Updated NBA Odds To Win 2016 Finals

Posted by Aaron . on February 15, 2016 in

Things continue to sort themselves in the NBA as far as the standings in the East and West. Let’s take a look at some of the more up-to-date pro hoops moneyline odds as far as teams winning the Larry O’Brien Trophy this June as the champion of the Association.

Updated NBA Odds To Win 2016 Finals

Golden State — EVEN

Even odds? Seriously? At this point in the season. Well, they are 48-4. They are 24-0 at home. They’ve followed up a bit of a “rough” patch by winning their last 11 in a row. So there’s an excellent chance that this team will walk away with the title, just like the Bulls did after that 72-win season. However, there are also times when teams that win a ton of games during the regular season have a letdown in the playoffs. Let’s take a look at the rest of the odds, too.

Cleveland Cavaliers (+290)

I like the Cavaliers’ roster. LeBron James, Kyrie Irving, Kevin Love. They’re the nucleus for a team that could roll through the East playoff bracket pretty easily and give the Warriors even more of a challenge than they did last year.

But I don’t like the Cavaliers’ intangibles. Yes, it was injuries that plagued them last year in the postseason, but the Warriors could have beaten them anyway. Why? Because LeBron has an “off” switch that clicks when he thinks that things aren’t going to go his way. Cleveland fans remember him just standing and watching the action when the Celtics went up by enough in their elimination game — back before LeBron took his talents to South Beach. Yes, the Heat did get some hardware, but you could see LeBron stop trying in their 2011 loss to the Mavericks, and in their loss to the Spurs in the finals. I’m too worried about that switch to bet on the Cavs to win it all.

San Antonio Spurs (+325)

It’s true that the Warriors routed the Spurs by 30+ points in their own building. That’s a pretty big whipping to overcome as you prepare for the playoffs. However, if anyone can get a team ready for that sort of challenge, it’s Gregg Popovich.

Oklahoma City Thunder (+900)

I think that the Thunder has a roster more likely to give Golden State fits than San Antonio does. Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant are a formidable duo, and when both are scoring, the opposition really doesn’t have much of a chance. If the Thunder can shore up that defense more consistently, they could be the ones facing whomever the East sends to the Finals.

Now, for the rest of the odds:

L.A. Clippers, Toronto Raptors (+2500)
Chicago Bulls (+3300) — note here — this is the team that I think has the best shot at knocking the Cavs out of the playoffs in the East. They are in the Cavaliers’ head. Just saying.

Atlanta Hawks (+5000)
Miami Heat, Indiana Pacers (+6600)
Houston Rockets, Boston Celtics, Memphis Grizzlies (+7500)
Dallas Mavericks, Detroit Pistons, New York Knicks (+15000)
Washington Wizards (+20000)
Charlotte Hornets (+30000)
Sacramento Kings, New Orleans Pelicans, Utah Jazz, Portland Trail Blazers (+50000)
Orlando Magic, Milwaukee Bucks (+100000)