. If the Lakers run into health issues, the Suns look like the logical choice to win another Pacific title.
Golden State Warriors +425
The Golden State Warriors dominated the Pacific Division with five straight titles between 2015 and 2019, but the Lakers and Suns each won the division since then. The Warriors are eager to see Steph Curry and Klay Thompson, aka the Splash Brothers, play together for the first time since the 2019 playoffs.
Andrew Wiggins finally got vaccinated for COVID-19, so the squad is fully vaxxed and that storyline is no longer a distraction.
The Warriors might not gel right when the season starts, but bettors think they’ll hit their peak when the playoffs roll around. That’s why the Warriors were a popular NBA futures pick in the offseason. You can back them at +1100 odds to secure their first title since winning back-to-back championships in 2017 and 2018.
LA Clippers +900
The Clippers were a popular pick to win the Pacific Division, Western Conference, and the championship last season. They finally ended the so-called Clippers Curse when they advanced to the Western Conference finals for the first time in franchise history. However, Kawhi Leonard tore his ACL and the Clippers were unable to advance to the NBA Finals. Leonard will miss the start of the season while recovering from surgery.
The Clips are no longer in the spotlight and are back to becoming LA’s second basketball team. Then again, with UCLA basketball back on the map after their Final Four run, the Clips are probably the third most popular basketball team in the City of Angels.
Sacramento Kings +15000
The Sacramento Kings won back-to-back Pacific titles in 2002 and 2003, but expect their divisional drought to reach 20-plus years. The Kings have plenty of talented young players, but they’re unable to close out games in crunch time.
The latest rumors suggest that the 76ers could trade Ben Simmons to the Kings if the team can throw together a package that will entice Philly’s front office. Even if the Kings acquire Simmons in a trade, they’re still a long way from seriously contending for a division crown.
