NBA Playoff and Offseason Odds – Something Gold(en) Can Stay

The historic regular season of the Golden State Warriors is nearly in the books. Now it’s time for the postseason, where 16 teams get to start fresh with a 0-0 record. All teams are on equal ground, in theory, but the odds have a trio of heavy favorite and only give a few others a puncher’s chance. (Surprisingly, Blake Griffin’s Clippers aren’t one of them!)

In the West, it will be disappointing if the highly anticipated conference final between the Warriors and Spurs doesn’t materialize. However, the Thunder would be sure to provide plenty of entertaining basketball if they disrupt the showdown.

In the East, it’s Cleveland versus the world. The Cavs have looked vulnerable throughout the season but own a significant talent advantage over the rest of the field.

From the first technical foul to the crowning of the 2016 champion, I set the the odds for the (hopefully) exciting postseason that lies ahead. I also dabble in some of the biggest offseason stories that lay in wait, like where KD and LBJ will be suiting up next year. But you’ll have to do some scrolling if you want to know more!

2016 NBA Playoff Odds

Odds to win the 2016 NBA Title:

Golden State Warriors: 13/12

San Antonio Spurs: 4/1

Cleveland Cavaliers: 9/1

Oklahoma City Thunder: 16/1

Atlanta Hawks: 32/1

Toronto Raptors: 32/1

Boston Celtics: 50/1

Los Angeles Clippers: 50/1

Charlotte Hornets: 100/1

Detroit Pistons: 100/1

Indiana Pacers: 100/1

Miami Heat: 100/1

Portland Trailblazers: 150/1

Dallas Mavericks: 200/1

Houston Rockets: 200/1

Memphis Grizzlies: 200/1

Odds to win each first-round series in the 2016 NBA playoffs: (odds updated April 14th, now that the matchups are finalized)

Golden State Warriors: 1/49
Houston Rockets: 49/1

San Antonio Spurs: 1/49
Memphis Grizzlies: 49/1

Oklahoma City Thunder: 1/24
Dallas Mavericks: 24/1

Los Angeles Clippers: 1/3
Portland Trailblazers: 3/1

Cleveland Cavaliers: 1/4
Detroit Pistons: 4/1

Toronto Raptors: 7/13
Indiana Pacers: 13/7

Celtics 13/10
Hawks 10/13

Hornets 8/5
Heat 5/8

 

Odds of recording the most triple-doubles in the 2016 NBA playoffs:

Russell Westbrook: 3/2

Draymond Green: 2/1

LeBron James: 7/2

FIELD: 20/1

Over/under on the number of 40-point games for Steph Curry in the 2016 NBA playoffs:

3 O/U

Over/under on the number of first-round upsets (lower seed beating higher seed) in the 2016 NBA playoffs:

1.5 O/U

The Heat have been so … uhh … hot that it would barely be an upset to see them oust the Hawks. Although Atlanta also closed the year 7-3. 

Over/under on the number of first-round sweeps in the 2016 NBA playoffs:

2 O/U

I’m looking at you, Houston and Memphis!

Odds to lead the league in scoring (PPG) during the 2016 NBA playoffs:

Steph Curry: 4/1

James Harden: 4/1

Kevin Durant: 11/2

LeBron James: 7/1

Damian Lillard: 9/1

DeMar DeRozan: 12/1

Russell Westbrook: 16/1

Paul George: 18/1

FIELD: 50/1

Curry will have to keep his average high for four series, in all likelihood. Harden just just needs to pour it in for four games before his Rockets get bounced. 

Odds to win the 2016 NBA Finals MVP:

Steph Curry: 9/5

Kawhi Leonard: 6/1

LeBron James: 10/1

Draymond Green: 13/1

Kevin Durant: 32/1

Russell Westbrook: 32/1

FIELD: 3/1

Over/under on the number of games the Cavaliers will lose in the 2016 Eastern Conference playoffs:

5.5 O/U

Over/under on the number of games the Warriors will lose in the 2016 NBA playoffs:

5 O/U

Odds the Spurs and Warriors will meet in the 2016 Western Conference finals: 

2/3

If Cleveland is eliminated from the 2016 NBA playoffs, odds LeBron James removes his Cavaliers jersey before entering the locker room:

7/2

Over/under on number of players who will be fined for flopping in the 2016 NBA playoffs:

0.5 O/U

Odds to receive the first technical foul in the 2016 NBA playoffs (coaches):

Gregg Popovich: 4/1

Frank Vogel: 6/1

Doc Rivers: 13/2

Dwane Casey: 9/1

Rick Carlisle: 10/1

FIELD: 7/3

2016 NBA Offseason Odds

Odds the NBA will relocate the 2017 All-Star Game from Charlotte because of North Carolina’s controversial LBGT law: 

9/2

Odds LeBron James will opt out of his deal with the Cavaliers and sign with another team this offseason: 

5/1

Odds on which team signs Kevin Durant this offseason:

Oklahoma City Thunder: 1/1

Los Angeles Lakers: 9/1

Houston Rockets: 11/1

New York Knicks: 12/1

Washington Wizards: 24/1

FIELD: 5/1

Odds to be the next coach of the Knicks:

Kurt Rambis: 3/2

David Blatt: 6/1

Luke Walton: 10/1

Tom Thibodeau: 12/1

Phil Jackson: 16/1

Mark Jackson: 33/1

Brian Shaw: 33/1

FIELD: 5/1

Over/under on number of coaches who will be fired this offseason: 

4 O/U

Odds to win the 2015-16 NBA Rookie of the Year:

Karl-Anthony Towns 2/7

FIELD: 7/2

Odds to win the 2015-16 NBA MVP:

Stephen Curry 1/5

FIELD: 5/1

Odds the following coaches are in the NBA at start of the 2016-17 season:

Tyronn Lue: 1/2

Kurt Rambis: 3/2

David Blatt: 5/1

Byron Scott: 5/1

Tom Thibodeau: 6/1

Luke Walton: 6/1

George Karl: 8/1

Jay Wright: 10/1

John Calipari: 12/1

Randy Wittman: 15/1

Mark Jackson: 20/1

Scott Brooks: 20/1

Jeff Van Gundy: 25/1

Mike Krzyzewski: 50/1

(Featured photo: Amin Eshaiker [CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0).)