The two-time defending champion Golden State Warriors may still be prohibitive favorites to win the 2019 NBA championship, but the fact of the matter is that NBA fans and betting enthusiasts should know the Dubs are almost certainly facing their biggest challenge to win the NBA title since they claimed their first of the Steph Curry era, four years ago.
Thanks to the expert analysis that you’re about to get, you’re going to find out just which teams are looking like odds favorites to win the 2019 NBA Championship and that could win it all and which teams are nothing more than mere pretenders.
Updated 2019 NBA Championship Odds – March 11th
Houston is thriving with an 8-game winning streak and back in the top 5 in this week’s NBA power rankings 🚀 pic.twitter.com/AEgolFjPgu
— ESPN (@espn) 11 de marzo de 2019
Odds to Win the 2019 NBA Championship
- Golden State Warriors 1/2
- Milwaukee Bucks 8/1
- Toronto Raptors 12/1
- Houston Rockets 15/1
- Oklahoma City Thunder 25/1
- Philadelphia 76ers 25/1
- Boston Celtics 30/1
- Denver Nuggets 30/1
- Utah Jazz 50/1
- Portland Trail Blazers 75/1
- Los Angeles Lakers 150/1
- San Antonio Spurs 150/1
- Indiana Pacers 225/1
- Sacramento Kings 500/1
- Brooklyn Nets 1000/1
- Detroit Pistons 1000/1
- Los Angeles Clippers 1000/1
Golden State
The Golden State Warriors (45-21) are an uninspiring 4-6 over their last 10 games and they just lost to lowly Phoenix over the weekend with Curry and Klay Thompson combining to miss an insane 22 three-pointers. The Dubs saw Kevin Durant suffer an ankle injury and they just look like a disjointed team right now. Then again, Golden State struggled down the stretch a year ago – before going on to win it all – so there’s that as well.
Milwaukee
The Milwaukee Bucks (50-17) have gone 7-3 over their last 10 games and they just look like a team that is not going to bow out – to anyone – without a serious fight. Milwaukee ranks second in scoring and ninth in points allowed, so they’re elite at both ends of the floor. The Bucks have a whopping six double-digit scorers on their roster and arguably the best player in the game today in superstar forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (27.0 ppg, 12.6 rpg, 6.0 apg).
Toronto
The Toronto Raptors (48-19) excel at both ends of the floor in ranking seventh in scoring and 10th in points allowed. Toronto has won seven of their last 10 games and they also have an impressive six, double-digits scorers on their roster and that doesn’t even include veteran center Marc Gasol (9.5 ppg), who joined the team just prior to the trade deadline. The Raptors look like a team that could beat Milwaukee – and Golden State – this season.
Houston
The Houston Rockets (41-25) have won eight straight heading into the new week and they look super dangerous right about now since getting Chris Paul and Clint Capela back. Houston ranks an identical 12th at both ends of the floor not to mention the fact that a mind-boggling eight players average 9.0 points per game or more.<?p>
Oklahoma City
The Oklahoma City Thunder (40-26) have two flat-out superstars in Paul George (28.4 ppg) and Russell Westbrook and they rank a stellar fourth in scoring (115.4 ppg). Unfortunately, Oklahoma City doesn’t have much depth once you get past their starting five and they’re just mediocre defensively in ranking 15th in points allowed (111.5 ppg).
Philadelphia
With four legitimate all-star caliber performers in Joel Embiid (27.4 ppg), Tobias Harris (20.5 ppg), Jimmy Butler (18.4 ppg) and Ben Simmons (17.0 ppg), the Philadelphia 76ers (42-25) have as much talent as just about any team in the league, including Golden State. Philadelphia ranks an encouraging fifth in scoring, but a modest 16th in points allowed. Maybe it’s me, but the Sixers look like a team that could beat – or lose – to anyone.
Boston
The Boston Celtics (41-26) entered the regular season as prohibitive favorites to win the Eastern Conference and challenge Golden State for league supremacy, but after largely underachieving this season, Boston has looked a lot better in winning three straight on the road against the Warriors, desperate Sacramento Kings and reeling Lakers. The C’s rank a stellar fourth in points allowed (106.6 ppg) while ranking a decent 12th in scoring (112.3 ppg). Despite their struggles this season, Boston remains one of four legitimate contenders to win the East and their deep playoff run a year ago will certainly serve them well come playoff time.
Denver
The Denver Nuggets (43-22) have been one of the most pleasant surprises of any team in the league this season and they look like a team that is going to be a force to be reckoned with for the next handful of seasons at the very least. The Nuggets rank an excellent seventh in points allowed (107.3 ppg), but just 17th in scoring (112.0 ppg). Still, Denver has a mind-boggling seven double-digit scorers on their roster, even though they are struggling heading into the new week, having dropped three of four.
