Betting on NBA Futures?
With the second round of the 2015 NBA Playoffs underway, one team stands above the rest when it comes to its chances of a championship. This is the team that won a regular-season best 67 games, and it’s the team who has this season’s MVP taking control of the action every single night.
NBA Basketball Odds
Odds To Win 2015 Championship: 5/7
Regular Season Record: 67-15
Conference: West
Playoff Seed: 1
***2015 NBA BONUSES***
[dfads params=’groups=63740&limit=1&return_javascript=0′]
With Steph Curry officially being announced this season’s MVP on May 4, the Golden State Warriors have just about everything going right. Now it’s time to see if the stars truly align, and if they can bring home their first Larry O’Brien Trophy since the 1974-75 season.
[dfads params=’groups=63742&limit=1&return_javascript=0′]
Why They Can Win It
Golden State has been the best team in the NBA all season. Any casual fan can see that when looking at its regular-season record, but it’s the play on the court that shows just how easy this group makes it look.
You can’t begin this conversation without first looking at the point guard. Curry is virtually unstoppable this season. So far in the playoffs, he’s averaging 31.4 points on 41.5 percent shooting, and his shooting marks are even more impressive when you consider he’s knocking down 42.9 percent of his attempts from beyond the arc.
[dfads params=’groups=63727&limit=1&return_javascript=0′]
But Curry isn’t just a shooter. He’s getting his teammates involved to the tune of 7.2 assists per game, and he’s having an impact in other areas, such as his 4.6 rebounds per game and 1.8 steals as well.
As good of news as it is for Golden State to have an MVP running the show, that’s not what makes this group so dangerous. It’s the combination of Curry and Klay Thompson in the backcourt, the versatility of Draymond Green and Andre Iguodala and the health of Andrew Bogut.
This is a group that is laden with the perfect blend of stars and role players, and the fact that it finished the regular season as the No. 2 offensive team and No. 1 offensive team (in terms of ESPN’s Efficiency rating) doesn’t hurt, either.
How They Can Win It
We know the Warriors are good. We even know that they’re probably the best team in the league at this point in the process. But being good — and even being the best — doesn’t guarantee a championship in any given season.
For the Warriors, the path to a title will go through either the Houston Rockets or Los Angeles Clippers. The fact is: Golden State is currently in a second-round matchup against a team that doesn’t stand a chance. If the Memphis Grizzlies had a healthy Mike Conley, we might be talking about a series that could go six or seven games. Conley’s absence, however, will put a serious damper on those plans, and the Warriors should take care of business in four or five.
[dfads params=’groups=63741&limit=1&return_javascript=0′]
So with Golden State knocking out the New Orleans Pelicans with ease, and then presumably doing the same to Memphis, that gives this team a lot of rest and momentum going up against either the Rockets or Clippers.
With the Warriors as productive as they are on both sides of the ball, it’s difficult to imagine either the Rockets or Clippers giving Golden State a run for its money. It will be the first time the Warriors are challenged over the course of a series, but it will be a challenge that better prepares them for adversity in the Finals.
With only one round to go after the Western Conference Championship, it will come down to a battle against the East’s top dog. At this point, we can assume that will be whoever emerges victorious from the Chicago Bulls-Cleveland Cavaliers series.
Both the Bulls and Cavaliers will put up a fight against the Warriors, but if Golden State remains healthy, it will be the favorite regardless of who the team plays at any point this postseason.
Check out our Updated NBA Betting Odds.
[dfads params=’groups=64991&limit=1&return_javascript=0′]
