Dee Friedman
- The NBA season is ready to tip off
- Golden State is being given a better than 50-percent chance to complete the three-peat
- Odds on favorites are lower than we expected, while there is value on dogs
Future bets provide so much excitement for such a small cost. One wager now, and you can cheer for a team throughout the entire NBA season. There are particularly juicy prices available if you like someone other than Golden State, Boston, or Houston.
Last week we ballparked some odds and provided advice and feedback based on those prices. As it turns out, the Warriors are an even bigger favorite than previously discussed, and bettors are backing the Celtics and Rockets with their cash.
Let’s take a look at the current odds, and be aware, there is some serious value if you like freaks. All odds are available from SportsBetting.ag.
2019 NBA Championship Odds
| Team | Odds to Win the 2019 NBA Championship |
| Golden State Warriors | 4/7 |
| Boston Celtics | 6/1 |
| Houston Rockets | 8/1 |
| Los Angeles Lakers | 10/1 |
| Philadelphia 76ers | 14/1 |
| Toronto Raptors | 16/1 |
| Oklahoma City Thunder | 40/1 |
| Utah Jazz | 50/1 |
| Milwaukee Bucks | 66/1 |
| San Antonio Spurs | 80/1 |
| Denver Nuggets | 100/1 |
| Indiana Pacers | 100/1 |
| New Orleans Pelicans | 100/1 |
| Washington Wizards | 100/1 |
| Portland Trailblazers | 125/1 |
| Minnesota Timberwolves | 150/1 |
| Detroit Pistons | 250/1 |
| Miami Heat | 250/1 |
| Charlotte Hornets | 500/1 |
| Los Angeles Clippers | 500/1 |
| Memphis Grizzlies | 500/1 |
| Brooklyn Nets | 1000/1 |
| Chicago Bulls | 1000/1 |
| Cleveland Cavaliers | 1000/1 |
| Dallas Mavericks | 1000/1 |
| Buffalo Bills | 150/1 |
| New York Knicks | 1000/1 |
| Orlando Magic | 1000/1 |
| Phoenix Suns | 1000/1 |
| Atlanta Hawks | 2500/1 |
| Sacramento Kings | 2500/1 |
The Warriors are Seriously 4/7?
This line indicates Golden State has a 64-percent chance of winning the title. Analytics seem to indicate it is more like a 50/50 realistically. That said, number gurus felt the same way last year, and Steph, Klay, Dray and KD won it all again. Now they have Boogie. Betting on the Dubs is not really a legitimate option, but boy are they scary and explosive
Will the East Rise Up?
The Western Conference has won the NBA Finals in two straight, four of five, seven of the last 10, and 14 of the past 20 seasons. While Golden State is a big favorite, and there are several other Western teams in the mix, Boston, Toronto, and Philadelphia are all well thought of.
Last year the Celtics managed 55 wins despite Gordon Hayward playing in just one game, and Kyrie Irving getting injured in April and missing the entire playoffs. Meanwhile, the Raptors added Kawhi Leonard to a squad that won 59 times in 2017-18. And the Sixers are continuing to Trust the Process. After four straight painful years, 52 victories last season is seeming to justify the trust. It is making those who didn’t believe look silly.
The Bucks Are a Legit Longshot
The NBA is about stars. LeBron has moved to the Lakers, and while LA is not ready yet, his absence in Cleveland really opens up the Eastern Conference. The Celtics, Raptors, and Sixers are all tough, but none are the Warriors yet.
Giannis Antetokounmpo is the future of the NBA. Unstoppable, and entering the prime of his career. Sure, the Bucks managed only the seven seed in the postseason last year, but they made several under-the-radar offseason moves.
The Bucks hired Mike Budenholzer to be their new coach. They’ve moved on from outmatched Jason Kidd and Joe Prunty to a guy who took unheralded Atlanta to the Conference Finals. How have the Hawks done since he departed? Milwaukee also added one of the most NBA ready players in the draft, Villanova’s Donte DiVincenzo, and signed Ersan Ilyasova and Brook Lopez.
The Bucks may not win it all, but at 66/1, you have a legitimate chance at a huge score, and they feature the most exciting player in the league, an improved core, and a superb staff.
