The 2015-16 NBA season is right around the corner and the one thing that everybody wants to predict is which team will take home the Larry O’Brien trophy.
So before the October 27 season debut comes, let’s take a look at some future bets on some of the teams that can win the championship.
Since the Golden State Warriors won the championship for the 2014-15 season, the team they defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers became the odds-on favorite at 3/1 and Lebron James himself is the favorite to win the MVP at 11/4.
Although James and the Cavs begin the season as favorites to win the NBA title, the odds may not be completely on their side as Kyrie Irving remains sidelined following the surgery and there is no timeline for his return. Power forward Tristan Thompson has reportedly rejected the Cavs’ five-year $80m contract. Iman Shumpert will likely miss at least two months with a wrist injury and Anderson Varejao is working his way back from a season-ending Achilles injury. Matthew Dellavedova, J.R. Smith and Timofey Mosgov all missed the preseason games with injuries.
If you think Spurs is too old to compete for the NBA championship, hold up! After getting LaMarcus Aldridge and David West along with veteran big man Tim Duncan plus rising young star Kawhi Leonard, the San Antonio Spurs has taken the second slot at 3/1.
For the defending champ, Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green, Harrison Barnes and the rest of the Warriors to prove that the last season was not a fluke is at 5/1.
If Kevin Durant returns from his foot injury at 100% and Russell Westbrook builds off of his dynamic MVP-caliber season, there are few teams in the league as dangerous as Oklahoma City Thunder. At their best, you can never count out the Thunder, which is at 17/2.
D’Andre Jordan’s decision to mock the Dallas Mavericks and return to Hollywood, coupled with the team’s signing of Paul Pierce who brings a much-needed winning mentality with him, it’s no wonder that the Los Angeles Clippers is at the top 5 to win the series at 10/1.
Chicago Bulls and Miami Heat are both at 20/1, respectively but if you’re really feeling crazy Denver Nuggets, Orlando Magic, Philadelphia 76ers and Sacramento Kings have the longest odds at 250/1.
Odds courtesy of Bodog
