We’re not far removed from the biggest collapse in NBA Finals history, but oddsmakers are still betting on Golden State as the favorites for next year’s NBA title.
As long as free agency stays semi-quiet (LeBron James and Kevin Durant don’t leave), then the NBA playoffs may be a ho-hum affair leading up to the Finals in 2017. In odds released Monday by Oddsshark, the Warriors are leading the way to take home the 2017 NBA title at +200, just in front of the overwhelming Eastern Conference favorite, the Cavaliers, at +225.
From there, it’s a much riskier bet and the teams expected to do well, come (no surprise!) from the Western Conference. The San Antonio Spurs, Oklahoma City Thunder and Los Angeles Clippers are +750, +850 and +2000 respectively, before the Boston Celtics and Toronto Raptors make their case to be included in the race at +2500.
Other notable teams are the Chicago Bulls and Miami Heat at +3300, the Houston Rockets and Atlanta Hawks at +5000 and the Los Angeles Lakers at +10000.
The team with the worst odds is the Brooklyn Nets at +25000. Those odds are so bad, the next-worst odds belong to Philadelphia and Phoenix at +15000.
The NBA regular season will likely be a yawner, with the Warriors dominating again and the Cavs building their way to another Finals appearance. It’s no fun to take either of those teams at this juncture, so you might as well live a little if taking a shot on a team now.
The Thunder would be a solid bet, considering the team was a regular Klay Thompson night away from the NBA Finals this past season. Don’t sleep on the Spurs, either, especially if they land Durant.
However, instead of the West, I would focus my energy on the East. At some point, James is going to have to slow down or suffer the fate of the injury bug. It’s not a plan I would risk my house on, but it’s a better wager than trying to predict a team outside the major three teams in the West.
If James is shelved, then somebody in the East would have to make it to the Finals. In that case, I’d take a flier on the Hawks. There’s not that great weapon, but they’re solid enough with a consistent approach to possibly sneak in if the Cavs take a step back. I’m not confident in that pick, but it’s pretty much the only option available if not going chalk with the big three in the West or the Cavs.
