The NBA postseason is coming. From the Golden State Warriors to the Cleveland Cavaliers down to the burning dumpster that is the Sacramento Kings, let’s take a look at these teams’ odds to win the championship this season.
For more odds update, you can check out our NHL breakdown of Stanley Cup faves, sleeper, and longs hot here.
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Golden State Warriors
Currently priced at -125 to win their second NBA title in a row, the Warriors are also trying to defend their number one spot in the Western Conference with the San Antonio Spurs also having such a magnificent season.
By giving the Bulls’ record a chase, however, the Warriors may not be able to give their starters an ample amount of rest to make them fresh for the postseason. In any case, the Warriors are expected to be the favorites against anyone in the playoffs.
Cleveland Cavaliers
The focus on LeBron James these days have just been intense. Everything he does of late has been put under an electron microscope. The Cavs losing to Brooklyn on Thursday didn’t help James get a breather from the media, which was already breathing down his neck no thanks to his insinuations of his desire to build another super team with his super friends.
Despite all that, the Cavs remain a juggernaut in the Eastern Conference, one that carries odds of +400 to win it all. Any team with a LeBron James is going to be a contender and with Kevin Love and Kyrie Irving alongside him in the playoffs, Cleveland is going to be a terror for anyone in a seven-game series once the postseason rolls around. The Cavs are inside the top 10 in both scoring (103.9 points per game) and defense (97.9 points allowed per game).
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Sleeper
Boston Celtics
Sleepers are often overlooked. They’re always considered as mere playoff fillers in the NBA. Take for example the Celtics, who were blown out in the first round of last season’s playoffs by the Cavaliers. Their coach is young and they don’t have a legitimate star—unless you consider Isaiah Thomas as one.
Boston, however, is an exciting team that brings so much to the table. The Celtics can score on the run, can score in the paint, and are among the best rebounding team in the league. Jae Crowder’s return to the lineup once healthy should give Boston a big boost heading into the postseason. The Celtics are +3,000 to bring home the bacon to Beantown.
Long Shot
Sacramento Kings
The Kings (+100,000) have as much order as Katt Williams’ life right now. But hey, they just won back to back against Phoenix and Dallas, respectively. That doesn’t change the fact, however, that Sacramento is rolling in some kind of hot mess.
From accusing their coach of being a snake to the front office to a pitiful defense that ranks dead last in the league, Sacramento is the kind of team that really needs some serious soul-searching in the offseason. They’re not eliminated yet, but the Kings don’t have any place to go other than the exit door.
