Betting NBA Futures?
The San Antonio Spurs had been champions less than an hour before oddsmakers released 2015 title odds. The team downed the Miami Heat decisively in five games on the biggest stage in front of millions of eyes, yet it’s that same Heat team that sees itself installed as the favorite for the 2014-15 season at 3-to-1 odds. [ad-4468020]
Odds provided by Sportsbook.ag
Miami Heat
The Heat enter the offseason with plenty of uncertainty. The team found itself in the draft lottery not long ago before LeBron James and Chris Bosh decided to take his talents to South Beach.
Those two, along with Dwyane Wade, all have the opportunity to walk away from their contracts and play their basketball somewhere else a year from now.
San Antonio Spurs
That means plenty of risk in backing the betting favorites. The champion San Antonio Spurs and the Oklahoma City Thunder come in next at 6-to-1 odds.
The Spurs won quite handily this past season, and despite plenty of speculation to the contrary, all signs point to a return for Tim Duncan, Gregg Popovich, and Manu Ginobili. Even still, the team has played a lot of basketball in recent years, and as good as they have been, a repeat performance has eluded them.
OKC Thunder
As for the Thunder, they just haven’t been able to take their games to that next level on the biggest stage. Keeping Russell Westbrook healthy all season is going to have to be a priority, and Kevin Durant will need to figure out how to take his game to the next level.
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A few more complimentary pieces wouldn’t hurt either (and Kendrick Perkins doesn’t count).
L.A. Clippers
The LA Clippers dealt with a lot during the postseason, and, unfortunately, that took away from some really strong performances from Blake Griffin, who took a major step forward in his development this season, and Chris Paul, who dealt with a slew of injuries and off-court nuttiness. They’re next on the list at 9-to-1.
The team has some depth issues to deal with, but they have enough top-end talent to compete at the highest level.
Chicago Bulls
The Bulls and Indiana Pacers come up next at 12-to-1 odds. The Bulls are going to tinker with their roster some if they want to compete with the big dogs, but Tom Thibodeau has shown he can get the most out of this roster, and it sounds like Derrick Rose is on track to compete from day one.
Indiana Pacers
The Pacers really sputtered down the stretch, and there are going to be some decisions that need to be made on some key free agents and one big man with a hefty price tag who seemingly forgot how to compete at key times. Even still, in a weak Eastern Conference, the Pacers will surely be hanging around come playoff town.
Houston Rockets
The Rockets were ousted in the first round of the playoffs, but they come in as the seventh most likely title team at 16-to-1 odds. They’re fun to watch, but the team’s current makeup showed that it doesn’t have what it takes to get the job done in the playoffs.
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Rumors that the team plans to add a third big money player to a roster that already includes Dwight Howard and James Harden is surely behind this.
Golden State Warriors / Portland Trail Blazers
The Warriors and Portland Trail Blazers come in next at 25-to-1 odds. The Western Conference is going to remain tough next season, but up and coming teams like these two offer plenty of intrigue to bettors, particularly given that they now have some playoff experience under their belts.
Cleveland Cavs
The Cleveland Cavaliers are an intriguing play at 33-to-1. A hometown return from LeBron James remains unlikely, but there is an outside shot. At the very least, the team will add a marquee player with the No. 1 overall selection, and Anthony Bennett isn’t as bad as he looked last season.
LA Lakers
The Los Angeles Lakers are another intriguing play at 40-to-1. They’ll be getting back a healthy Kobe Bryant, and it’s hard to imagine them not being a major player on every key free agent this offseason.
Here’s the full list of odds for the 2015 NBA title:
Odds to win 2015 NBA Championship
- Miami Heat 3/1
- Oklahoma City Thunder 6/1
- San Antonio Spurs 6/1
- Los Angeles Clippers 9/1
- Chicago Bulls 12/1
- Indiana Pacers 12/1
- Houston Rockets 16/1
- Golden State Warriors 25/1
- Portland Trailblazers 25/1
- Brooklyn Nets 28/1
- Cleveland Cavaliers 33/1
- Dallas Mavericks 33/1
- Memphis Grizzlies 33/1
- Washington Wizards 33/1
- Los Angeles Lakers 40/1
- New York Knicks 40/1
- Toronto Raptors 40/1
- Boston Celtics 50/1
- Denver Nuggets 50/1
- Detroit Pistons 50/1
- New Orleans Pelicans 50/1
- Minnesota Timberwolves 66/1
- Atlanta Hawks 75/1
- Charlotte Hornets 75/1
- Phoenix Suns 75/1
- Orlando Magic 150/1
- Sacramento Kings 150/1
- Utah Jazz 150/1
- Milwaukee Bucks 200/1
- Philadelphia 76ers 200/1
