The NBA rolled into 2018 with a few things to watch. A two-time MVP returned to the court after an injury, but then lost this season’s early favorite for the award with another injury. While Steph Curry returned to fuel the Golden State Warriors run, James Harden is now out for a couple of weeks. That may hurt the Houston Rockets case for the No. 1 seed in the West. In the East, the Cleveland Cavaliers finally saw their point guard make his debut as Isaiah Thomas is finally back. He should have a big impact on a team that has lost four of their last five games – including a loss to the Boston Celtics, the team the Cavs are trying to catch for the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference.
1. Golden State Warriors
NBA Title Odds: -250
The Warriors (30-8) lost at home to Charlotte, then beat Memphis at home and Dallas on the road. They’ll head to Houston and to visit the Los Angeles Clippers next, and then it is home for Denver and the Clippers. Stephen Curry return from an ankle injury against Memphis and scored 38 points, then scored 32 points in the win in Dallas, including the game-winning three-pointer. The two-time MVP is still the straw the stirs the Warriors’ drink.
2. Cleveland Cavaliers
NBA Title Odds: +500
The Cavaliers (25-13) lost in Utah, won at home over Portland and lost in Boston to kick off a five-game road trip that will take them to Orlando and Minnesota next. Isaiah Thomas made his debut for the Cavaliers against Portland and scored 17 points, but the Cavaliers have lost their last five games on the road and that has to change. This is the perfect chance for LeBron James to take the reins in the MVP race.
3. Houston Rockets
NBA Title Odds: +600
The Rockets (27-9) lost in Boston and Washington, then won at home over the Los Angeles Lakers in double overtime and in Orlando. They’ll host Golden State next, then head on the road to visit Detroit and Chicago and then it is back home for Portland. James Harden hurt his hamstring in the win over the Lakers and is out for at least two weeks, and now the Rockets will depend on Chris Paul to lead the way with MVP favorite Harden on the sidelines. That means Paul has to stay healthy as well.
4. Boston Celtics
NBA Title Odds: +1500
The Celtics (31-10) won at home over Houston, Brooklyn and Cleveland last week and will stay home to host Minnesota before heading to Brooklyn. After being a little sloppy, the Celtics locked down on defense and held three of their last four opponents under 100 points; they won all three games. That is how the Celtics are going to be successful, not by playing up-and-down basketball with 115-120 point games.
5. San Antonio Spurs
NBA Title Odds: +1500
The Spurs (26-13) won at home over the Knicks, then in New York as well, but they lost in Detroit and Philadelphia. The Spurs will host Phoenix this week, then travel to Portland and Sacramento. Kawhi Leonard is still being worked slowly into the lineup after returning from injury, but LaMarcus Aldridge is still playing very well, averaging 22.9 points and 9.0 rebounds in his last five games. The Spurs just keep on being the Spurs and that will always make them a threat in the Western Conference.
6. Oklahoma City Thunder
NBA Title Odds: +1800
The Thunder (21-17) lost at home to Milwaukee and Dallas, then went on the road and beat the Lakers. They’ll visit the Clippers next, along with Phoenix, and then host Portland before heading to Minnesota. Russell Westbrook has put up 31.8 points, 11.2 assists and 9.8 rebounds, and more impressively, he has shot 52.8% from the field, taking fewer three-pointers. A more efficient Westbrook opens everything up for the rest of the Thunder, who still have a lot of work to do to reach the upper echelon in the Western Conference. Still, they have done a lot over the last few weeks.
7. Toronto Raptors
NBA Title Odds: +4000
The Raptors (26-10) beat Atlanta and Milwaukee (in overtime) at home, and then won in Chicago, then they’ll visit Milwaukee and Brooklyn before returning home to host Miami. DeMar DeRozan has been playing like an MVP candidate, averaging 27.0 points while shooting 46.2% from three-point land, and he set a Toronto franchise record with 52 points in the win over Milwaukee. It would take a monster season for DeRozan to overtake the likes of Harden, James and Curry (along with a few others) in the MVP race, but to see him improve so much in his ninth NBA season is very encouraging to Raptors fans.
8. Washington Wizards
NBA Title Odds: +4000
The Wizards (22-16) beat Houston, Chicago and New York, all at home, and then they’ll head to Memphis before returning home to host Milwaukee and Utah. This is a crucial stretch for the Wizards, who play eight of their next nine games at home, where they are 13-6 so far this season. The Wizards are trying to catch up with Boston, Cleveland and now Toronto, and they can really make up some ground on them by playing well during this stretch. At the very least, they can stay in the running.
9. Minnesota Timberwolves
NBA Title Odds: +10000
The Timberwolves (24-15) lost in Milwaukee and Brooklyn last week, but they won in Indiana and beat the Lakers at home. They’ll head to Boston next, and then it is back home to begin a five-game homestand, starting with New Orleans, Cleveland and Oklahoma City. Jimmy Butler continues to light it up for the Timberwolves, averaging 28.6 points and 6.0 assists over his last five games.
10. Milwaukee Bucks
NBA Title Odds: +10000
The Bucks 20-16) won at home over Minnesota and Indiana, and they also won in Oklahoma City, but they lost in Toronto in overtime. Giannis Antetokounmpo still has his hat in the MVP ring even though his team has fallen back a bit, and he has averaged 26.0 points, 9.6 rebounds and 5.0 assists over his last five games. However, the Bucks are only going to go as far as his supporting cast does, and they’re still a bit inconsistent, albeit talented.
The 2017-18 NBA is well underway. It’s been a wild offseason already, but keep an eye on the betting lines as they move around at Diamond Sportsbook! Get the latest NBA betting lines right here.
