There’s not much debate on three of the four teams in the NBA conference finals.
With the regular season over and the playoffs starting Saturday, Golden State, San Antonio and Cleveland are the overwhelming favorites heading into the first round. The Warriors are going off as the favorite at -150, while the Spurs are at +375 and the Cavaliers are at +400.
The odds are just as big in those teams’ favor to win the conference finals, with Golden State at -190 and San Antonio at +230, while Cleveland is a big favorite at -260 in the Eastern Conference.
Oddsmakers and the betting public have favored these three teams throughout 2016 and with good reason. It appears the Warriors and Spurs are destined to play each other in the conference finals, so I would avoid that conference like the plague.
The only shot you may have is for injuries to occur or for Oklahoma City to possibly get hot against the Spurs and make the conference finals. However, I wouldn’t bet against the Warriors in the Western Conference.
The only team I can envision possibly beating the Warriors is the Cavaliers, and that’s only if they can stay healthy…and make the NBA Finals. Cleveland hasn’t been very good at times this season and with an aging LeBron James and a bit of dysfunction, it’s plausible the Cavs don’t even make it out of the conference.
If they can get on the same page, though, it’s not completely out of the question that Cleveland can compete for a championship.
Do I expect that to happen? No.
There’s not very good value anywhere, other than the possibility of the Cavaliers imploding. That’s why Toronto offers the best pick if you’re looking at the NBA playoffs.
The No. 2 seed likely gets a downgrade from oddsmakers and the betting public based on their inability to do anything in the past during the playoffs. However, with the Eastern Conference still down and void of as many difference makers as the Western Conference, the Raptors could catch fire and make a run.
At +500 to win the Eastern Conference, the Raptors offer a solid bet to win the conference. The next-best option, according to oddsmakers to win the conference, is the Miami Heat at +1400.
If you’re looking to win some money in the NBA playoffs, avoid the Western Conference and NBA Finals, and its predestined outcome. Take a chance on Cleveland’s dysfunction and go with Toronto to win the Eastern Conference.
