With the start of the 2023-24 NBA season tipping off in late October the betting markets are open for business. The top two teams on the NBA Championship betting board reside in the Eastern Conference after both made drastic changes to their roster to help get them the ultimate prize. But the Western Conference is more dangerous with the defending champion Denver Nuggets aiming to stave off advances from the new-look Phoenix Suns, LeBron James and the LA Lakers, the Clippers and the Golden State Warriors, who rank on the odds board just behind the East favorites. A team from the Western Conference has hoisted the Larry O’Brien Trophy five times in the past seven seasons.
With preseason odds of +390 the Boston Celtics are the favorite to win their record 18th NBA title. With four trips to the East Final and one NBA Finals appearance over the past seven seasons the Celtics are still one of the elite clubs, though the window is closing. What they did in the past didn’t work so the Celtics rebuilt their roster around Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. The additions of Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday give them more flexibility.
A first round playoff exit after posting the NBA’s best record last season caused an upheaval in Milwaukee +398. The Bucks made headlines with the acquisition of Damian Lillard, who found a new home by way of a blockbuster three-team deal pairing the dynamic guard with two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo. In a perplexing move the club moved on from coach Mike Budenholzer, who averaged 54 wins and won a title in 2021, replacing him with Adrian Griffin. They got older and slower with Lillard, but the Bucks have tremendous talent with Khris Middleton, Brook Lopez, Pat Connaughton and Bobby Portis complementary pieces.
The two main cogs for the Denver Nuggets +598 are back after leading the club to its first NBA championship. Nikola Jokic could’ve easily won another regular season MVP award after nearly averaging a triple-double. He ended getting a bigger prize – NBA Finals MVP – by averaging a triple-double through a relatively easy postseason. None of the four series reached a Game 7 and only one went as many as six games. The Nuggets lost some depth pieces to free agency and the West is arguably stronger making the road to a repeat a treacherous one.
Two years removed from a trip to the NBA Finals, the Phoenix Suns +714are starting over but with talent to win a title. They made noise during the offseason trading for Bradley Beal while jettisoning Chris Paul, Landry Shamet and Deandre Ayton. With Kevin Durant and Devin Booker to go along with Beal, the Suns will score, and they are in win-now mode with plenty of payroll and few draft picks.
Heading up the second tier of favorites is the Lakers +1167, who will rely on soon-to-be-40 LeBron James to get them to the Finals. A torrid second half last season got the Lakers into the play-in tournament and they advanced to the West Final getting swept by Denver. The supporting cast is better than last year’s playoff squad with the additions of Gabe Vincent and Christian Wood, but big ifs will ultimately decide their fate. IF LeBron can still be an impact player and IF Anthony Davis stays healthy, LA could make another run.
The core of the Warriors dynasty remains intact, albeit a little older. And there is no reason why they can’t be a player in the championship mix as long as Steph Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green contribute. The addition of Chris Paul gives some stability, but the roster still lacks size, which was a problem last season.
Of all the teams there are two that I have an eye on. We aren’t hearing much about the LA Clippers likely because that routine got old, just like the roster. The Clips were the oldest team in the NBA last season and they got older. But seeing how stars Kawhi Leonard and Paul George haven’t played much over the years they should be rested. And if healthy they are a formidable duo going 96-46 when playing together.
Opposite of the Clippers, the Cleveland Cavaliers have a youthful roster that made the leap to the playoffs last year. The East appears to be weaker at the top allowing the Cavs to easily contend for a top 4 seed. Donovan Mitchell had a career year averaging nearly 29 points and the frontcourt of Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen is tough. I like the makeup of the Cavs and at +2582 they are a risky longshot pick.
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