The championship window is wide open for the Phoenix Suns. That doesn’t mean the Memphis Grizzlies or Golden State Warriors or Dallas Mavericks or Utah Jazz are going to let them climb right through it. Phoenix rattled off a club record 18-game winning streak early in the season and never looked back posting the best record in the NBA by eight games while establishing a franchise record with 64 victories. And throughout the entire season players said they were motivated by last year’s Finals loss. That run to the championship series also put target on their back, which every other team in the Western Conference is taking aim at.
While the postseason field may not be as deep as it is in the East, there are some clubs that could easily challenge for the conference crown. The rise of the Memphis Grizzlies began last year when they escaped the play-in tournament as the No. 9 seed with an overtime road win against the Warriors. They fell in the first round to top-seed Utah, but the Griz announced their arrival. Led by Ja Morant they are young and exciting and hungry. They matched a franchise record with 56 wins, which was accomplished first in 2012-13 when Memphis reached the conference final.
The 2022 NBA Playoffs begin on Saturday, April 16. Betting options for every game and series as well as futures and props are available at BookMaker.eu.
NBA Odds To Win 2022 Western Conference
Phoenix Suns +120
Golden State Warriors +415
Memphis Grizzlies +475
Dallas Mavericks +1000
Denver Nuggets +1200
Utah Jazz +1200
Los Angeles Clippers +1600
Minnesota Timberwolves +4000
New Orleans Pelicans +17500
San Antonio Spurs +40000
You could say the West is Phoenix’s to lose and you wouldn’t be wrong. They still have to go out and win games, which hasn’t been a problem for them the past two years. With Devin Booker and Chris Paul they have a backcourt that complements each other perfectly. Booker averaged 26.8 points and CP3 led the NBA with 10.8 assists. Toss in an active front court with Deandre Ayton and a strong bench and the Suns are the favorite to not only win the West title but the whole enchilada. Last year the Suns didn’t lose more than three straight games the entire regular season and through the first three playoff rounds. After winning the first two in the Finals they dropped the next four. Their longest losing streak this season was two games.
There could be a problem in a matchup with Golden State or Memphis. The Suns split four games with the Dubs and lost two of three to the Griz during the regular year. And the Warriors are poised for a long run with their roster shaping up. Three holdovers from their championship years remain giving them hope in their first playoff appearance since 2019. The trio of Klay Thompson, Draymond Green and Steph Curry has been on the floor at the same time for fewer than 15 minutes this season. Get the gang back together and see if they can rekindle the magic.
If you think the Griz are all about Morant think again. They went 20-5 in games the star didn’t play, including a 28-point win over the Warriors in March. Memphis was also the most profitable NBA pick against the betting line going 52-29-1 ATS. They had a taste of the postseason last year and they are talented enough to make a run.
There is a sharp drop in odds for the next tier of teams. Dallas won 52 games to secure the No. 4 seed and a date with Utah in a series that eliminates one of the clubs on the middle tier. There’s a reason why starters are rested in certain games and hopefully the Mavs don’t have to pay the price. Luka Doncic suffered a calf strain in the season finale, but with a few extra days off before the series starts on Saturday the club said Doncic won’t be ruled out. That’s an injury that could linger putting a damper on the Mavs’ hopes.
A solid value pick to back is Denver. With Nikola Jokic putting up ridiculous numbers all season and especially in March and April when he averaged 31.6 points, 13.7 rebounds and 7.5 assists on 62.3 percent shooting, the Nuggets could surprise. They have a favorable first round matchup against a Golden State team that struggled against scoring big men all season. And there’s a chance Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr. are available, making them even scarier.
The bottom part of the field isn’t overly impressive. Don’t waste your money on New Orleans or San Antonio. Sure the price might be inviting, but lower seeds never make a run to the Finals. Besides, those clubs were lucky to reach play-in tournament after going a combined 24 games below .500. While the Suns are favored and playing with a chip on their shoulder, the Grizzlies are young and extremely talented, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see them play for an NBA title for the first time.
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