2019-2020 NBA Championship Odds - UPDATED

Evaluating updated NBA title odds

The following odds can be found on DraftKings (updated February 23, 2020):

  1. Bucks (+240)
  2. Lakers (+300)
  3. Clippers (+330)
  4. Rockets (+1200)
  5. 76ers (+1400)

Analysis

For the first time this season, the Bucks surged past the LA teams for the top spot on this list. Making the jump from +320 to +240, Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Bucks have simply been steamrolling their opponents and are on an historic pace in terms of average point differential per game (over +12, hovering around five points better than the next-best teams). The Lakers’ odds remain at +300, but the Clippers were slightly knocked down to +330 from +300. Both teams recently made some mid-season additions, so it’ll be interesting to see how these odds play out during the second half of the regular season. The Sixers’ odds dropped from +1200 to +1400, most likely due to their inability to perform on the road, while Houston’s full commitment to small-ball increased their odds from +1500 to +1200. However, continuing the trend throughout the year, the Bucks, Lakers and Clippers are recognized as the clear favorites, and rightfully so. While the Lakers and Clippers would have to get through each other, the Bucks seemingly have a much easier path to the Finals, despite the presence of teams like the 76ers, Celtics and Raptors. 

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Previous Odds

The following odds can be found on DraftKings (updated February 1st, 2020).

1. Clippers (+300) / Lakers (+300)

3. Bucks (+320)

4. 76ers (+1200)

5. Rockets (+1500)

Analysis

Since the start of the 2019-2020 NBA season, these five teams have remained in these positions. The Los Angeles Lakers and Los Angeles Clippers have remained the frontrunners, but it's worth nothing that the Milwaukee Bucks' odds dropped from +300 to +320 despite the fact that they possess the NBA's best record. Those three teams are the clear frontrunners as the moment. The Philadelphia 76ers have dealt with numerous injuries this year and are most likely still a piece away from truly contending while the Houston Rockets have made some noise with Russell Westbrook and James Harden taking n the brunt of the work. In all, expect the Clippers and Lakers to be the favorites moving forward, but it's worth mentioning that they have to get each other to even make it to the Finals. Therefore, a team like the Bucks have a much easier path coming out of the East.

Previous Odds

The following odds can be found on DraftKings (updated January 1st, 2020).

  1. Clippers +300
  2. Lakers +300
  3. Bucks +300
  4. 76ers +900
  5. Rockets +1200

Analysis

Comparing these odds to the start of December, the Los Angeles Lakers moved up (from +350), as did the Milwaukee Bucks (from +550), who enter the new year with the NBA's best record. With a three-way tie at the top with the aforementioned teams and the Los Angeles Clippers, these three teams are currently standing out at the top of the contenders, but this is still a wide-open race. The Philadelphia 76ers and Houston Rockets both saw slight dips in their odds (+700 and +800 respectively at the start of December). Barring any major injuries, expect all five teams to continue to be in the mix moving forward.

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David Jones, Flickr

Previous Odds

The following odds can be found on DraftKings (updated December 1st, 2019).

  1. Clippers (+300)
  2. Lakers (+350)
  3. Bucks (+550)
  4. 76ers (+700)
  5. Rockets (+800)

Analysis

These odds have remained the same for nearly a month and all five teams have flashed their sky-high upside. The Los Angeles Clippers look like they're going to be a beast to reckon with, as Paul George and Kawhi Leonard are the best two-way duo in the NBA while Montrezl Harrell and Lou Williams make up the deepest bench in the league. LeBron James looks reinvigorated alongside Anthony Davis and the duo has led the Los Angeles Lakers to the best start in the Western Conference. Giannis Antetokounmpo has led the Milwaukee Bucks to the best start in the Eastern Conference while the Philadelphia 76ers will be a formidable opponent in any matchup all season long. Further, James Harden and Russell Westbrook have the Houston Rockets clicking and have the ability to beat any team on any given night. While these five teams stand out above the rest, there are a number of contenders right below them that could be dangerous moving forward as well, as parity is at an all-time high across the Association.

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Wikimedia Commons

Previous Odds

The following odds can be found on DraftKings (updated November 19th, 2019).

  1. Clippers (+300)
  2. Lakers (+350)
  3. Bucks (+550)
  4. 76ers (+700)
  5. Rockets (+800)

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Analysis

The championship odds have remained exactly the same as last week, as both LA teams stand out above the field. Now that Paul George is back to pair with Kawhi Leonard (once he gets healthy), the Clippers will presumably boast the best defensive team in the NBA and are arguably the deepest team as well, since Lou Williams and Montrezl Harrell should do work on the second unit all season long. Meanwhile, any sign of aging that LeBron James showed last season seems to be gone, as the reinvigorated King has the Lakers clicking on all cylinders. Their big-man options (Anthony Davis, JaVale McGee, Dwight Howard) will create headaches for opposing teams all season long. The Bucks and 76ers continue to be considered the most dangerous Eastern Conference teams, but the Celtics have been on a roll and could see their name on this list next week. Meanwhile, James Harden, Russell Westbrook and the Rockets are still viewed as a threat and have a high upside since they're still adapting to playing alongside each other once again.

Previous Odds

The following odds can be found on DraftKings (updated November 13th, 2019).

  1. Clippers (+300)
  2. Lakers (+350)
  3. Bucks (+550)
  4. 76ers (+700)
  5. Rockets (+800)

Honorable Mentions: Nuggets (+1600), Jazz (+1600), Celtics (+2500), Raptors (+3500), Nets (+4000)

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Analysis

Oh, how the mighty have fallen! The Golden State Warriors entered the season without Kevin Durant, who they flipped for D'Angelo Russell. Fast forward a couple weeks and both Steph Curry (hand) and Draymond Green (finger) are dealing with injuries that will keep them sidelined for an indefinite amount of time. The lineups that Golden State has been trotting out have not resembled the dynasty and it seems like the league is as wide open as it's been over the past decade or so.

All five most-favorited teams maintained their positions. The Los Angeles Clippers, Los Angeles Lakers and Houston Rockets have gotten off to early hot starts in the Western Conference while the Milwaukee Bucks and Philadelphia 76ers are the clear frontrunners in the Eastern Conference. It will be fascinating to see if depth (Clippers, Lakers) or a pure star-centric roster (like the Rockets) will become more dangerous as the season rolls along. The Clippers are arguably the deepest team in the NBA.


Previous Odds

The following odds were found on DraftKings last week.

  1. Clippers (+350)
  2. Lakers (+440)
  3. Bucks (+625)
  4. 76ers (+700)
  5. Rockets (+900)

Honorable Mentions: Jazz (+1500), Nuggets (+2000), Celtics (+2500), Nets (+2500), Blazers (+4000), Raptors (+4000)

Analysis

Every NBA team had played two or three games through the first Sunday of the new season and there were only five teams with undefeated records. Think about that for a second. That’s crazy!

One of the major storylines heading into this season was the parity that was sure to exist. Although we could never begin to separate teams after just one week of play regardless, it’s pretty clear that there is talent across the entire league and that there will be very few “free square” styled games this year where elite teams could guarantee a victory. 

Based on the odds above, every team is a risky bet, but if you want to chase some upside, consider wagering on the Portland Trail Blazers (+4000). When Portland gets Jusuf Nurkic back from injury at some point, they’ll be able to rotate him and Hassan Whiteside at center while benefitting from one of the game’s best backcourts (Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum). They also have a plethora of talented ancillary pieces like Rodney Hood, Kent Bazemore, Zach Collins and Mario Hezonja to support their core. At these odds, it makes sense to take a shot on them.

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