Updated NBA Championship Odds

While the Golden State Warriors are still favored to win the 2016 NBA Championship, it’s funny how quickly things can change in the NBA. With the Warriors losing Game 1 of their Western Conference Finals series against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Monday night and both, the Oklahoma City Thunder and Cleveland Cavaliers looking like very real contenders to dethrone the defending champs, clearly things have changed for the once ‘shoo-in’ Dubs. Now, let’s find out if Steph Curry and company can regain their equilibrium or whether the Thunder, Cavs or even the Toronto Raptors are better picks to cash in against the still, value-packed NBA Championship futures odds.

Updated NBA Championship Odds – After Game 1 Loss, Are Warriors Still ‘Real’ Favorites to Win 2016 NBA Championship?

 

Odds to Win 2016 NBA Championship

 

Golden State Warriors	11/10
Cleveland Cavaliers	7/5
Oklahoma City Thunder	16/5
Toronto Raptors	50/1

 

Golden State

I could throw out a bunch of glossy numbers that will lead you to believe the Warriors will be just fine against Oklahoma City despite losing Game 1 against the Thunder, but I won’t…because the fact of the matter is that the Dubs could be in trouble! While most NBA oops fans place their focus mostly on superstars Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook, Oklahoma City has a very good group of core players that would likely have bigger roles on another team without two Top 5 players on it. I know the Warriors are 6-2 SU in their last eight games against the Thunder, but Oklahoma City has won five straight road games and beat the mighty San Antonio Spurs twice in South Texas after their highly-respected rivals lost just once at home in 41 regular season games. I still like the Dubs to get past Oklahoma City, but suddenly, I think it’s a lot more realistic that OKC pulls of the upset!

Cleveland

Is it possible that the Cavaliers could lose to the clearly mediocre Toronto Raptors in the Eastern Conference Finals? Not unless LeBron James suddenly decides to take his talents back to South Beach! The Cavs are virtual locks to reach the NBA Finals where they’ll likely have a few days of rest. Cleveland has yet to lose a game in eight postseason dates and has been going three-point crazy recently. I think it’s quite possible that the Cavs could challenge either Golden State or Oklahoma City, but in the end, I believe this year’s NBA Champion will be coming out of the Western Conference.  

Oklahoma City

Call, them lucky, fortunate or whatever, the fat of the matte is tat the Thunder have won five straight road games in the postseason – and three straight against a pair of ballclubs that jus doesn’t lose on their home floors very often. If Oklahoma City is close in any contest late, it’s almost impossible to stop either Kevin Durant or Russell Westbrook. I love the Thunder’s core of players that includes Serge Ibaka, Steven Adams, Enes Kanter and even Deion Waiters these days. I say, f the Thunder get past the Splash Brothers, the title is theirs for the taking.

Toronto

The Raptors are facing an uphill battle in beating LeBron James and the Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference Finals. Toronto has two very good backcourt players in DeMar DeRozan and Kyle Lowry but both have been wildly inconsistent all postseason long. The Raptors will also be without starting center Jonas Valanciunas at least for Game 1 and they simply don’t have enough firepower to keep up with any of the three remaining teams in the playoffs.