The 20-4 record that the Cleveland Cavaliers have posted over their last 24 games has been nothing short of impressive. The fact that they are still 10.5 games back of the Atlanta Hawks for top spot in the Eastern Conference doesn’t seem to matter much in the sportsbooks where they are listed as the favorites to win it all for the third straight week.
1. Cleveland Cavaliers
This Week: +220 NBA title odds
One night after blowing away the Boston Celtics by 31 points, the Cavaliers looked as if they had just had a week off as they dominated down the stretch of a 120-112 win over the Toronto Raptors in a potential second round playoff preview. LeBron James has pushed his averages to 26.3 points and 7.3 assists per game for the season and as long as he is healthy and playing at an MVP level, there isn’t any reason to think Cleveland will be moved from this spot.
2. Golden State Warriors
This Week: +375
Despite LeBron’s dominance, the overall team numbers are proof that Golden State is still the NBA’s most dangerous team and if their 47 wins out of a much deeper Western Conference isn’t enough, then consider they rank near the top of the league in both offensive and defensive efficiency, they have a higher points and assists per game than any other team and that they could have home court advantage throughout the playoffs. The Warriors didn’t get the job done in a 110-99 loss to Cleveland last week and that’s part of what’s keeping them second in line.
3. Oklahoma City Thunder
This Week: +700
The fastest rising team on this list remained third overall for the second consecutive week but they did lose a little ground in terms of their overall odds moving from +550 to +700. Of course, none of that has to do with Russell Westbrook and the Beast Mode performance he has put on while recording four straight triple-doubles. Westbrook has emerged as a legitimate franchise player and don’t forget that has allowed Kevin Durant to take some time to deal with nagging injuries to prepare for the postseason. Oklahoma City’s recent play has made a lot of people forget that they are still just a game above the New Orleans Pelicans for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference.
4. Atlanta Hawks
This Week: +800
It’s a little surprising that an Atlanta team that has won five straight and owns the best record in the NBA would see a small dip in their NBA futures odd, but that has a lot more to do with the Cavaliers recent dominance than anything else. The Hawks have the potential to carve through the East but they won’t get the benefit of the doubt over Cleveland until it actually happens.
T-5. Memphis Grizzlies
This Week: +900
One team that doesn’t seem to be getting nearly enough respect is Memphis. Only Atlanta and Golden State have better records than the Grizzlies and when you consider how dominant they have been since adding Jeff Green and the fact that they could have home court advantage for at least the opening two rounds of the playoffs, it’s clear that they will be a force out of the Western Conference.
T-5. San Antonio Spurs
This Week: +900
Just when it seemed as though the bubble had finally burst for Gregg Popovich and the Spurs, they rattled off three straight wins to maintain their 4.5-game lead ahead of ninth and proved they aren’t done just yet. The tough task for Popovich all season has been to win enough games to get in while at the same time, avoid giving veteran players like Tim Duncan and Tony Parker too heavy of a workload. San Antonio doesn’t have anything to prove and the focus now is simply taking it one game at a time, and carrying a healthy roster in to the playoffs where they can get back to work shooting for a second consecutive NBA title.
7. Chicago Bulls
This Week: +1400
A couple of weeks after they were completely written off, the Bulls are now back up to No. 7 on this list. They’ve posted a 7-3 record over their last 10 games without both Derrick Rose and Jimmy Butler, but have received word that both could be back in time for the playoffs. Chicago is already a lock to make the postseason and the fact that they have been able to win games without their two starting guards should only give them even more confidence once they get them back.
8. Los Angeles Clippers
This Week: +1800
Putting together four straight wins while scoring at least 110 points in each of them without Blake Griffin was impressive but even once they get their star forward back, it will be tough for them to navigate their way through a difficult Western Conference where both the teams ahead of them in the standings as well as the teams behind them are potentially better off. The fact that both the Spurs and Thunder are listed ahead of them speaks volumes about the perception of this team.
T-9. Dallas Mavericks
This Week: +2500
Rajon Rondo isn’t the elite point guard that is going to make the difference for a potential championship run in Dallas and while the rest of the starting five has plenty to offer, the biggest problem now is that they haven’t matched up well against some of the other top teams from the Western Conference. The Mavericks will have a tough first round matchup regardless of who they play and right now there aren’t many experts that have them going any further than that.
T-9. Houston Rockets
This Week: +2500
Rockets fans are closely monitoring Dwight Howard’s health as they wait to find out when he will make his return to the lineup. Even though Houston has survived without him, thanks in large part to the MVP play of James Harden, it will be a much different situation come playoff time. The Rockets need Howard healthy and playing at an elite level in the postseason to have any shot at getting past the first round.
T-9. Portland Trail Blazers
This Week: +2500
The Raptors inconsistent play combined with Washington’s plunge in the standings has opened the door for Portland to climb in to the top 10. However, the jury is out on what this team will be capable of doing come playoff time. The Blazers are in a similar situation to the Mavericks and Rockets in that they have a ton of talented pieces but perhaps not enough to compete with Golden State, Oklahoma City, Memphis and San Antonio.
12. Toronto Raptors +3300
13. Washington Wizards +7500
14. Indiana Pacers +10000
15. Miami Heat +15000
