NBA winner odds: Leading contenders in the outright betting
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The 2022-23 season gets under way this week so we have taken a look at the NBA winner odds to assess the prospects of the leading contenders for outright glory.
There have been plenty of changes during the off-season and here are some of the teams expected to be in contention when it comes to the NBA Finals in June.
Boston Celtics (5/1)
The Celtics were the Eastern Conference champions last season but fell at the final hurdle as they lost 4-2 to the Warriors in their first appearance in the Finals since 2010.
They are the favourites to make amends this season as they eye a first title since 2008 but have hardly had the ideal preparation for the new campaign after head coach Ime Udoka was suspended for a year by the franchise due to off-court behaviour.
Assistant coach Joe Mazzulla has been placed in interim charge for the season and is highly regarded, having only just missed out on the top job at the Utah Jazz this summer.
Golden State Warriors (6/1)
The Warriors were crowned NBA champions for the fourth time in eight years in June so it is little surprise that they are among the favourites in the NBA winner odds.
What a year for Steph and the Warriors.
Now, they look to run it back. #KiaTipOff22 pic.twitter.com/O68q9YO8qV
— NBA (@NBA) October 17, 2022
Steph Curry continues to be the main man and is showing little sign of a drop in standards despite turning 35 this season.
The return of James Wiseman after 18 months out with a knee injury is a boost and he has been in good form in pre-season.
Los Angeles Clippers (13/2)
The Clippers have the chance to get off to a fast start given that eight of their first nine matches are against teams with a losing record last season, so their NBA winner odds could soon be trimmed.
Keeping Kawhi Leonard and Paul George fit could well be the key to success. Leonard missed the whole of last season as the Clippers failed to reach the play-offs for the first time since 2018.
Milwaukee Bucks (15/2)
The Bucks were the NBA champions in 2021 but lost to Boston in the deciding game in their Conference semi-final last season, having eased past the Chicago Bulls.
All-Star forward Khris Middleton is expected to miss the first few weeks of the season after a wrist operation and there are plenty of other injury problems to contend with.
The Eastern Conference looks particularly strong so it is important that the Bucks do not drop too far behind before they get up to full strength.
Brooklyn Nets (8/1)
Improving their home form is the key for the Nets, who last season became only the fourth team in NBA history to have a losing record on their own court but a winning record on their travels.
They had a tough schedule for the first five matches but six of their first eight are at home so that will be a big test of whether they can make the required improvement.
Despite trade rumours over the summer, star duo Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving have remained.
Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving knocked down tough bucket after tough bucket to close out the preseason with a win!
The @BrooklynNets open the season against the Pelicans on Oct. 19th at 7:30 PM ET on the NBA App pic.twitter.com/Sn9D5m42EX
— NBA (@NBA) October 15, 2022
Phoenix Suns (10/1)
The Suns were easily the best team during the regular season last time with 64 wins – eight more than the Memphis Grizzlies and 11 more than the best of the rest.
It counted for nothing in the play-offs though as they lost to Dallas in the Conference semi-finals, and they face the Mavericks in their season opener on Wednesday.
Chris Paul remains a key player but at the age of 37 may need more support than ever.
All odds and markets correct as of date of publication
