Warriors NBA Championship Odds Improve After Flexing Muscles Against Nuggets
- The Warriors are tuning up for an NBA Championship three-peat
- Golden State hammered Denver to lock up top seed in the Western Conference
- Can anyone in the West challenge the Warriors in the postseason?
As has become customary in recent years, the Golden State Warriors rarely come out to play for real in the NBA regular season.
But when they do, like they did Tuesday night against the upstart Denver Nuggets, they leave no doubt who the champs are, and what it’s going to take to knock them off the top shelf.
#DubNation secures the #1 seed !! #NBA #Playoffs @warriors !!
— Carey (@careykaska) April 3, 2019
On the strength of that W, the Warriors’ average NBA Championship odds improved from -210 on March 26th to -250 on April 3rd across a number of top online sportsbooks. Is there any sense on wagering on anyone else, or is it smart to bet on the team lapping the field in our 2019 NBA Championship odds?
2019 NBA Championship Odds
| Team | 2019 NBA Championship Odds |
|---|---|
| Golden State Warriors | -250 |
| Milwaukee Bucks | +800 |
| Houston Rockets | +1000 |
| Toronto Raptors | +1200 |
| Boston Celtics | +1200 |
| Philadelphia 76ers | +1600 |
*Odds taken on 04/04/19.
Warriors Are the Overwhelming Favorites
Throughout much of the year, Golden State has been equal parts dominant and alarmingly awful, because most nights they leave it up to their talent to get them through the grind of 82 games.
The Warriors seem offended that the Nuggets are just one game back.pic.twitter.com/y2wSmjl2NW
— Sporting News (@sportingnews) April 3, 2019
It’s not exactly a bad formula: they sit at the top of the charts in almost every statistical category. They’re second in points per game, first in field goal percentage, third in three point percentage, first in assists, and second in point differential.
Watch Steph Curry’s body language here. He makes it seem like he’s just chilling and not in the play and then boom — he sprints off some screens and hits the 3 pic.twitter.com/7cbJlgggHX
— Drew Shiller (@DrewShiller) April 3, 2019
Which makes it odd to see that a team with such dominant, championship-caliber numbers and easily the best top-end talent in the NBA has just 53 wins on the season.
The Warriors have suffered eight losses this season by 20 points or more.
Add to that how they’ve lost. The Warriors have suffered eight losses this season by 20 points or more. That’s not one bad night here or there, that’s mailing in a tenth of your games on the year.
Game highlights from yesterdays game vs the Nuggets. They said Nuggets would be great competition. Shut that noise down. When we want to play we play you into the ground. #warriorsgound #dubnation https://t.co/gTkJowW6z3
— The Golden Warriors (@GldnFranchise) April 3, 2019
But we’re a few weeks away from seeing if they can flip that switch on, again. Like they showed against the Nuggets in a battle for pole position in the West, if they’re engaged, there’s not much standing in the way of them.
Can Anyone Stop Golden State?
Barring injury, the best opposing teams can give themselves is a puncher’s chance – assuming they are playing at the peak of their powers as well.
There are two teams that stand out. If things stay the course as they are now, Round 1 would be a date with the OKC Thunder.
“You’ve got to be kidding me. The only time this has been done in this era… This was way bigger than basketball.” ??@PRandleIII after @russwest44 drops 20-20-20 stat line for #NipseyHussle in an @okcthunder W ?#NBATwitter
pic.twitter.com/wGCky27aa1— Droppin’ Dimes (@Droppin_Dimes1) April 3, 2019
Once a top-four seed in the conference, the Thunder have suffered since Paul George injured his shoulder. Even with Russell Westbrook playing fiery as hell, they’ll need George to revert back to that midseason MVP form to have a chance.
James Harden with the EPIC Game Winner vs. the Warriors in OT. #Rockets pic.twitter.com/xuBfG5iBLe
— Dylan (@DylansRawTake) January 4, 2019
The other opponent is the Houston Rockets, but it’s more of a case of too much talent likely winning out vs the most talented scorer in basketball right now in James Harden.
Eric Gordon, PJ Tucker and Danuel House have combined to shoot 43.4% on 3s since the start of March.
Rockets also had the third best defensive rating in the month of March.
If they play like this in the NBA Playoffs, they’re beating the Warriors.
— Matt Hammond (@MattHammondShow) April 3, 2019
As much as the Rockets have rebounded from a rocky start to the year, I believe their psyche is still fragile in a seven-game set against the champs. You just don’t shake 0-for-27 from three-point range in a Game 7 loss at home at the snap of a finger.
What’s the Best Bet?
The Raptors and the 76ers have the rosters to compete with the Dubs when they come out of the West and into the Finals, but let’s not overthink this. Golden State is going to mash their way to a three-peat, and there’s really not much anyone can do about it.
Pick: Golden State Warriors (-220)
Having worked in and around sports since 1997, Eric is truly a knowledgeable expert. The two-time journalism grad specializes in all things NBA and NFL. From TSN.ca to CTV's Olympic Broadcast Consortium, Eric's work has appeared in local and national publications alike.
