Raptors Odds to Win NBA Championship Fade During Lousy Month of March

• The Raptors’ rough March has them fading in the latest NBA title odds
• Toronto is likely locked into the second seed in the East 
• Are the Raptors still worth a wager for the NBA Championship?

It was always going to be ultimate playoff success or bust for the Toronto Raptors.

But after an uneven March (they’re now just 7-6 with two games left to April), their 2019 NBA Championship Odds have skidded downwards, going from +970 on March 11th to +1100 on March 26th across a number of online sportsbooks.

Is this a sign to look elsewhere to wager when the postseason hits?

2019 NBA Championship Odds

*Odds taken on 03/26/19. 

Long Season Has Taken its Toll

Credit the Dinos for being able to hang at the top of the charts all season long, despite hardly ever playing at full strength for longer than a few games. Kawhi Leonard has been rested throughout the year, and will likely have missed more than 20 games.

https://twitter.com/TheRenderNBA/status/1107812262243385344

Fred VanVleet was dinged up enough that the Raptors nabbed Jeremy Lin in the buyout market. And more recently, Kyle Lowry has been fighting an ankle injury, although he did return against the Bulls on Tuesday.

Been wondering about this for a minute: Did the Raptors really improve in the Marc Gasol trade, and how so?https://t.co/7xEyMlWX9K

— William Lou (@william_lou) March 26, 2019

They’re still trying to figure out rotations after acquiring Marc Gasol at the deadline, yet this team in transition appears locked into the second seed.

https://twitter.com/TheRenderNBA/status/1109252287862587393

Part of that has been the rapid development of Pascal Siakam, who has carried them for long stretches during the season with his ability to get to the hoop, defend multiple positions, and provide the pulse for the Raptors, game in and game out.

#Raptors PF Pascal Siakam is most deserving of the Most Improved Player award, IMO. How many other 6'9 guys are averaging 17/7/3 on 55% FG (36% from 3) AND able to switch 1 through 5 on the perimeter+inside as a defender? The craziest thing is he's only been playing for 7 years!

— Gulftown Enthusiast (@CP_CSR) March 26, 2019

He’s averaging a shade under 17 points and seven rebounds a contest, upping his scoring average by nearly 10 points (7.3 a season ago).

He’s battling D’Angelo Russell for the NBA’s Most Improved Player Award.

Raptors Will Be Just Fine

While you might get an argument that the energy and effort wasn’t always there, Toronto has been in virtually every game they’ve played in March. Save for an ugly blowout loss to the Cavs, the Raps’ losses were all by single digits.

In their seven wins this month, Toronto has shot worse than 48.8% from the field just once.

Like most teams, the ability to make shots goes a long way in determining their success. In their seven wins this month, the team has shot worse than 48.8% from the field just once.

JEREMY LAMB HALF COURT BANK FOR THE WIN pic.twitter.com/mYJyYg9l1F

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) March 25, 2019

In their first two losses, they shot below 41.6%. However, in their last three losses, they’ve shot no worse than 47.6% from the field and 42.3% from three. Those are winning figures.

Russell Westbrook Triple-Double 2019.03.22 Thunder vs Raptors – 18-13-12… https://t.co/Lb09WwC9YM @YouTube

— Γ.sαcΩ (@RyoRyo719) March 24, 2019

But hey, Hail Mary heaves and Russ Westbrook burning you down is nothing to be ashamed about.

What’s the Best Wager to Make?

Regardless of March, this team is in a fatal four-way with the other power brokers in the East. You could literally make the case for each of Boston, Philly, Milwaukee, or Toronto getting to the Finals.

If Toronto Raptors don’t choke and come out the East then we might have a finals , other than tht everybody else lunch for golden state

— € (@SWIFTY___) March 27, 2019

Here’s what Toronto has going for it: the second best player in the conference in Leonard (27.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, 3.3 assists on 49.8% from the field and 37.7% from deep), the bones of a team that has been there before, a good group of veterans and youth, and a team that ranks in the top 10 in points, blocks, steals, field goal, and three point and free throw percentage.

Kawhi Leonard SMIRKS before hitting the fadeaway over Paul George! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/k55uhXKBwT

— Basketball Forever (@bballforever_) March 21, 2019

While most have Golden State as a lock to three-peat, Toronto is one of the few teams with the lineup to compete with the champs. Getting there will be the issue. If you believe they can topple Milwaukee, this is a good bet to make.