3 Teams With 20/1 or Higher Odds That Can Make a Run at NBA Championship

Last year, the Atlanta Hawks shocked the league and made it to Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals. The Hawks knocked off the No. 4 seed New York Knicks and the No. 1 seed Philadelphia 76ers in the process. If it weren’t for Trae Young’s injury, the Hawks may have won the East.

WIth all the movement that happened before today’s NBA trade deadline, which team is now suited to replicate the Hawks’ success from last season. 

Here are three teams that I see as legitimate contenders to play spoiler in their respective conference. 

Memphis Grizzlies (+25/1 to win NBA Finals, +10/1 to win Western Finals)

The Grizzlies are legit. They have the third best record in the Western Conference, are the best team in the league against the spread and aren’t scared of anybody. The Grizzlies have the seventh-best net rating in the league right now. It will be hard for them to make the Finals, as they would have to knock off the Warriors and Suns. However, they beat the Warriors last season in the play-in and have an All-NBA point guard to lead them against the Suns.

Chicago Bulls  (28/1 to win NBA Finals, +12/1 to win Eastern Finals)

The Bulls began the season looking like the team to beat in the Eastern Conference. They were the No. 1 seed for a long time, until the injury bug hit them extremely hard. Lonzo Ball and Alex Caruso’s injuries have decimated their backcourt and compromised their defense. 

Chicago has shown its chemistry when healthy already this season. When Ball and Caruso come back, they will have a full team of veterans to go up against the rest of the East.

Denver Nuggets (40/1 to win NBA Finals, +15/1 to win Western Finals)

My hope for the Nuggets to make a run is based on two things. First, the Western Conference is as wide open as ever and there aren’t four teams that I would legitimately put ahead of the Nuggets. Outside of the Suns and Warriors, I can see anybody beating anybody. 

Secondly, Jamal Murray may be on his way back towards the end of the season. If Nikola Jokic can get some help, the Nuggets instantly become one of the contenders again.