Online Betting on Sports has changed a great deal of how analysts view and predict league winners and individual awards. Indeed, one does not need to rigorously follow a professional sportsbook to know what teams, particularly in the NBA, are the favorites of bettors, analysts and fans in general to win a conference title.
And few things can change these predictions faster than a trade deadline. A couple of weeks ago, the Dallas Mavericks shocked the NBA world, and their own fanbase, by trading Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers for Anthony Davis. Other players, of course, were involved in the deal, but Doncic and Davis are the biggest names, with Doncic being a 25-year-old superstar.
Indeed, whereas the Lakers previously were not among the top three favorites to win the NBA Western Conference, they now have the third-best odds to win the conference finals and advance to the NBA Championship.
The Best Odds of Winning the NBA Western Conference
The Oklahoma City Thunder Have the Best Odds to Win the NBA Western Conference
Not surprisingly, the Oklahoma City Thunder, who are tied with the Cleveland Cavaliers for the best record in the NBA, are the favorites to represent the Western Conference in the NBA Finals. With a record of 44-10, the Thunder have dominated the regular season, thanks in large part to the MVP-caliber play of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who is averaging 32.5 points, 5.1 rebounds, 6.1 assists, 1.9 steals, and 1.0 blocks per game.
Per Unibet, the Thunder have -130 odds to win the West, making them the clear favorite in the conference. What is more, Oklahoma City has just the 13th toughest schedule going forward this season, with their remaining opponents having a .504 combined winning percentage.
This certainly bodes well for the Thunder in terms of locking up the top seed in the NBA Western Conference, which would give them home court advantage throughout the playoffs.
The Denver Nuggets Have Great Odds to Make the NBA Finals for the Second Time in Three Years
Perhaps unsurprisingly, the Denver Nuggets, who won the NBA Finals in 2022-23, have the second-best odds to win the NBA Western Conference this year, which would put them in the title series for the second time in three seasons.
Denver is currently the third-place team in the West with a record of 36-19. They also boast the NBA’s longest current winning streak, having won their last eight games. However, they also have the third-hardest remaining schedule among NBA teams, with their opponents combining for a .533 winning percentage.
Of course, the Nuggets are led by international superstar Nikola Jokic, a three-time NBA MVP who is averaging 29.8 points, 12.6 rebounds, and 10.2 assists per game. Should he maintain this triple-double average, he would become the third player in NBA history to average a triple-double for an entire season. Basketball Hall of Famer Oscar Robertson was the first to do it in 1961-62, and Russell Westbrook, who currently plays for Denver, did it four times.
The Los Angeles Lakers Have the Third-Best Odds of Winning the NBA Western Conference
Despite currently being the fifth seed in the West with a 32-20 record, the Lakers saw their odds of winning the conference improve dramatically following the star-studded trade. Pairing Doncic, who is averaging 27.0 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 7.5 assists this season, with LeBron James, who is averaging 24.3 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 9.0 assists makes them one of them one of the most formidable teams in the league.
Fanduel currently gives Los Angeles +750 odds to win the NBA Western Conference, making them the clear third-favorite over the next closest team, the Memphis Grizzlies, who have +1100 odds.
However, the Lakers do not have an easy path to finish the regular season either. Their remaining opponents have a .532 winning percentage, meaning Los Angeles has the sixth-hardest remaining schedule of all NBA teams. Three of their remaining games come against the aforementioned Nuggets, as well.
If the Lakers remain in the fifth seed, or finish worse, they will have to go on the road for the majority of their playoff games. If, however, they can improve to the fourth seed or better, the Lakers could spend a great deal of time at home, which obviously would be to their advantage.
Main photo credit: © Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images
