NBA Western Conference Odds: Why the Warriors and Clippers Are Betting Favorites
- The defending NBA champion Golden State Warriors and the Los Angeles Clippers are +340 co-favorites to the win the 2022-23 NBA Western Conference title
- Golden State has won six of the past eight Western Conference crowns
- The Clippers have never won a conference championship
The Golden State Warriors are the champions of the NBA. The Los Angeles Clippers are champions of the preseason. Together, they are sharing equal billing as the teams to beat in the 2022-23 NBA Western Conference odds.
In NBA betting, oddsmakers have set the Warriors and Clippers as +340 co-favorites in the NBA Western Conference odds. Golden State owns six of the past eight NBA Western Conference titles. Only once have the Clippers even played in a Western Conference final. LA lost to the Phoenix Suns in the 2020-21 conference final.
2022-23 NBA Western Conference Odds
| Team | Odds |
|---|---|
| Golden State Warriors | +340 |
| Los Angeles Clippers | +340 |
| Phoenix Suns | +400 |
| Los Angeles Lakers | +600 |
| Denver Nuggets | +850 |
| Dallas Mavericks | +850 |
| Memphis Grizzlies | +850 |
| Minnesota Timberwolves | +2000 |
| New Orleans Pelicans | +2000 |
| Portland Trail Blazers | +4000 |
| Utah Jazz | +10000 |
| San Antonio Spurs | +40000 |
| Sacramento Kings | +40000 |
| Oklahoma City Thunder | +50000 |
| Houston Rockets | +100000 |
Odds as of July 25 at DraftKings Sportsbook. Claim this DraftKings Sportsbook promo code before betting.
At odds of +340, both the Clippers and Warriors are given an implied probability of victory of 22.73%. At a wager of $10, a successful conference win by the Clippers or Warriors would bring a payout of $44.
Phoenix is given +400 odds to win the West. The NBA odds show that next are the Los Angeles Lakers (+600), followed by the Memphis Grizzlies, Denver Nuggets and Dallas Mavericks, all at +850.
At the other end of the spectrum, bettors can access +40000 odds on the Sacramento Kings being NBA Western Conference champions. Sacramento hasn’t played in the NBA playoffs since 2005-06. There isn’t an active NBA player who’s appeared in a playoff game against the Kings.
The Warriors and Clippers are also the co-second betting choices in the NBA championship odds at +600.
Why Warriors and Clippers Are the Chalk
Golden State has won four of the past eight NBA Finals. The Warriors have won six of the past eight NBA Western Conference titles.
It’s hard to argue with that track record of success. Steph Curry isn’t slowing down, and Klay Thompson is looking more like himself after missing most of two seasons through injury. Andrew Wiggins is finally living up to the billing that once made him the top player chosen in the NBA Draft.
Steph's 2022 Finals can be summed up with one word:
ICONIC. pic.twitter.com/961fhBL3Bd
— Golden State Warriors (@warriors) July 24, 2022
The addition of guard John Wall to team up with Kawhi Leonard and Paul George is giving the Clippers three sensational all-stars to build their club around. On paper, it all makes sense.
If you’ve followed the Clippers at all, or bet on them to win it all in previous years, it will also sound like a familiar refrain. Not so long ago, it was the pairing or Leonard and George that was supposed to carry the Clippers to their first NBA Finals appearance.
It hasn’t happened yet.
NBA Western Conference Odds – Suns Are Learning Hard Lessons
Blowing a 2-0 lead to Milwaukee in the 2020-21 NBA Finals and falling in the second round last season to the Dallas Mavericks, the Phoenix Suns are growing familiar with heartache. That can work two ways for a team – it can break them, or embolden them with resolve.
Phoenix still has plenty of vital parts in place. Devin Booker, Deandre Ayton and Chris Paul are all still there. Put your money on the Suns.
Locked-in 😁 pic.twitter.com/12ABTv6Ygk
— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) July 19, 2022
Dallas minus Jalen Brunson won’t be as good and Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James is another year older. Can Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr. stay healthy and provide support for NBA MVP Nikola Jokic in Denver?
Don’t go with the Nuggets for a price. If it’s value you seek, turn to the Minnesota Timberwolves. The twin towers of Karl-Anthony Towns and Rudy Gobert provide the potential for dominance. Factor in D’Angelo Russell and Anthony Edwards and the T-Wolves offer intrigue.
Pick: Phoenix Suns +400
An industry veteran, Bob literally taught the course on the history of sports at Elder College. He has worked as a Sports Columnist for Postmedia, appeared as a guest on several radio stations, was the Vice President of the Society For International Hockey Research in Ontario, and written 25 books.
