It seems as though just when the experts think they have a handle on what to expect from all 30 NBA teams during the regular season, something dramatic happens that totally changes the perception. It wasn’t long ago that the Detroit Pistons were left for dead. But, scroll down this list and suddenly they are knocking on the door of the top 10. Meanwhile, the Atlanta Hawks shocked the world by knocking off the Memphis Grizzlies, Portland Trail Blazers and Los Angeles Clippers all in the same week and they are suddenly being talked about as the team to beat in the Eastern Conference.
Here is a look at the updated NBA power rankings with the futures odds to win the NBA Championship listed below each team.
1. Golden State Warriors
Championship Odds: +500
The Warriors have won eight straight to climb back atop the NBA standings with a 2.5-game cushion above Portland for the league’s best record. Stephen Curry is playing at an MVP level, Klay Thompson has been excellent, and Andrew Bogut is back as Golden State recently became the first team since the 1995-96 Chicago Bulls to sweep a six-game homestand with an average winning margin of 20+ points.
2. Chicago Bulls
Championship Odds: +550
It’s easy to anoint the Bulls future champions when Pau Gasol is putting up 46 points and 18 boards against the Milwaukee Bucks but Chicago has lost four of its last five games to fall to fourth in the Eastern Conference. They have to find a level of consistency or they are bound to fall down this list. Gasol, Derrick Rose, Jimmy Butler, and Joakim Noah make up arguably the best core group in the East. As long as Rose and company stay healthy, they will likely remain the NBA title favorites in the East.
3. San Antonio Spurs
Championship Odds: +650
San Antonio has won five of its last seven, and while they haven’t looked like a title contender throughout the year, it is hard to argue against their recent history. Gregg Popovich has done a very good job to keep his veteran starters rested. Though this will mark the first time since 2009-10 that the Spurs have lost more than 15 games before the All-Star break, it could be a blessing in disguise if they can just find a way in to the postseason with a healthy roster. San Antonio isn’t likely to lock up a top-four seed and home advantage for the playoffs, but the defending champs are very capable of navigating its way through the Western Conference regardless of where it gets in.
4. Cleveland Cavaliers
Championship Odds: +700
The sexy pick to win it all when LeBron James announced his return to Cleveland has found itself in even more turmoil with players reportedly speaking out to media sources about how they don’t want to play for head coach David Blatt. General Manager David Griffin reiterated his support for Blatt a couple of weeks ago but that’s often the kiss of death. Cleveland has lost six in a row and nine of its last 10 games to fall to sixth in the conference. While Vegas doesn’t want to downgrade their odds to win it all just yet, it is clear they have a lot of work to do if they are going to turn things around and contend for an NBA title.
5. Dallas Mavericks
Championship Odds: +800
The Mavericks have won seven of their last 10 but they haven’t gained any real ground on the teams in front of them. The Western Conference playoff picture is loaded. A big problem is that Dallas is just 1-8 against the other teams that are currently holding down a playoff position in the West although it is worth mentioning that six of those eight losses came on the road.
6. Oklahoma City Thunder
Championship Odds: +900
Oklahoma City is 5-5 over its last 10 games. Suddenly, the expectation that they would close the gap and leapfrog one of the current top-eight teams for a playoff spot seems like a little more difficult than originally thought. The Thunder will need to win at least three of every four games they play the rest of the way just to get in as the No. 8 seed but that number could be even higher based on the fact that the Phoenix Suns continue to match what they do. The perception still exists that if Oklahoma City can get in, they will have a shot to win an NBA title.
7. Atlanta Hawks
Championship Odds: +1000
No team has been more impressive over the past couple of months than this Hawks team that hasn’t lost a game since Dec. 26. Atlanta has won 10 straight to take over top spot in the Eastern Conference standings. Their strength of schedule hasn’t been that impressive, but it’s hard to argue against a team that beat the Clippers, Grizzlies, and Trail Blazers all in the same week. The Hawks have a league-leading 13 wins over teams with a .500 record or better this season.
8. Los Angeles Clippers
Championship Odds: +1200
Consistency has also been an issue for a Clippers team that routed Dallas on Saturday and then got beat up by Miami on Sunday. There is no denying that Los Angeles has the talent to make some noise in the Western Conference but their inconsistent play has cost them valuable position in the standings and a shot at home advantage for at least the opening playoff round. Doc Rivers has to make sure his team does a better job of bringing it every night.
T-9. Portland Trail Blazers
Championship Odds: +1600
Portland has kept the pressure on Golden State at the top of the Western Conference standings but, unlike some of the other teams on this list, they have done an excellent job securing wins against lesser teams while struggling at times against the true contenders. The Trail Blazers have a league-high 21 wins against teams with a record below .500 but they have to do a better job against the teams above them on this list, including the same Clippers team they lost to on Wednesday night. Damian Lillard and LaMarcus Aldridge is one of the best 1-2 tandems in the NBA but Portland is another team that would benefit from a chance to add some veteran depth before the playoffs.
T-9. Houston Rockets
Championship Odds: +1600
The fact that Houston is so low on this list is testament to that the people making the odds still don’t believe they have what it takes to win in the postseason. James Harden has played at an MVP level and general manager Daryl Morey has done everything in his power to shore up the club’s depth, but ultimately it will be on players like Dwight Howard to step up and prove they have what it takes to help the Rockets navigate through a rocky Western Conference playoff road. Harden remains the key superstar on this team but questions remain about his supporting cast.
T-9. Toronto Raptors
Championship Odds: +1600
The Raptors welcomed back DeMar DeRozan with open arms and he helped them carve out a much-needed win over the Philadelphia 76ers. That was just their second in their last seven games but their recent struggles are an indication this team isn’t ready to contend just yet. Dwane Casey has done an excellent job as head coach and Toronto has been very consistent for most of the year, but they still need to address a lack of depth that was exposed over the last week or so with DeRozan out.
T-9. Memphis Grizzlies
Championship Odds: +1600
Memphis made a play to go all-in with the trade for Jeff Green and he should be the perfect fit as the scoring threat from the wing that they so desperately need. Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph is undoubtedly the best big man combo in the NBA and the addition of an athletic wing that could really help at the offensive end of the floor should help open up more room down low. Mike Conley and Tony Allen should also benefit from Green’s presence but whether or not they have enough weapons now to contend in a loaded Western Conference is a question that will take time to be answered.
13. Washington Wizards +2,200
14. Detroit Pistons +5,000
T-15. New Orleans Pelicans +10,000
T-15. Phoenix Suns +10,000
