NBA Title Odds: Golden State and Chicago are new favorites

The Chicago Bulls and Golden State Warriors are now the new favorites to win the NBA championship, according to Bovada

Bovada released the new NBA title odds on Tuesday, and the Chicago Bulls and Golden State Warriors are the new favorites to win the NBA title at 5-1 odds.

Based on how they’ve each played this season, the Golden State Warriors (27-5) and Chicago Bulls (25-10) feel and appear to be the best teams in each conference through the first 30-35 games this season.

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The Warriors have otherworldly shooters, and Steph Curry is the front-runner to win MVP this season, averaging 23.0 points and 7.8 assists per game. He’s just a freak, that’s all.

The Bulls, on the other hand, have been winning with solid defense and a whole lot of Jimmy Butler, who has emerged as one of the best guards in the league in Derrick Rose’s absence. If Rose, who has been playing better lately, can even get back close to where he was in 2010-11, and he’s getting closer, the Bulls will finally have the scoring to go along with their great defense.

If I had to pick between the Warriors and Bulls, I’d have to give the nod to the Bulls. They seem like the more complete team and are built to win in the playoffs when the game slows down.

Previously, the Cleveland Cavaliers were the favorites with 4-1 odds to win the championship; however, Cleveland hasn’t looked as dominant as oddsmakers might have originally thought. Plus, LeBron James is battling knee and back injuries. Who knows if he’s going to be right and healthy at any point in the season?

In Bovada’s most recent odds, Cleveland’s odds fell to fourth, from 4-1 to 6-1, and that’s still way too high, in my opinion.

The timing of Bovada’s new odds is a little peculiar to say the least.

News broke Monday night that the Cleveland Cavaliers were trading Dion Waiters, Lou Amundson, and Alex Kirk for J.R. Smith (why?) and Iman Shumpert (oh, that’s why…) in a three-team deal with the New York Knicks and Oklahoma City Thunder.

I like Shumpert for the Cavs, but with Smith joining the team, I would have assumed the Cavs odds would have plummeted into the teens at least. There’s no way the Cavs, without a rim protector and two new ball-stopping shooting guards are still 6-1 odds to win the title. It makes no sense.

Oddsmakers have the San Antonio Spurs as the third-best team with 11-2 odds to win the championship.

Surprisingly, the Memphis Grizzlies (25-9), who have been the second-best team in the West for most of the season, are still at 18-1 odds to win the title. If you’re looking for a good bet, the Grizzlies are the best value for sure. I consider the Grizzlies one of five teams who have a realistic chance to win the championship. At 18-1, that’s great bet.

Here’s the rest of the odds released by Bovada on Tuesday, Dec. 6:

Chicago Bulls 5-1

Golden State Warriors 5-1

San Antonio Spurs 11-2

Cleveland Cavaliers 6-1

Dallas Mavericks 15-2

Oklahoma City Thunder 8-1

Los Angeles Clippers 12-1

Atlanta Hawks 16-1

Toronto Raptors 16-1

Houston Rockets 18-1

Memphis Grizzlies 18-1

Portland Trail Blazers 18-1

Washington Wizards 25-1

Phoenix Suns 66-1

Miami Heat 75-1

New Orleans Pelicans 100-1

Brooklyn Nets 150-1

Milwaukee Bucks 150-1

Sacramento Kings 300-1

Boston Celtics 400-1

Indiana Pacers 400-1

Charlotte Hornets 500-1

Denver Nuggets 500-1

Detroit Pistons 500-1

Los Angeles Lakers 500-1

New York Knicks 1000-1

Orlando Magic 1000-1

Utah Jazz 1000-1

Minnesota Timberwolves 5000-1

Philadelphia 76ers 5000-1

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NBA Title Odds 2015: Golden State and Chicago are new favorites

By Bryce Olin | Jan 6, 2015

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