All articles tagged with #championship odds
The Oklahoma City Thunder are the overwhelming favorites to win the NBA Finals this year, with the shortest odds in 20 seasons, facing the Indiana Pacers in the series opener. The Thunder, returning to the Finals for the first time since 2013, are heavily favored over the Pacers, who were long shots at the start of the season but made a surprising playoff run. Historically, underdogs with similar odds rarely win the championship.
The Boston Celtics and Milwaukee Bucks are the top favorites to win the NBA championship this season, according to sportsbooks. Both teams have similar odds, with the Celtics slightly ahead at +380 and the Bucks at +400. The defending champion Denver Nuggets follow at +420, with the Phoenix Suns and Golden State Warriors also considered contenders. The Celtics and Bucks are also favored to win the NBA Cup, the new in-season tournament. The Los Angeles Lakers have received the most support from bettors, while the Detroit Pistons, Charlotte Hornets, Washington Wizards, and Portland Trail Blazers are considered long shots. Nikola Jokic is the favorite for regular-season MVP, and Victor Wembanyama is the odds-on favorite for Rookie of the Year. The season begins with the Nuggets hosting the Lakers and the Warriors hosting the Suns.
With Damian Lillard requesting a trade from the Portland Trail Blazers and the Miami Heat being his preferred destination, sportsbooks have already adjusted the Heat's championship odds from +1600 to +900 at BetMGM. If the Heat can acquire Lillard, they would become one of the top five favorites to win the NBA title. While Miami has proven to be a strong team without Lillard, his addition would significantly boost their chances. Bettors are aware of the potential impact of a Lillard trade and will likely place bets on the Heat if the trade goes through.
Despite securing his first win of the 2023 season and sitting in a second-place tie in the point standings, Ross Chastain is listed as only the 10th favorite to win the NASCAR Cup Series championship at DraftKings Sportsbook. Chastain's recent success and improvement in his racing style have been overlooked, leading to questions about why he is being underestimated in the championship odds.
The Golden State Warriors have acquired Chris Paul from the Washington Wizards in exchange for Jordan Poole, Ryan Rollins, and two future draft picks. The move has increased the Warriors' championship odds for the 2023-24 NBA season from +1400 to +1100, making them one of the favorites to win the title. Paul will join Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, Andrew Wiggins, and potentially Draymond Green to form a formidable team. The Warriors now have a good chance to dethrone the Denver Nuggets and win the championship.
Caesars Sportsbook has posted the odds for all 30 teams to win the 2024 NBA Finals, with the Denver Nuggets sitting atop the title odds to repeat as champions. The Boston Celtics and Milwaukee Bucks are close behind, followed by the Phoenix Suns, Los Angeles Lakers, and Golden State Warriors. The odds are likely to change depending on what teams do in the coming months, but as of right now, the Nuggets look like the superior team in the NBA.