2018 NBA Championship Odds: Rockets a Real Threat?
- The Houston Rockets occupy the top spot in the Western Conference.
- Should they be the favorites to win the 2018 NBA Championship?
- Compare the odds of the top teams in the West.
As we anxiously await the NBA regular season to pick back up on Thursday (February 22nd), now is a great time to reflect on the league with a broader lens. (But honestly, I’ll talk about just about anything that will help erase the thoughts of Kevin Hart and Fergie from the NBA All-Star Game.) The Houston Rockets rolled into the All-Star break having won ten in a row, and overtook the Golden State Warriors for the top spot in the Western Conference.
How have online betting sites responded with their odds to win the 2018 NBA Championship? Are the Rockets a real threat to the Warriors in the West? Is there any value with either team?
Warriors Remain 2018 NBA Championship Favorites
Although the Warriors have lost four of their last eight, and gave up their standing atop the West for the first time since December 26th, the defending NBA champs remain heavily-favored to repeat. However, this is the longest their average odds to win the 2018 NBA Championship have been since December 13, when they were -175.
When the lights come on, you’ll see the same Golden State team who nearly ran through the playoffs undefeated last year.
As a bettor you should be thrilled with this movement resulting from ugly losses to the Jazz (129-99), Nuggets (115-108), Thunder (125-105), and Blazers (123-117) over the last couple of weeks. The Warriors are an experienced team who understands the regular season doesn’t mean much to them. When the lights come on, you’ll see the same Golden State team who nearly ran through the playoffs undefeated last year.
If you are looking to bet the Warriors, this is likely the most value you’ll find the rest of the season.
Do the Rockets Present Value in the West?
With their 116-108 victory over the Warriors on January 20th, the Rockets won the season series, 2-1. That feat combined with breezing through their last ten games has Houston’s average odds to win the 2018 NBA Championship at +440, the shortest they have been all season. Is there any value left in taking them to upset the Warriors in the playoffs?
Mark me down for no. If you got in on the Rockets back on January 30th, when their average odds were +700, you’re laughing right now. Houston is the one team in the league who can go toe-to-toe on the offensive end with Golden State. But I don’t believe any team in the league can come out on top in that kind of fight.
If you do want to bet the Rockets to win the 2018 NBA Championship, your best bet is to wait a little.
If you do want to bet the Rockets to win the 2018 NBA Championship, your best bet is to wait a little. Unless, of course, you’re happy with the +450 odds found. Houston has a pretty tough schedule out of the All-Star break, seeing the T-Wolves, Celtics, Thunder, Raptors, and Spurs all before March 13th.
The Celtics will benefit from the time off, being able to refocus the group and get back to playing defense. The game against the Raptors comes in Toronto, which has been the toughest place to play this season – Toronto is 24-4 at home. The other three are the next best in the West, and will be hungry to prove themselves. It’s likely Houston drops a couple of these games, which should add a little more value to their championship odds.
Is There Any Value in the West?
Your best value in the West right now lies with the San Antonio Spurs, whose average odds to win the 2018 NBA Championship are at +2900. And you can find San Antonio as long as +3500.
Yeah, the uncertainty surrounding Kawhi Leonard’s return is a little concerning, but it’s worth the risk at this price. Even without Leonard, Gregg Popovich has once again proven his genius, as his band of castoffs and misfits are still third in the West.
As long as Leonard returns, Popovich is the league’s best chance of stopping the Warriors.
After working in TV, Matt turned his focus towards numbers, specifically odds. He has been with us since 2016 and serves as SBD's Editor-in-Chief, credited with creating our futures trackers, SBD's score predictor, SBD Sharp, and his own model for calculating NFL SOS, among other products.
