2016 NBA Championship Odds Update

With the 2015-16 NBA regular season steamrolling toward its annual all-star break, hyped up hoops bettors everywhere need to know how the latest online sportsbook odds to win the championship have changed from one week ago. Thanks to this expert betting breakdown, you’re going to find that out and much more. Now, let’s get started.

Favorites to Win the 2016 NBA Championship

Golden State Warriors 4/5 Cleveland Cavaliers 3/1 San Antonio Spurs 16/5 Oklahoma City Thunder 12/1 Analysis: Just one week ago, the Warriors were 7/5 favorites while the Cavaliers were 5/2 faves, the Spurs 3/1 and the Thunder 20/1. A pair of wins over Oklahoma City and Washington moved the Dubs to 9-1 SU over their last 10 games and improved their sportsbook odds of winning it all. Cleveland’s improved up-tempo play under new head coach Tyron Lue has almost halved their odds of winning the 2016 championship while the loss of Manu Ginobili have dropped the Spurs odds, if not their actual on-court chances. Oklahoma City’s narrow 116-108 road loss against the Warriors actually improved their odds of winning it all and rightfully so after they nearly came back from a 20-point deficit to hand Golden State its first home loss since last season.

The Contenders

Los Angeles Clippers 30/1 Chicago Bulls 40/1 Toronto Raptors 40/1 Atlanta Hawks 65/1 Indiana Pacers 65/1 Boston Celtics 75/1 Miami Heat 75/1 Analysis: The odds for every single team in this group remain unchanged from one week ago, but I think the odds should have been altered a bit for at least two of these teams. First and foremost, the Boston Celtics are on fire, having won nine of their last 10 games, including a confidence-boosting 104-103 win over LeBron James and the Cavs. The C’s don’t have a flat-out superstar on their roster, but they do have a very good offense that is fueled by their bevy of competent veterans that play hard all the time. The Celtics also have of the best head coaches in the league in young Brad Stevens. Another team whose championship odds should have changed is the struggling Chicago Bulls. Derrick Rose and company have lost two straight and seven of their last 10 games while losing star guard Jimmy Butler to a sprained knee. The Bulls have suffered humbling losses to Minnesota, Denver, Utah, Boston, Dallas and Washington and just look like a team heading in the wrong direction as the annual all-star break approaches. Last but not least, the Toronto Raptors look like a team that could very well challenge Cleveland for the Eastern Conference crown after winning 13 of their last 14 games.

The Longshots

Houston Rockets 125/1 Memphis Grizzlies 125/1 Washington Wizards 125/1 Detroit Pistons 300/1 New York Knicks 300/1 Charlotte Hornets 500/1 Dallas Mavericks 500/1 Sacramento Kings 500/1 Utah Jazz 500/1 New Orleans Pelicans 600/1 Portland Blazers 600/1 Milwaukee Bucks 1250/1 Orlando Magic 2000/1 Brooklyn Nets 9999/1 Denver Nuggets 9999/1 Minnesota Timberwolves 9999/1 Phoenix Suns 9999/1 Analysis: I’m surprised that the Memphis Grizzlies haven’t seen their odds to win the championship improve after winning eight of their last 10 games. The Grizz are getting some stellar performances from veteran forward Jeff Green off the bench and stars, Mike Conley, Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph are playing much better in recent weeks. The Washington Wizards and Houston Rockets are my two biggest underachievers in the league this season and probably shouldn’t even be identical +12500 favorites. Last but not least, I know the Dallas Mavericks are currently just in sixth place in the Western Conference (29-25) but the Mavs are a team that I wouldn’t want to meet in the postseason. Dallas has a bunch of veteran players that know their chances of winning another championship are dwindling by the minute – and that could make them very dangerous come playoff time!