The 2020-21 NBA regular season is winding to a close. The playoffs will get underway in less than a month, and the prevalence of fans should make the viewing experience more fun than the one we saw last summer in the Disney World bubble.
The condensed schedule has resulted in quite a few unfortunate injuries as the season has worn on, with a number of contenders having already been affected. The Denver Nuggets lost Jamal Murray to a torn ACL, while the Los Angeles Lakers just got Anthony Davis back from a long-term calf injury. LA, however, is still without LeBron James for the foreseeable future. The Clippers, Hawks, Mavericks, Celtics, and Nets have also been hampered by injuries over the past few weeks.
Injuries and the general unpredictable nature of this season could mean lead to a wide-open championship race. The Nets and Lakers have been heavy title favorites throughout the season, but it’s looking increasingly likely that neither team will enter the playoffs at full strength.
With the outlook of most teams looking murky, there has never been a better time to place a futures wager on NBA championship odds. A lot can happen between now and the beginning of the postseason, but the following five teams look like decent long-shot options to win it all this summer.
Phoenix Suns (+1200)
The Suns made headlines last summer when they went 8-0 during the seeding games, but they ultimately fell short of nabbing a playoff berth. Phoenix subsequently made one of the biggest moves of the offseason when they acquired All-Star point guard Chris Paul in a trade from Oklahoma City.
The move was seen as a sign that the Suns were ready to take the next step. So far this season, though, they have easily surpassed everyone’s expectations. Entering play on Friday, Phoenix is 42-17 on the year and sitting in the No. 2 spot in the Western Conference. The Suns are just two games adrift of the Utah Jazz for the top spot and home-court advantage throughout the playoffs.
While the Suns have been one of the league’s best teams all year, they haven’t gotten a whole lot of title buzz. Paul has never made a Finals appearance despite having been one of the game’s all-time great point guards, while Devin Booker and Deandre Ayton have never played in a playoff game. Phoenix has done a fine job of rounding out the roster with quality veterans like Jae Crowder, Dario Saric, and Torrey Craig, but the Suns still only have the fourth-best title odds among Western Conference contenders.
Phil Jackson always said: “If you get 40 wins before you get 20 losses, you’re an actual championship contender.”
The only teams to do that this season:
Jazz
Clippers
Suns— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) April 23, 2021
The Suns’ point differential of plus-6.1 is the third-best mark in the conference behind the Jazz and LA Clippers. They’re one of just four teams in the league to rank inside the top-10 in both offensive and defensive efficiency. In light of recent injuries to Murray, James, Kawhi Leonard, and Donovan Mitchell, the Suns also happen to be the only top-five Western Conference team currently operating with a clean bill of health.
The Lack of Title Buzz Isn’t Surprising. Phoenix Lacks Playoff Experience, and the West Is Stacked
We have seen plenty of quality regular-season squads fail to live up to expectations come playoff time over the years. This team has gotten better as the season has progressed, though, so I certainly wouldn’t count them out. At +1200, Phoenix is a strong title value bet as of now.
Denver Nuggets (+2800)
Before Murray tore his ACL earlier this month, the Nuggets looked like the most formidable team in the entire league. Denver reeled off eight consecutive wins following their deadline deal for Aaron Gordon, a streak that included victories over legit playoff teams in the Hawks, Clippers, and 76ers.
However, Murray’s injury has tanked Denver’s title odds. The Nuggets have plunged all the way to +2800 with their star point guard done for the year. While it’s a huge blow, I don’t think the odds should have dropped this far. The Nuggets aren’t the only team in the league dealing with injuries, and the Nuggets will be relevant as long as Nikola Jokic is able to stay upright.
Nikola Jokic tonight:
47 PTS
15 REB
8 AST
20-31 FGThe first center with a 45/15/8 game since Hakeem Olajuwon in 1996. pic.twitter.com/0vwF4pEYSv
— StatMuse (@statmuse) April 20, 2021
Jokic is Denver’s offensive hub, and he’ll be a complete matchup nightmare for any team the Nuggets face in the playoffs. We saw in the bubble how important Murray is as the Robin to Jokic’s Batman, but Michael Porter Jr. has stepped up his play in his second full campaign. MPJ is averaging 21.4 points per game so far this month, and his combination of size (6’10”) and well-rounded scoring ability should soften the blow of Murray’s injury.
Facundo Campazzo and Monte Morris are capable fill-ins for Murray in the backcourt, while Will Barton and Gordon can take on supporting roles. The Nuggets advanced to the Western Conference Finals a season ago thanks in large part to Murray’s heroics, but the West is looking even more wide-open this year. Denver still has one of the deepest rosters in the conference, and the new +2800 title odds are awfully tempting. A Nuggets championship certainly isn’t the most likely outcome, but you’re getting a lot of bang for your buck here.
Philadelphia 76ers (+1000)
The Philadelphia 76ers have the potential to go wire-to-wire in the Eastern Conference this season, yet this team has just the sixth-best championship odds at BetOnline. The Sixers are third in their own conference behind Brooklyn (+225) and Milwaukee (+850), which is rather curious.
