Before looking at the updated odds to win the NBA championship, let’s make one thing clear: The All-Star break is nowhere close to the halfway point of the 82-game regular season. That was passed weeks ago.
Odds courtesy of OddsShark.com
The Toronto Raptors, Brooklyn Nets, Orlando Magic, San Antonio Spurs, Los Angeles Clippers, Memphis Grizzlies and Phoenix Suns have all played 59 games. Every team in the league has played at least 56. So, when the league returns to action on Thursday it’s not the second half of the season but closer to the stretch run.
Of the teams listed above, only the Raptors are legitimate title contenders and they are +750 second-favorites behind the Golden State Warriors (-230), who have been heavily favored since the day after the 2018 NBA Finals concluded and will continue to be barring injury to someone like Steph Curry or Kevin Durant.
Toronto definitely got better at the trade deadline in landing former Grizzlies All-Star center Marc Gasol for really nothing the Raptors would miss this season. They also did well in the buyout market in signing ex-Hawks point guard Jeremy Lin.
Another East team that improved itself at the trade deadline was the Philadelphia 76ers (+1000), who acquired Clippers forward Tobias Harris, who was having an All-Star-caliber season, for minor pieces and draft picks. Harris gives the Sixers arguably the best starting five in the league outside Golden State.
Interesting that the Los Angeles Lakers are +1100 to win the title. Those odds seem ridiculously short for a team that seems in a bit of turmoil because of all the Anthony Davis trade rumors, might have a lame-duck coach in Luke Walton and wouldn’t even be in the playoffs right now. Call it the LeBron James factor as casual bettors tend to back his team regardless. LeBron is on the Mount Rushmore of greatest players ever, but the Lakers seemingly have zero chance of winning an NBA title this season.
The Denver Nuggets are getting little respect at +2200 even though they enter the break with the second-best record in the West behind the Warriors. The problem with Denver is that while it’s nearly unbeatable at home, it’s just a .500 road team. Thus, it’s potentially crucial for the Nuggets to finish ahead of the Warriors to have any shot in a playoff series against Golden State – which is good home and away.
