NBA Odds – NBA Championship picture clearing up
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Now that the All-Star break has passed, the NBA odds for the Championship are much clearer. Sportsbook linesmakers have posted NBA odds for all 30 teams but, for most teams, those sports betting lines are just a mirage. Realistically, there are only a handful of teams with realistic NBA odds to win the Championship.
- Orlando not the same without Nelson
- Spurs, Jazz can’t take on Lakers in L.A.
- Cavs have to prove they can topple Boston
Those who bet sports know that the NBA odds posted for teams like the Toronto Raptors, New Jersey Nets and Charlotte Bobcats are for entertainment purposes only, but it’s still fun to peruse those crazy betting lines.
At this point, we’ve whittled down the list to a select few contenders. Those teams include the Los Angeles Lakers, Boston Celtics, Cleveland Cavaliers, San Antonio Spurs, Orlando Magic, Utah Jazz and New Orleans Hornets. The NBA odds on the teams like the Denver Nuggets or Portland Trail Blazers are enticing but, realistically, neither will be the team to win the Championship because of numerous flaws.
- ATLANTA HAWKS +3200
- BOSTON CELTICS +200
- CHARLOTTE BOBCATS +13000
- CHICAGO BULLS +6000
- CLEVELAND CAVALIERS +370
- DALLAS MAVERICKS +4000
- DENVER NUGGETS +1400
- DETROIT PISTONS +5000
- HOUSTON ROCKETS +1000
- INDIANA PACERS +15000
- LOS ANGELES LAKERS +150
- MIAMI HEAT +4600
- MILWAUKEE BUCKS +17500
- NEW JERSEY NETS +15000
- NEW ORLEANS HORNETS +1300
- NEW YORK KNICKS +10000
- ORLANDO MAGIC +900
- PHILADELPHIA 76ERS +4500
- PHOENIX SUNS +3900
- PORTLAND TRAILBLAZERS +2000
- SACRAMENTO KINGS
- SAN ANTONIO SPURS +500
- TORONTO RAPTORS +12500
- UTAH JAZZ +3500
The Orlando Magic really looked like they could emerge as a serious value play on the NBA odds but, after losing All-Star point guard Jameer Nelson, they really haven’t been the same. They were already an underdog to teams like the Celtics and Cavaliers, and this hurts their case even more.
In the West, the San Antonio Spurs and Utah Jazz figure to be threats to the Los Angeles Lakers, but both are still bigger underdogs on the NBA odds. Their biggest challenge will winning four out of seven games from the Lakers in Los Angeles. The Spurs looked old and slow while falling to the Lakers 4-1 last season while the Jazz didn’t look much better, losing 4-2.
The NBA odds on the Hornets are much longer than the Spurs or Jazz and at this point and, considering the Hornets have taken a step back from last season’s team, not many cappers expect this unit to make any noise in the NBA playoffs.
The Cavaliers could end up representing the East in the Finals even though the NBA odds indicate they aren’t expected to top a team like the Celtics. Without home court advantage, the Cavs took the Celtics to seven games last season in the Eastern Conference Finals before falling. This year they have been significantly better in the regular season since the addition of All-Star guard Mo Williams.
There are obviously higher rewards for backing the Cavs on the NBA Championship odds, but a lot of people just aren’t sure they can get the job done. If the Cavs end up with home court advantage, that could end up being the difference.
Most bettors expect a Celtics-Lakers finals because they’ve both been supremely dominant this season. The Celtics started the year better than any other team in NBA history while the Lakers have been trashing anyone in their sight throughout the year. Those teams are tried, tested and true, while the Cavaliers haven’t proved they can beat the best quite yet. That’s why their NBA odds are longer.
Also, the Lakers and Celtics have both reigned supreme over their aforementioned competition in the regular season, which further illustrates that the Cavs, Spurs, Magic and Jazz just aren’t quite ready to dethrone their respective conference champs.
As far as NBA odds go, even though it’s an obvious selection, taking the NBA odds on the Celtics and Lakers to win their conferences and the Championship are the best bets right now.
For more articles and analysis on NBA betting picks or NBA odds, visit the BetOnline.com Betting Edge daily.
Craig Parsons is an avid sports fan, but his true love has always been basketball. Too short to realize his dream of playing in the NBA, he did the next best thing: sports betting and covering basketball for a living. Thoughts or questions? Email Comments@BetOnline.com.
