The defending champions, Golden State Warriors (26-14), are -150 to win the NBA championship, meanwhile, the Boston Celtics are 5-1 odds representing the top favorite from the Eastern Conference.
According to the South Point Casino and Sports Book in Las Vegas, the Warriors and Celtics (24-15) are the top two favorites. With nearly half of the season complete, the Warriors have the second-best record in the Western Conference behind the surging Denver Nuggets (26-12). The Nuggets are 30-1 odds to win the NBA championship and offer the best value on the board.
UPDATED NBA CHAMPIONSHIPS ODDS:
Golden State Warriors -150
Boston Celtics 4/1
Toronto Raptors 7/1
LA Lakers 10/1
OKC Thunder 10/1
Milwaukee Bucks 12/1
Houston Rockets 12/1
Philadelphia 76ers 15/1
Denver Nuggets 30/1
Utah Jazz 40/1
LA Clippers 50/1
San Antonio Spurs 60/1
Indiana Pacers 80/1
New Orleans Pelicans 100/1
Portland Trailblazers 200/1
Memphis Grizzlies 200/1
Charlotte Hornets 300/1
Dallas Mavericks 300/1
Detroit Pistons 300/1
Minnesota Timberwolves 300/1
Miami Heat 500/1
Orlando Magic 500/1
Sacramento Kings 1000/1
Brooklyn Nets 1000/1
Washington Wizards 1000/1
Chicago Bulls 5000/1
Cleveland Cavs 5000/1
Atlanta Hawks 5000/1
New York Knicks 5000/1
Phoenix Suns 5000/1
** Courtesy of the South Point Casino and Sports Book
The biggest longshots on the board belong to the Phoenix Suns, New York Knicks, Atlanta Hawks, Cleveland Cavs, and Chicago Bulls. The five worst teams in the NBA are 5000-1 odds to win the title, but I don’t know anyone in their right mind who would take a flier on any of those atrocious teams.
Even though the Knicks might be cursed, they will be heavily pursuing Kevin Durant in the offseason in hopes KD will call Madison Square Garden his new home.
Best from the East, Freaks, and Jimmy Woes
The Celtics are currently the fifth-best team in the Eastern Conference, but they are the second-biggest favorite to win the title at 4-1 odds.
Even though they have a rookie coach, the Toronto Raptors (30-12) are the only team in the NBA with 30 wins. They are currently 7-1 odds to win the NBA championship.
The Milwaukee Bucks (28-11), led by the Greek Freak, have the top record in the Eastern Conference and currently hold the #1 seed over the Raptors. The Bucks are 12-1 odds to win the NBA championship.
The Philadelphia Sixers felt like a good value play earlier this season when they opened the season at 14-1 odds. Even with the addition of all-star guard Jimmy Butler in a blockbuster trade with the Timberwolves, the Sixers’ odds decreased. The Sixers are 15-1 right now because of the rumors that Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons are not too happy with their new teammate.
Overvalued Lakers
The Los Angeles Lakers (22-19) are 10-1 favorites to win the NBA title, but that numbers seems too inflated considering this is still the first year for LeBron James with his new team.
LeBron missed several games after injuring his groin on Christmas, however, the Lakers have found a way to win without their leader. The Lakers currently hold on to the #8 seed in the Western Conference. Only two games separate them from the #4 seed. The Lakers will be in a good spot as soon as LeBron returns to the lineup.
The LA Clippers (23-16) at 50-1 offer much more value than their intercity rivals. The Clippers are the #4 seed in the West and have been riding high thanks to NBA’s Coach of the Month (for December 2018) Doc Rivers.
Red-Hot Rockets
The Rockets (23-16) are surging at the right time. The Rockets offer tremendous value at 12-1. Ever since they realized they made a mistake with Carmelo Anthony and parted ways with the veteran, the Rockets resumed their winning mentality. The Rockets are the #5 seed, but they are only three wins behind the Nuggets and Warriors at the top of the Western standings.
James Harden recently had a streak of 40-point games broken, but he had a run for the ages that put him in the same category with the greatest scorers in the game such as Wilt Chamberlin, Michael Jordan, and Kobe Bryant.
GSW Back on Track
After a slow start, the Golden State Warriors are looking like their old selves. They recently set a record for most three-pointers in a single game. Draymond Green is getting along with his teammates (temporarily). Klay Thompson looks like he’s finally shrugged off the worst-shooting slump of his career. Kevin Durant and Steph Curry can still drop 50 whenever they want.
The Warriors are the top team on the board at -150 odds to three-peat as NBA champions. The LA Lakers were the last team to win three consecutive titles back in 2000 through 2002.