Payouts for futures bets are usually better than even, or greater than +100, so the amount staked is much less than the potential payout. Of course, the inherent risk of futures betting is the unknown of the future. BookMaker posts adjusted futures odds to win the NBA championship every day of the season.
The grind of another NBA season is upon us and once again the Western Conference is well represented in the odds to win this season’s championship. But it’s the Eastern Conference Cleveland Cavaliers that are the +250 favorites at BookMaker to capture the title.
The NBA has been a little more predictable than other leagues over the past few years with the team having the best regular season record winning the championship in each of the last three seasons. The Golden State Warriors had a league-best 67 wins last season and cruised through the playoffs to capture their first title in 40 years. They are +436 to become the first Western Conference repeat champion since the 2009-10 Los Angeles Lakers.
ODDS TO WIN 2015-16 NBA CHAMPIONSHIP
Cleveland Cavaliers + 250
San Antonio Spurs + 400
Golden State Warriors + 436
Oklahoma City Thunder + 699
Los Angeles Clippers + 902
Houston Rockets + 1506
Chicago Bulls + 1753
Memphis Grizzlies + 3266
Miami Heat + 3310
New Orleans Pelicans + 3912
Atlanta Hawks + 4009
Washington Wizards + 4768
Toronto Raptors + 5500
Milwaukee Bucks + 6027
Los Angeles Lakers + 7158
Dallas Mavericks + 8494
Indiana Pacers + 9000
Boston Celtics + 9500
Utah Jazz + 12500
New York Knicks + 13683
Detroit Pistons + 15000
Sacramento Kings + 15000
Phoenix Suns +15500
Minnesota Timberwolves + 17414
Portland Trail Blazers + 20000
Denver Nuggets + 26500
Brooklyn Nets + 30000
Charlotte Hornets + 32500
Orlando Magic + 35000
Philadelphia 76ers + 50000
Not surprising to see the defending Eastern Conference champion Cavaliers at the top of this list. Cleveland probably would have won the title last season if not for injuries to Kevin Love and Kyrie Irving during the postseason grind. Those two players are back, as is the best player in the game LeBron James.
One good thing that came from the Cavs playoff run was the emergence of role players who competed and took the Warriors to six games in the Finals before running out of gas. Remember the Cavs were left for dead last season when they lost six straight games to fall below .500. They went on a tear in the second half. This team faced adversity and overcame the obstacles to win the Midwest Division and advance to the Finals.
The Cavaliers are clearly the class of the Eastern Conference and it would take a similar rash of injuries to prevent them from repeating as conference champs. They also have a chip on their shoulder after battling through the Finals with a shorthanded roster.
The Western Conference is once again stacked. The Warriors return their championship roster led by league MVP Stephen Curry and Klay Thomspon. The Spurs return the big three, though they are a year older. Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili proved last season they can compete at a high level, but the focus has shifted to Kawhi Leonard and newcomer LaMarcus Aldridge. The Spurs are still a threat.
Oklahoma City gets Kevin Durant back hopefully for a full season to raise the Thunder’s hopes of a deep playoff push. Along with Russell Westbrook and some added depth has OKC as at +699 to win the franchise’s first title since it resided in Seattle.
A new look for the Clippers won’t erase the memory of a playoff series collapse to Houston last season. The Clips were on the verge of advancing to the Western Conference Final, taking a 3-1 series lead, before dropping the next three. An improved bench was an offseason priority and the Clips remain a favorite at +902.
But the team to look out for in the West is the Houston Rockets. After their first trip to the conference finals in 18 years, the Rockets are confident they can build on that experience and take the next step. James Harden’s spectacular season made him a runner-up in the MVP voting and big man Dwight Howard should contribute more than the 41 games he played last season.
Patrick Beverley is back from the injury that cost him the playoffs last season and the Rockets added Ty Lawson, who is ultra-talented but needs to put the personal problems behind him. If he succeeds in doing that, he could be the secondary ball handler and scorer to make a potent offense that much better.
Houston often gets overlooked in the loaded West. But they proved last season that could be a foolish mistake. The Rockets are the dark horse to ride and at +1506 is a smart play.
BookMaker already has futures odds posted for all 30 NBA teams. During the season, you can wager in-game while the action unfolds with BookMaker's live betting option for every game on the docket.
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