As the NBA playoffs approach, the championship odds are heating up, providing fans and bettors with insights into which teams are favored to take home the title. The Oklahoma City Thunder are the current favorites with the best odds at +180. Close behind them are the Boston Celtics at +190. The last two seasons have seen both teams deliver top quality performances, establishing them as perennial contenders in the race for the cup.
The Cleveland Cavaliers are next in line at +575 to finish third. On paper, this indicates that they’re in a good position to make a deep playoff run. Beyond the current state of the Los Angeles Lakers lies a deep, storied franchise history. They’re at +1300 as of this writing, reflecting some very wary optimism about their postseason chances. The Golden State Warriors, perhaps the most well-known team based on their recent playoff success, are at +1500. On the other end, the defending champs the Denver Nuggets are at +3000.
Rising Stars and Dark Horses
Getting to know the top contenders is easy, but a few teams are carving a path as surprise dark horses this playoff season. The New York Knicks have the same odds to win it all as the Nuggets do at +3000, highlighting how much better they have been this season. It gets a little thicker behind them, as the LA Clippers are indeed in the race at +3300. If they find their groove, they might just prove their naysayers wrong!
The Minnesota Timberwolves aren’t far behind though, with odds of +4000. While they’ve dazzled at times, they must be more steady in order to make a deep playoff run. Next on the list, the Indiana Pacers, are one of the most intriguing cases with odds currently sitting at +6600. They endured a lot of adversity this season, and they have a knack for taking advantage whenever the upset-prone, higher-seeded teams falter.
Long Shots and Unexpected Contenders
The Houston Rockets (-5-8000) The [+8000] Houston Rockets are the definition of long shots, and for good reason. Though sitting low in the playoff order, their inexperienced cast may grow into an intimidating postseason force if they learn to meet their promise.
Finally, both the Milwaukee Bucks and Detroit Pistons have +15000 and +25000 odds respectively. It’s been a disappointing season for the Bucks, but they still have enough talent on the roster to threaten with an upset. Tied with the Memphis Grizzlies to represent this sentiment are the Grizz at the same +25000 odds, long shots on the NBA playoff landscape.
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