The 76ers have been a solid regular-season team over the past few seasons, but we have yet to see this team take the next step in the playoffs. The Sixers haven’t advanced past the second round in any of the last three years, so I get it.
That said, this year is different. Joel Embiid has emerged as Jokic’s biggest MVP threat, and he has taken his game to new heights on both ends of the floor. Dary Morey has quickly transformed the roster from a clunky one into one that looks legitimately dangerous around Embiid. Philly has finally surrounded Embiid and Ben Simmons with a cavalcade of good shooters, which is a trait this team has sorely lacked in the past.
The Nets are justifiable title favorites when healthy, but Brooklyn hasn’t been healthy for months now. Even if they are at full strength, Brooklyn has zero defensive answer for Embiid in the middle.
If the Nets ultimately fall short of their goals, why can’t Philly be the team to represent the conference in the Finals?
This is simple. You’re getting a current No. 1 seed at +1000 odds to win the title. Regardless of context, those odds are too long for a team that may well have home-court advantage throughout the postseason. Take advantage of that number while you still can.
Boston Celtics (+3300)
The Celtics have been slogging through a weird malaise all season long, but the team finally seems to be coming around at the right time. The Celts’ 32-27 record on the year leaves plenty to be desired, but the team enters play on Friday having won eight of its last 10 games. Boston recently reeled off an impressive six-game winning streak that included victories over the Nuggets, Knicks, Trail Blazers, Warriors, and Lakers. After a setback against the Bulls, Boston bounced back with another statement win over Phoenix.
The talent has been there all year, but Boston has had a few wonky situations. Kemba Walker missed the first month of the season with a knee injury, while Jayson Tatum has had some long-lasting symptoms after coming down with the virus earlier in the year. Jaylen Brown has been in-and-out of the lineup of late, while Evan Fournier hasn’t been healthy since arriving from Orlando at the trade deadline.
Celtics’ Kemba Walker could be biggest postseason X-factor as Boston finally looks like team we expected
By: @bradbotkincbshttps://t.co/6aWYP8mCGL pic.twitter.com/hFdyvas1Bo
— CBS Sports NBA (@CBSSportsNBA) April 23, 2021
If Boston enters the playoffs at full strength, this team has more than enough talent to win a series against anybody. Tatum has continued his growth into one of the game’s budding superstars despite his off-court health issues, while Brown is in the midst of the best season of his career. If Walker can get his shooting on track, Boston has three legitimate offensive weapons. Fournier will add some much-needed shooting whenever he returns, as well.
The Celtics have struggled to overcome the surprising departure of Gordon Hayward last summer, but they do seem to be rounding into form. Let’s not forget that this is the same team that made a trip to the Eastern Conference Finals just last summer. The East doesn’t have a clear-cut favorite if Brooklyn enters the playoffs hobbled. We saw just last year with Miami that any team that gets hot at the right time is capable of making a run.
The Celtics haven’t played up to their caliber for most of the year, but that seems to be changing as the playoffs draw nearer. You can do worse than taking a flier on Boston’s current +3300 title odds at NBA betting sites.
Atlanta Hawks (+12500)
The Hawks came into the year with a lot of hype after an active offseason, but the team didn’t really take off until head coach Lloyd Pierce was fired and replaced by Nate McMillan back in February. Since then, the Hawks have gone from being bound for the lottery to a team threatening for home-court in the first round of the playoffs.
Atlanta is now 32-27 and leading the Southeast Division. Trae Young has quietly established himself as one of the game’s most promising young superstars, while Clint Capela has proven to be an incredibly underrated addition in the middle. Atlanta’s lack of reliable center play has been their downfall over the past few years, but the former Rocket has quickly become the solution to that problem. Capela is a natural fit next to Young, and it’s no surprise that he’s averaging career-highs this season in scoring (15.7), rebounds (14.7), and blocked shots (2.2).
The Hawks are bottom-10 on the season in defensive rating, but they have been much more stingy in that regard since McMillan took over. Atlanta is a respectable 11th in defensive efficiency so far in April. Meanwhile, they’re up to sixth in that same span in offensive rating, averaging a robust 116.4 points per 100 possessions.
Atlanta has generated almost zero national attention, but don’t be surprised if this team proves to be a tough out come playoff time. Betting on Atlanta to win it all at +12500 this season is admittedly a reach, but this has been one of the best all-around teams in the conference all month long. Don’t overlook Atlanta as a potential sleeper once the postseason rolls around.
Taylor Smith
Taylor Smith has been a staff writer with GamblingSites.org since early 2017. Taylor is primarily a sports writer, though he will occasionally dabble in other things like politics and entertainment betting. His primary specialties are writing about the NBA, Major League Baseball, NFL and domestic and international soccer. Fringe sports like golf and horse racing aren’t exactly his cup of tea, bu …
