It’s been a bit of a bizarre week for the two favorites to win the NBA Championship. The Golden State Warriors had an uncharacteristic home loss to the Detroit Pistons where they blew a 14-point second half lead. And then there’s the Cleveland Cavaliers, who are still the favorite in the East, but are mired in a huge slump. The Cavs have lost four straight and five of six. What’s worse is that they’ve been huge favorites in some of these games, including laying 10 or more in each of their last two. They’re not just losing; they are getting blown out. They’ve lost by 17 or more in four of their five losses. Still, the odds makers have faith. That’s because it’s still early this NBA season.
1. Golden State Warriors
Last Week: 1
NBA Title Odds: -200
The Warriors (5-3) won at home over Washington and beat the Los Angeles Clippers on the road, but they lost at home to Detroit. They’ll stay on the road on Thursday in San Antonio and Denver, and return home to host Miami and Minnesota. The Warriors are continuing to play at a blistering pace as they’re sixth in the league in possessions, and they’re first in the NBA in points scored per game, but third-worst in points allowed per game. Once the Warriors dial in their defense, they’ll look like the runaway favorites that they are.
2. Cleveland Cavaliers
Last Week: 2
NBA Title Odds: +400
The Cavaliers (3-5) lost in New Orleans, and at home to New York and Indiana, and next, they’ll visit Washington before returning home to host Atlanta and Milwaukee. It is still very early in the season and they still have LeBron James. but the Cavaliers have to figure out their defense as they rank 26th in points allowed. That would be worse if they played at a faster pace, and it is something to keep an eye on going forward. Still, they have James, and that makes them the team to beat in the Eastern Conference.
3. San Antonio Spurs
Last Week: 3
NBA Title Odds: +1200
The Spurs (4-3) lost in Orlando, Indiana and Boston, but they’re back home to host Golden State, Charlotte, Phoenix and the Clippers. The Spurs are still trying to hang in there until Kawhi Leonard returns from a quadriceps injury, and the word is that he’ll be back sometime this month. Until then, the Spurs will continue to play at a slow pace and try to grind out teams with a defense that is fifth in points allowed.
4. Oklahoma City Thunder
Last Week: 4
NBA Title Odds: +1200
The Thunder (4-3) lost in Minnesota, then they won in Chicago and Milwaukee. They’ll host Boston before heading back out on the road to visit Portland and Sacramento. The Thunder are still working out the kinks with their three stars offensively, but they’re third in the league in points allowed, which is very encouraging. The combination of Russell Westbrook, Paul George and Andre Roberson can smother teams on the perimeter.
5. Houston Rockets
Last Week: 5
NBA Title Odds: +1400
The Rockets (6-3) won in Charlotte and New York, and they also lost in Memphis and at home to Philadelphia. They’ll head to Atlanta next, and then it is home to host Utah and Cleveland. Houston, who are still without Chris Paul, used to be one of the best three-point shooting teams in the NBA, and now they’re 27th in the league. They have been playing better defense, however, ranking 10th in points allowed, and James Harden is still James Harden.
6. Boston Celtics
Last Week: 6
NBA Title Odds: +3000
The Celtics (6-2) won in Milwaukee and Miami, and also at home over San Antonio and Sacramento/ The Celtics will travel to Oklahoma City, Orlando and Atlanta, and then it is back home to host the Los Angeles Lakers. Boston has allowed the fewest points in the league, and they have really come together as a team since the season-ending injury to Gordon Hayward.
7. Washington Wizards
Last Week: 7
NBA Title Odds: +3500
The Wizards (4-3) lost in Golden State and at home to Phoenix, but they won in Sacramento. This week, the Wizards will host Cleveland and Dallas, and they’ll head on the road to visit Toronto. The Wizards are fourth in the league in points scored, with both Bradley Beal and John Wall ranking in the top 25 in points. However, the Wizards are 21st in points allowed and they just need to be a little better on that end of the floor to be a real contender in the Eastern Conference.
8. Los Angeles Clippers
Last Week: —
NBA Title Odds: +5000
The Clippers (5-2) are new to the power rankings despite losing at home to Detroit and Golden State, but they did beat Dallas, also at home. They’ll stay home to host Memphis and Miami, and then head on the road to visit San Antonio. The Clippers are balanced, ranking seventh in points scored and points allowed, while Blake Griffin is flourishing with 22.9 points, 8.1 rebounds and 4.7 assists. Running the offense through Griffin seems to be a smart move for the Clippers.
9. Minnesota Timberwolves
Last Week: 8
NBA Title Odds: +5000
The Timberwolves (5-3) won at home over Oklahoma City, and then on the road in Miami in overtime and in New Orleans. This week, the Timberwolves will host Dallas and Charlotte before travelling to Golden State. Minnesota is getting slightly better defensively, ranking 27th in points allowed, but they should be much better on that end of the floor, and they should be by the new year. Karl-Anthony Towns and Andrew Wiggins are scoring, but they have to take the lead at the defensive end.
10. Milwaukee Bucks
Last Week: 9
NBA Title Odds: +6500
The Bucks (4-4) lost at home to Boston and Oklahoma City and in Charlotte, but they won in Atlanta. This week, they’ll travel to Detroit and Cleveland. Giannis Antetokounmpo is still dominating the league with 31.3 points, 10.6 rebounds and 5.3 assists, but the Bucks seem to be one piece away from being a really serious contender in the Eastern Conference. They’re waiting on Jabari Parker to return, but that won’t be until at least January or February, and coming off his second ACL injury, how good will he be? Still, the Bucks, with Antetopkounmpo, are really fun to watch.
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.
